Butterfly Half Guard Bottom

Jan 23, 202613 min read

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%

Opponent Counters

Counter-Attacks

Decision Making from This Position

If opponent maintains upright posture and attempts to free trapped leg with backward hip pressure:

If opponent drives forward with heavy pressure and establishes crossface control threatening to flatten:

If opponent stands tall or attempts to step over the trapped leg creating vertical posture:

If opponent posts hand on mat to defend butterfly hook elevation and stabilize base:

If opponent establishes underhook on trapped leg side and drives shoulder pressure:

Common Defensive Mistakes

1. Passive butterfly hook without active upward pressure and constant tension

  • ❌ Consequence: Leads to ineffective elevation mechanics, limiting ability to off-balance or sweep opponent using butterfly side, allowing them to settle their weight and establish passing pressure without threat of being swept
  • ✅ Correction: Keep butterfly hook active by driving foot under opponent’s thigh to create constant upward pressure, engaging hip flexors and maintaining tension in hook even when not actively sweeping, treating hook as continuous threat rather than passive position

2. Lying flat on back instead of maintaining seated or semi-reclined posture with elevated shoulders

  • ❌ Consequence: Results in reduced sweeping leverage and loss of mechanical advantage, making it easier for opponent to apply pressure and pass guard, eliminating the geometric benefits of butterfly hook elevation
  • ✅ Correction: Maintain upright or semi-reclined posture with shoulders off mat at minimum 30-45 degrees, using core strength to stay engaged and keep hips mobile for sweeping opportunities, treating flat-back position as immediate danger signal

3. Losing upper body connection and allowing opponent to establish dominant grips and posture control

  • ❌ Consequence: Permits opponent to control your posture, flatten you out, and initiate passing sequences without resistance from upper body control, breaking the connection necessary for effective sweeps
  • ✅ Correction: Fight for underhook on butterfly side or establish strong collar ties immediately, never allowing opponent to have uncontested upper body control, constantly hand fighting to maintain advantageous grips that enable sweep execution

4. Allowing opponent to free their trapped leg without consequence or follow-up attack

  • ❌ Consequence: Transforms position into pure butterfly guard where you lose stability advantage and defensive security that half guard trap provides, often leading to pass if spacing is not managed perfectly
  • ✅ Correction: Maintain constant squeeze pressure on trapped leg while using threat of sweeps to keep opponent engaged in defending rather than escaping half guard trap, transitioning immediately to butterfly sweep or X-guard if leg extraction occurs

5. Failing to adjust hip angle and maintain optimal positioning perpendicular to opponent’s base before sweep attempts

  • ❌ Consequence: Creates situations where sweeps lack proper leverage and become low percentage, wasting energy on ineffective attempts that alert opponent to your intentions without threatening position
  • ✅ Correction: Constantly adjust hip position to create angles perpendicular to opponent’s base, using small hip movements to optimize sweep mechanics before committing to technique, treating angle creation as prerequisite for sweep success

6. Neglecting to transition when opponent establishes strong defensive position or shuts down primary attacks

  • ❌ Consequence: Results in stalled position where neither player can advance, burning energy without productive outcomes and allowing opponent to slowly improve position
  • ✅ Correction: Flow between butterfly half guard and related positions like deep half or lockdown when opponent successfully defends, maintaining offensive initiative through position changes rather than forcing failed techniques repeatedly

7. Releasing half guard trap prematurely during sweep attempts before establishing control in new position

  • ❌ Consequence: Allows opponent to recover base and counter your sweep attempt, often resulting in them passing your guard or establishing top control during the scramble
  • ✅ Correction: Maintain half guard trap throughout sweep execution until you have clearly established top position or back control, only releasing when new control mechanisms are secured

Training Drills for Defense

Butterfly Half Maintenance Against Progressive Resistance

Practice maintaining butterfly half guard against increasing pressure levels, focusing on keeping hook and half guard control active while opponent attempts various passing strategies. Start with light resistance where opponent moves at 30% speed and intensity, progressively increase to 50%, 70%, and finally 90% resistance. Partner should vary between smash passing, knee slice attempts, and underhook passes to develop adaptive responses.

Duration: 5 minutes per resistance level, 4 rounds total

Transition Flow Sequences

Drill transition flows between butterfly half and related guards including full butterfly, deep half, X-guard, and lockdown to improve fluidity and position recognition. Partner provides specific reactions (standing, forward pressure, crossface, posting hand) and you flow through appropriate transitions without resistance. Focus on seamless connections and maintaining offensive initiative throughout transitions.

Duration: 10 minutes continuous flow with role changes every 2 minutes

Sweep Combination Chains

Work on sweep combinations with progressive resistance, chaining multiple attacks to increase offensive options and develop reaction-based decision making. Practice connecting 100% sweep to old school sweep to deep half entry based on opponent’s defensive reactions. Start with predetermined sequences, then progress to reactive combinations where partner varies defenses.

Duration: 3 minutes per combination chain, 5-6 different chains

Positional Sparring from Butterfly Half

Start in established butterfly half guard and reset after each successful sweep or pass, focusing on decision-making and recognizing which sweep to execute based on opponent’s positioning and pressure patterns. Bottom player scores points for sweeps or back takes, top player scores for passes. Track success rates of different techniques to identify high-percentage options.

Duration: 5 minute rounds, 6-8 rounds with different partners

Hip Angle Adjustment Drill

Isolated drill focusing exclusively on hip angle adjustments to optimize sweep mechanics without completing techniques. Partner maintains static posture while you practice moving hips to create perpendicular angles, identifying optimal positioning for different sweep types. Develop sensitivity to correct angles before adding sweep execution.

Duration: 4 minutes per position, covering upright, forward pressure, and standing variations

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 LevelRetention RateAdvancement ProbabilitySubmission Probability
Beginner50%40%15%
Intermediate65%60%25%
Advanced80%75%40%

Average Time in Position: 30-90 seconds before sweep attempt or transition occurs

  • Half Guard - Parent position providing leg entanglement control mechanics and defensive structure
  • Butterfly Guard - Parent position providing butterfly hook mechanics and elevation concepts
  • Deep Half Guard - Primary transition target when opponent applies forward pressure or establishes crossface
  • X-Guard - Advanced transition option when opponent stands or creates vertical posture
  • Lockdown - Defensive variation when being flattened or losing upper body control
  • Knee Shield Half Guard - Alternative half guard frame when butterfly hook is compromised by pressure
  • Dogfight Position - Transitional state during sweep execution and scrambles
  • Butterfly Sweep - Primary offensive technique utilizing butterfly hook mechanics
  • Old School Sweep - High-percentage sweep when opponent posts hand to defend elevation
  • Butterfly Hook Retention - Essential principle for maintaining active butterfly hook under pressure
  • Underhook Defense - Critical concept for establishing and maintaining upper body control
  • Sweep Mechanics - Fundamental principle for executing sweeps through leverage rather than strength
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