BJJ Graph

Half Butterfly Bottom

Dec 09, 202514 min read

Half Butterfly Bottom is a dynamic hybrid guard position that combines elements of half guard and butterfly guard. The bottom practitioner controls one of the opponent’s legs between their own legs (half guard component) while maintaining a butterfly hook on the free leg side. This position offers excellent sweeping opportunities and creates offensive dilemmas for the top player who must defend both the half guard escape and butterfly hook threats simultaneously.

The position is particularly effective in no-gi grappling and modern competitive BJJ, where practitioners use the butterfly hook to elevate and off-balance opponents while the half guard component prevents easy passing. The unique structure allows for multiple sweep variations, back-take opportunities, and transitions to other guard positions. Unlike traditional half guard which can be more defensive, Half Butterfly Bottom maintains constant attacking pressure through the butterfly hook’s lifting power combined with half guard control.

This position represents an evolution in half guard theory, popularized by practitioners like Marcelo Garcia and Lucas Leite, who recognized that adding the butterfly hook creates additional vectors of control and sweep mechanics that pure half guard lacks. The position excels in creating scrambles and forcing opponents into defensive postures, making it ideal for practitioners who favor dynamic, movement-based guard play.

Position Definition

  • Bottom player has one leg of opponent trapped between their legs (half guard control) while maintaining control of that trapped leg with both legs wrapped around it, preventing opponent from fully extracting the leg
  • Bottom player’s free leg maintains a butterfly hook positioned under opponent’s free-side thigh with foot placed on mat, creating elevation and off-balancing potential through hip lifting mechanics
  • Bottom player is on their side or partially on their back with shoulders turned toward opponent, maintaining active frames on opponent’s upper body with at least one underhook or overhook grip
  • Opponent is in a top position with one leg trapped in half guard while their free leg is threatened by the butterfly hook, forcing them to manage pressure distribution between defending the sweep and attempting to pass

Prerequisites

  • Opponent’s leg successfully trapped between bottom player’s legs in half guard configuration
  • Sufficient space created to insert butterfly hook on free-leg side
  • Bottom player maintains active hip mobility and can turn toward opponent
  • At least one upper body connection established (underhook, overhook, or collar grip)
  • Bottom player’s hips remain mobile and not flattened completely to mat

Key Defensive Principles

  • Maintain constant lifting pressure through butterfly hook to prevent opponent from settling their weight and establishing stable passing pressure
  • Use half guard leg control to prevent opponent from extracting trapped leg while simultaneously threatening sweeps with butterfly hook
  • Create angles by turning body toward opponent’s free side, using butterfly hook and upper body grips to off-balance opponent diagonally
  • Keep active frames and grips on upper body to prevent opponent from flattening you to back and controlling posture
  • Coordinate hip movement with butterfly hook elevation to create sweeping momentum rather than using arm strength alone
  • Maintain awareness of both sweep opportunities to trapped leg side and transitions to other guards if opponent defends
  • Use constant threatening motion to prevent opponent from consolidating passing pressure or establishing crossface control

Available Escapes

Basic Butterfly Sweep → Mount

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 35%
  • Intermediate: 50%
  • Advanced: 65%

Old School Sweep → Side Control

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 40%
  • Intermediate: 55%
  • Advanced: 70%

Hook Sweep → Mount

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 30%
  • Intermediate: 45%
  • Advanced: 60%

Underhook Sweep from Half → Side Control

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 35%
  • Intermediate: 50%
  • Advanced: 65%

Back Take Generic → Back Control

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 25%
  • Intermediate: 40%
  • Advanced: 55%

Deep Half Entry → Deep Half Guard

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 45%
  • Intermediate: 60%
  • Advanced: 75%

Butterfly Guard to X-Guard → X-Guard

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 30%
  • Intermediate: 45%
  • Advanced: 60%

Elevator Sweep → Mount

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 32%
  • Intermediate: 47%
  • Advanced: 62%

Opponent Counters

Counter-Attacks

Decision Making from This Position

If opponent is upright with high posture and not applying heavy pressure:

Else if opponent drives forward with heavy chest pressure attempting to flatten you:

Else if opponent attempts to extract trapped leg and establish passing pressure:

Else if opponent’s weight shifts to free-leg side defending butterfly hook:

Common Defensive Mistakes

1. Allowing butterfly hook to become passive without active lifting pressure

  • ❌ Consequence: Opponent can settle their weight and establish stable passing pressure, neutralizing sweep threats
  • ✅ Correction: Maintain constant upward pressure through butterfly hook, actively lifting and off-balancing opponent even when not executing sweep

2. Letting opponent flatten you completely to your back

  • ❌ Consequence: Loses hip mobility needed for sweeps and allows opponent to establish dominant crossface control
  • ✅ Correction: Stay on your side with shoulders turned toward opponent, using frames and grips to prevent being flattened while maintaining hip escape mobility

3. Losing half guard control while focusing on butterfly hook

  • ❌ Consequence: Opponent extracts trapped leg and easily passes to side control or mount
  • ✅ Correction: Coordinate both legs together - half guard legs squeeze trapped leg while butterfly hook lifts, creating dual threats opponent must address simultaneously

4. Using only arm strength to execute sweeps without hip elevation

  • ❌ Consequence: Sweeps are weak and easily defended, causing arm fatigue and failed sweep attempts
  • ✅ Correction: Drive sweeps primarily from hip extension and butterfly hook elevation, using grips only to guide opponent’s fall and control upper body

5. Maintaining static position without threatening constant movement

  • ❌ Consequence: Gives opponent time to establish grips, settle weight, and methodically work passing sequences
  • ✅ Correction: Create constant motion through hip movement, angle changes, and sweep attempts to keep opponent defensive and prevent them from establishing rhythm

6. Allowing opponent to achieve underhook on half guard side

  • ❌ Consequence: Opponent can drive shoulder pressure, flatten you, and control hip movement for easier passing
  • ✅ Correction: Fight for underhook on trapped leg side or establish strong frames to prevent opponent’s underhook from controlling your upper body

Training Drills for Defense

Butterfly Hook Elevation Drill

Partner in top half butterfly. Practice lifting and off-balancing opponent using only butterfly hook hip extension while maintaining half guard control. Focus on coordinating hip lift with angle creation.

