Half Butterfly Top is a transitional position where the top player has passed one side of the butterfly guard but the bottom player retains one butterfly hook. This creates a dynamic half guard variant where the top player aims to complete the pass while the bottom player attempts to recover full butterfly guard or sweep. The position requires careful weight distribution from the top player to prevent the butterfly hook from generating lifting power while simultaneously advancing the pass.
This is a critical juncture in modern guard passing, as many high-level players use butterfly-based guards and the top player must understand how to neutralize the remaining hook while maintaining forward pressure. The position often arises during knee slice attempts, smash passes, or when passing aggressive butterfly guard players who fight to retain at least one hook. Success in this position requires understanding both pressure passing principles and the biomechanics of how the butterfly hook generates leverage.
The top player must establish upper body control first through crossface or underhook, then systematically neutralize the butterfly hook’s effectiveness through strategic weight distribution and hip positioning. The position demands constant forward pressure while maintaining a wide base to prevent sweeps, creating a technical challenge that separates effective passers from those who get swept or stalled in guard.
Position Definition
- Top player has passed to one side with upper body control while bottom player maintains one butterfly hook on the opposite side
- Top player’s weight is distributed forward with chest pressure on bottom player’s upper body, hips driving toward the mat to reduce hook effectiveness
- Bottom player is on their back or side with one leg creating butterfly hook insertion under top player’s thigh while other leg is controlled or passed
- Top player’s base is established with knees wide and hips low, creating stable platform to resist hook’s lifting mechanics
Prerequisites
- Partial pass of butterfly guard with one side cleared
- Control of bottom player’s upper body through crossface, underhook, or collar grips
- Bottom player retains one functional butterfly hook
- Top player has established forward pressure and weight distribution
Key Offensive Principles
- Keep weight distributed forward onto bottom player’s chest to reduce butterfly hook’s lifting effectiveness
- Control the near-side arm with underhook or overhook to prevent bottom player from creating frames
- Drive hips low and forward to flatten bottom player and reduce space for hook engagement
- Establish crossface or head control to limit bottom player’s ability to turn into you
- Maintain wide base with knees to prevent being swept while creating passing angles
- Prevent bottom player from recovering full butterfly guard by controlling their free leg
- Use strategic weight shifts to bait reactions and create passing opportunities
Available Attacks
Knee Slice Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 45%
- Intermediate: 60%
- Advanced: 75%
Smash Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 40%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 70%
Long Step Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Leg Drag Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Transition to Mount → Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 55%
Underhook Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 38%
- Intermediate: 53%
- Advanced: 68%
Decision Making from This Position
If bottom player extends butterfly hook for sweep attempt:
- Execute Leg Weave Pass → Side Control (Probability: 65%)
- Execute Smash Pass → Side Control (Probability: 55%)
Else if bottom player attempts to recover full butterfly guard:
- Execute Knee Slice Pass → Side Control (Probability: 70%)
- Execute Long Step Pass → Side Control (Probability: 60%)
Else if bottom player creates underhook and attempts to come up:
- Execute Underhook Pass → Side Control (Probability: 65%)
- Execute Leg Drag Pass → Side Control (Probability: 45%)
Else if bottom player turns to turtle to escape:
- Execute Front Headlock Series → Front Headlock (Probability: 50%)
- Execute Turtle to Back Take → Back Control (Probability: 55%)
Optimal Submission Paths
High-percentage passing to submission
Half Butterfly Top → Knee Slice Pass → Side Control → Kimura from Side Control
Back attack opportunity
Half Butterfly Top → Turtle Transition → Turtle to Back Take → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke
Mount progression
Half Butterfly Top → Smash Pass → Side Control → Transition to Mount → Mount → Armbar from Mount
Pressure to arm attack
Half Butterfly Top → Underhook Pass → Side Control → Americana from Side Control
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 50% | 45% | 15% |
| Intermediate | 65% | 60% | 25% |
| Advanced | 75% | 75% | 35% |
Average Time in Position: 30-90 seconds
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
The half butterfly top position represents a critical transitional moment in the guard passing sequence where the passer has achieved partial success but not complete control. The fundamental biomechanical principle here is the neutralization of the butterfly hook’s lifting mechanism through precise weight distribution and pressure angles. The butterfly hook functions as a lever, and like all levers, its effectiveness is determined by the fulcrum position and the load’s location. By driving your chest forward and hips low, you shift the load away from the hook’s optimal leverage point, rendering it mechanically inefficient. The systematic approach requires establishing upper body control first—typically through crossface or underhook—before addressing the hook. This creates a hierarchical control system where you’ve secured the top of the structure before dismantling the base. The position demands understanding of pressure passing principles: constant forward pressure, connection maintenance, and strategic weight distribution to create passing opportunities while preventing guard recovery. From a decision-making perspective, you must read the bottom player’s reactions and flow between passing options rather than committing rigidly to one technique. When they defend the knee slice, the smash pass becomes available. When they create space to escape, the leg drag presents itself. This adaptive passing approach, combined with proper pressure mechanics, makes the position highly effective for advancing to dominant positions.
Gordon Ryan
In competition, half butterfly top is where matches get won or lost because it’s such a common transitional position in modern no-gi. Every good butterfly guard player will fight to keep at least one hook as you pass, so you better know how to deal with it. The key is immediate pressure—you can’t give them time to organize their defense or they’ll sweep you or recover full butterfly. I like to establish a crossface immediately and drive my chest into their face, which makes the butterfly hook way less effective and also disrupts their ability to think clearly. From here, you want to be threatening multiple passes simultaneously: knee slice, smash pass, leg drag—keep them guessing about which way you’re going. If they commit to stopping one, you switch to another. The worst thing you can do is stall here because that hook still has sweeping power if you’re static. I’ve had the most success with heavy pressure and then exploding into the knee slice when they try to create space to breathe. Also watch for opportunities when they turn into you trying to escape—that’s when front headlocks and back takes become available. I’ve finished a lot of matches from that exact sequence. The mental game is huge here - make them feel like they’re drowning under your pressure and they’ll make mistakes trying to escape.
Eddie Bravo
Half butterfly top is interesting because it’s like you’re almost past but not quite, and that’s when people make mistakes. From the 10th Planet perspective, we’re usually on bottom in this position, so when I’m on top here I know all the sweeps and tricks they’re trying. The key is to not let them get an underhook because that’s game over—they’ll elevate you and sweep or at minimum recover full butterfly. I like to use a lot of misdirection here: fake the knee slice to get them to react, then smash pass the other way. Or threaten the pass so heavy that they turn to turtle, and then you’ve got front headlock opportunities and potentially back takes. The thing about this position is it’s super dynamic—nobody stays here long, either you pass or they sweep, so you gotta be decisive and commit to your attacks. If you’re hesitating, they’re sweeping. One thing we drill a lot is the transition from here to leg attacks if they’re really good at defending the pass—sometimes the best pass is to threaten the legs and watch them give up position to defend their knees. It’s all about creating dilemmas: do they defend the pass or protect against submissions? When you make them choose between two bad options, that’s when you win. Stay aggressive, stay pressuring, and don’t give them time to implement their game plan.