Butterfly Half Guard Bottom represents one of the most versatile offensive guard positions in modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, combining the explosive sweeping potential of butterfly guard with the positional security of half guard leg entanglement. From the bottom perspective, this position offers exceptional offensive capabilities while maintaining sufficient defensive structure to prevent immediate passing threats. The practitioner controls one of the opponent’s legs in half guard configuration while simultaneously inserting a butterfly hook under the opponent’s free leg, creating a platform for powerful elevations and seamless transitions to dominant positions.
The mechanical advantage of this position derives from the asymmetric base disruption it creates for the top player. By trapping one leg while hooking under the other, the bottom player forces the opponent into an unstable platform where weight distribution cannot be optimized for both defending sweeps and advancing passes. The butterfly hook provides the primary sweeping force through hip extension and elevation, while the half guard trap prevents the opponent from creating the distance necessary to disengage from attacks. This combination creates a powerful offensive system where the opponent is constantly reacting to threats rather than dictating the pace of the exchange.
From bottom butterfly half guard, the practitioner has access to multiple high-percentage sweeping techniques including the 100% sweep, old school sweep, and traditional butterfly sweep variations. Each of these attacks creates specific defensive reactions from the opponent, which in turn open opportunities for alternative techniques or transitions to related guard systems. When the opponent successfully defends primary sweeps, seamless entries to deep half guard, X-guard, and back attack positions ensure the bottom player maintains offensive initiative. The position also connects naturally to leg lock entries and lockdown systems, creating a comprehensive offensive framework that adapts to various defensive strategies.
Success in butterfly half guard bottom requires mastering several key technical elements: maintaining active upward pressure through the butterfly hook, establishing and retaining upper body control through underhooks or collar ties, preserving seated or semi-reclined posture to prevent being flattened, and constantly adjusting hip angles to optimize sweep mechanics. The position demands active engagement rather than passive maintenance - the bottom player must continuously threaten attacks to keep the opponent reactive and prevent them from settling into strong defensive positions or initiating their own passing sequences.
Position Definition
- One of opponent’s legs remains trapped between your thighs in half guard configuration, with your inside leg’s calf pressed firmly against their trapped thigh and your outside leg hooking over their hip or thigh to secure the lock, maintaining constant squeeze pressure to control their base and prevent leg extraction
- Butterfly hook inserted under opponent’s free leg with your foot positioned beneath their thigh, toes pointing outward and slightly upward, creating continuous upward lifting pressure through active extension of your knee and hip to disrupt their balance and weight distribution
- Upper body connection maintained through underhook on the butterfly hook side with your arm threading under their armpit and controlling their back or lat muscles, or alternatively through collar ties and grip fighting that prevent them from establishing dominant posture or applying crushing forward pressure
- Seated or semi-reclined posture maintained with your shoulders elevated off the mat at minimum 30-45 degrees, engaging core muscles to keep upright positioning that generates leverage through your butterfly hook while keeping your hips mobile and ready to adjust angles for sweeping opportunities
- Active hip positioning with constant micro-adjustments to maintain optimal angle for sweeps, keeping your hips underneath you rather than flat on your back, allowing for explosive movements in multiple directions and quick transitions to related guard systems when primary attacks are defended
Prerequisites
- Hip mobility and core strength sufficient to maintain seated posture under forward pressure without collapsing to back
- Understanding of both butterfly guard mechanics including hook insertion angles and half guard retention principles including leg positioning and squeeze pressure
- Ability to maintain seated posture and resist being flattened by forward pressure through active core engagement
- Familiarity with sweep mechanics including leverage points, timing windows, and the concept of creating angles for off-balancing
- Grip fighting skills to establish and maintain upper body control against a resisting opponent attempting to break connections
- Basic understanding of guard recovery mechanics to return to butterfly half when passes are initiated
Key Defensive Principles
- Trap one of opponent’s legs in half guard configuration while maintaining constant squeeze pressure to control their base and prevent extraction
- Insert butterfly hook under opponent’s free leg with active upward pressure, maintaining foot position beneath their thigh with toes pointed outward
- Establish upper body control through underhook on the butterfly side or collar ties to control their posture and prevent crushing pressure
- Maintain seated posture rather than lying flat, keeping shoulders elevated and core engaged to preserve sweeping leverage
- Create and exploit leverage through coordinated leg drive from butterfly hook combined with upper body pulling motion to generate off-balancing force
- Control opponent’s posture to prevent them from standing tall or applying crushing forward pressure that compromises your structure
- Generate elevation through coordinated leg drive and upper body pull, using hip movement to create angles for sweeps rather than relying on pure strength
Available Escapes
100% Sweep → Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 45%
- Intermediate: 60%
- Advanced: 75%
Old School Sweep → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 50%
- Intermediate: 65%
- Advanced: 80%
Butterfly Sweep → Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 40%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 70%
Deep Half Entry → Deep Half Guard
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 55%
- Intermediate: 70%
- Advanced: 85%
Waiter Sweep → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Underhook Sweep from Half → Dogfight Position
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 40%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 70%
Knee Tap → Standing Position
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Half Guard to Back Take → Back Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Butterfly Guard to X-Guard → X-Guard
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 55%
Lockdown Sweeps → Lockdown
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent maintains upright posture and attempts to free trapped leg with backward hip pressure:
- Execute 100% Sweep → Mount (Probability: 65%)
- Execute Old School Sweep → Side Control (Probability: 70%)