Duration: 5 minutes per side

Sweep Transition Flow

Start in half butterfly bottom. Partner gives 50% resistance. Flow between different sweep options (butterfly sweep, old school, hook sweep) based on partner’s weight distribution. Emphasis on reading opponent’s pressure and selecting appropriate sweep.

Duration: 3 minutes per round

Half Butterfly Retention Sparring

Bottom player maintains half butterfly position while top player attempts to pass. Bottom player wins by executing successful sweep or maintaining position for 2 minutes. Top player wins by passing. Resets on successful defense or sweep. Develops retention and timing under pressure.

Duration: 5 minutes per round

Guard Recovery to Half Butterfly

Start with partner achieving initial passing pressure. Practice recovering half butterfly position using hip escapes, frames, and butterfly hook insertion. Simulates realistic guard recovery scenarios.

Duration: 10 reps per side

Escape and Survival Paths

Sweep to mount submission path

Half Butterfly Bottom → Basic Butterfly Sweep → Mount → Armbar from Mount

Back attack path

Half Butterfly Bottom → Rolling Back Take → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke

Old school sweep path

Half Butterfly Bottom → Old School Sweep → Side Control → Kimura from Side Control

Deep half transition path

Half Butterfly Bottom → Deep Half Entry → Deep Half Guard → Old School Sweep → Side Control → Americana from Side Control

Success Rates and Statistics

Skill LevelRetention RateAdvancement ProbabilitySubmission Probability
Beginner45%35%15%
Intermediate60%50%25%
Advanced75%65%35%

Average Time in Position: 45-90 seconds in competitive scenarios

Expert Analysis

John Danaher

Half Butterfly Bottom represents an elegant synthesis of two complementary guard systems, combining the leg-trapping control of half guard with the elevation mechanics of butterfly guard. The critical insight is understanding that these two components create a biomechanical dilemma for the top player - they cannot simultaneously prevent the sweep threat from the butterfly hook while also working to extract their trapped leg. The position’s effectiveness stems from forcing the opponent to divide their attention and pressure between two separate defensive requirements. Technically, the bottom player must maintain what I call ‘dynamic tension’ - constant upward pressure through the butterfly hook that prevents weight settlement while the half guard legs maintain squeeze pressure on the trapped leg. The sweep mechanics operate on leverage principles where the butterfly hook creates a fulcrum point combined with upper body grips to generate rotational force. Most importantly, practitioners must understand that this is an offensive position requiring constant threatening motion rather than a passive holding position. The decision tree from this position should prioritize sweep attempts when opponent maintains high posture, transitions to deep half when facing forward pressure, and back takes when opponent’s weight shifts laterally. This systematic approach ensures you’re always attacking the opponent’s structural weaknesses rather than fighting their strengths.

Gordon Ryan

In competition, half butterfly is one of my highest-percentage positions for creating scrambles and sweep opportunities against resistant opponents. The key is never letting them settle - I’m constantly elevating with the butterfly hook, changing angles, and threatening multiple sweeps to keep them defensive. What makes this position so effective at the elite level is that even when opponents know the sweeps are coming, the biomechanics force them into bad positions if they defend wrong. If they post their hand to prevent the butterfly sweep, they give up the old school sweep. If they sit back to defend the old school, the butterfly sweep becomes available. I use this position specifically against pressure passers who want to smash - the butterfly hook prevents them from getting the chest-to-chest pressure they need, and when they commit forward, deep half or back takes open up. The competition mindset here is aggressive - I’m hunting for the sweep from the first second, not waiting or defending. Time it right and you can sweep black belts who outweigh you by 40 pounds. The underhook on the butterfly hook side is absolutely non-negotiable - without it you’re playing defense, with it you’re the one controlling the match. I’ve won multiple ADCC matches by forcing opponents to play my half butterfly game and sweeping them when they couldn’t solve the puzzle.

Eddie Bravo

Half butterfly is where 10th Planet methodology really shines because we approach it completely differently than traditional BJJ. We don’t see it as just adding a butterfly hook to half guard - we use it as an entry point to the entire system of positions including lockdown, electric chair, and back takes. The rubber guard principles apply here too - create angles, break their posture, make them uncomfortable. What I teach my students is to make the top guy miserable with constant movement and threats. We’re not trying to hold perfect position like it’s a chess match - we’re creating chaos, making them defend multiple attacks, and capitalizing when they make mistakes. The butterfly hook isn’t just for sweeps - it’s for elevating into truck position, transitioning to deep half, or setting up leg attacks. In no-gi especially, this position is money because without the gi grips, opponents can’t control your upper body as easily, and the butterfly hook becomes even more dangerous. Keep them guessing, stay offensive, and don’t be predictable with your sweep timing. I’ve seen guys use half butterfly to completely neutralize bigger, stronger opponents by staying one step ahead mentally. The physical attributes matter less when you’re constantly creating problems they haven’t solved yet.