If opponent drives forward with heavy pressure and establishes crossface control threatening to flatten:
- Execute Deep Half Entry → Deep Half Guard (Probability: 75%)
- Execute Lockdown Sweeps → Lockdown (Probability: 60%)
If opponent stands tall or attempts to step over the trapped leg creating vertical posture:
- Execute Half Guard to Back Take → Back Control (Probability: 55%)
- Execute Knee Tap → Standing Position (Probability: 50%)
- Execute Butterfly Guard to X-Guard → X-Guard (Probability: 60%)
If opponent posts hand on mat to defend butterfly hook elevation and stabilize base:
- Execute Old School Sweep → Side Control (Probability: 70%)
- Execute Butterfly Sweep → Mount (Probability: 60%)
If opponent establishes underhook on trapped leg side and drives shoulder pressure:
- Execute Waiter Sweep → Side Control (Probability: 55%)
- Execute Deep Half Entry → Deep Half Guard (Probability: 65%)
Escape and Survival Paths
Shortest path to submission
Butterfly Half Guard Bottom → 100% Sweep → Mount → Mounted Triangle
High-percentage submission path
Butterfly Half Guard Bottom → Half Guard to Back Take → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke
Deep half submission sequence
Butterfly Half Guard Bottom → Deep Half Entry → Deep Half Guard → Waiter Sweep → Side Control → Kimura from Side Control
Direct submission threat
Butterfly Half Guard Bottom → Guillotine Choke (when opponent overcommits to pass with head exposed)
Leg attack pathway
Butterfly Half Guard Bottom → Deep Half Entry → Deep Half Guard → Kneebar from Half Guard
X-guard submission chain
Butterfly Half Guard Bottom → Butterfly Guard to X-Guard → X-Guard Sweep → Mount → Armbar from Mount
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 50% | 40% | 15% |
| Intermediate | 65% | 60% | 25% |
| Advanced | 80% | 75% | 40% |
Average Time in Position: 30-90 seconds before sweep attempt or transition occurs
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
Butterfly half guard represents a sophisticated synthesis of two fundamental guard systems, combining the mechanical elevation potential of the butterfly hook with the defensive security of half guard entanglement. The position’s power derives from the asymmetric base disruption it creates - by trapping one leg while hooking under the other, you force your opponent into an unstable platform where their weight distribution cannot be optimized for both defending sweeps and advancing their pass. The key mechanical principle is understanding that the butterfly hook provides the primary sweeping force through hip extension and elevation, while the half guard trap prevents them from creating the distance necessary to disengage from your attack. When executing sweeps from this position, focus on the timing of your hip drive coordinated with upper body pull - the sweep succeeds not from strength but from the geometric impossibility of maintaining base when forces are applied in opposing vectors simultaneously. The position also serves as an excellent transitional platform, allowing seamless entries to deep half, X-guard, and back attack systems depending on how your opponent attempts to defend. Master the concept of using the butterfly hook as a constant threat that shapes their defensive behavior, creating opportunities for secondary attacks when they overcommit to defending the primary sweep. The sophisticated practitioner treats butterfly half guard not as a static position but as a dynamic launching platform for a comprehensive offensive system.
Gordon Ryan
Butterfly half guard is one of my highest percentage positions for sweeping and transitioning to dominant positions in high-level competition matches. The beauty of this guard is that it gives you multiple offensive options while maintaining enough defensive structure that you’re not gambling with your position against elite opponents. I typically enter butterfly half when my opponent is trying to smash pass my regular half guard - instead of fighting their pressure head-on and burning energy in a strength battle, I insert the butterfly hook and redirect their forward momentum into sweeping opportunities that use their own force against them. The 100% sweep and old school sweep are my go-to attacks from here, and they work at the highest levels because they put your opponent in a genuine dilemma - defend the butterfly sweep and I take your back, defend the back take and I complete the sweep to mount. What makes this position so effective in competition is that it naturally leads to scrambles where I have positional advantage due to initiating the position change, and in scrambles against high-level opponents, the person who initiated the position change usually comes out on top because they anticipated the movement. I also love how butterfly half connects seamlessly to my deep half game - if they shut down my butterfly half attacks with good defensive positioning, I can transition to deep half and continue attacking from there without giving up offensive initiative. The key is being relentlessly aggressive with your attacks and not letting them settle into a comfortable defensive posture where they can methodically work their pass. Keep them constantly reacting to your threats, and when they make a mistake defending one attack, immediately capitalize with the alternative technique rather than resetting and allowing them to recover.
Eddie Bravo
Butterfly half guard fits perfectly into the 10th Planet system because it combines the offensive threat of the butterfly hook with the control of half guard, creating multiple pathways to our signature positions and submissions. What I love about this position is how it naturally connects to the lockdown system - if they start to pass or flatten you out, you can quickly transition to lockdown half guard and enter the electric chair or old school sweep sequences that are foundational to our game. The butterfly hook also gives you a direct entry to the truck position, which is one of our most important positions for back attacks and the twister submission that defines our system. When I teach butterfly half at 10th Planet, I emphasize the importance of staying active with your hips and not letting them settle their weight - you want to be constantly threatening sweeps and transitions to keep them off balance and prevent them from establishing the kind of crushing pressure that shuts down your offense. The position also works great with rubber guard concepts because the underhook on the butterfly side can transition into mission control if they try to posture up aggressively, giving you another offensive pathway that most traditional schools don’t explore. One unique aspect of how we use butterfly half in the 10th Planet system is incorporating it into our half guard recovery sequences - if you lose your lockdown or get passed to quarter guard, the butterfly hook can be your escape route back to offensive half guard where you can restart your attack sequences. The key innovation we’ve added is using the position not just for traditional sweeps, but as a launching pad for leg attacks, back takes, and even inverted guard transitions that catch opponents off guard because they’re not expecting those attacks from what looks like a traditional position.