Bolo Sweep

The Bolo Sweep, short for Berimbolo, is one of the most revolutionary techniques in modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, fundamentally transforming how practitioners approach the De La Riva guard. This dynamic sweeping technique utilizes rotation and inversion to destabilize opponents while simultaneously creating opportunities to take the back. The movement combines elements of traditional sweeping mechanics with gymnastic-style inversion, making it particularly effective against standing opponents who base heavily on their De La Riva-hooked leg. The technique’s effectiveness lies in its ability to create a rotational force that opponents cannot easily counter without risking being swept or having their back taken. What makes the Bolo particularly powerful is its scalability - it can be executed as a pure sweep to off-balance and reverse positions, or it can seamlessly transition into back-taking sequences when the opponent attempts to defend the initial sweep. The technique has become a cornerstone of modern sport BJJ competition, particularly in the lighter weight divisions where flexibility and speed can be maximized.

Starting Position: De La Riva Guard Ending Position: Back Control Success Rates: Beginner 25%, Intermediate 45%, Advanced 65%

Key Principles

• Control opponent’s far leg with De La Riva hook throughout the rotation
• Create angle and space by inverting underneath opponent’s base
• Use momentum from rotation to break opponent’s posting arm
• Maintain constant connection to prevent opponent from stepping over
• Thread your body under opponent’s leg while pulling them forward
• Secure back control or sweep completion based on opponent’s defensive reaction
• Time the inversion when opponent’s weight is committed forward

Prerequisites

• Established De La Riva guard with hook on opponent’s far leg
• Grip on opponent’s collar or sleeve with same-side hand
• Opponent in standing or combat base position
• Sufficient space created to initiate inversion
• Control of opponent’s near leg with your free hand or second hook
• Proper angle established - hips turned away from opponent slightly
• Opponent’s weight committed forward or centered over their base

Execution Steps

1. Establish De La Riva control: Secure De La Riva hook on opponent’s far leg with your outside leg, threading it deep behind their knee. Simultaneously grip their collar or same-side sleeve with your hand, creating a strong connection that prevents them from easily disengaging or circling away from your guard. (Timing: Initial setup phase)
2. Create angle and off-balance: Pull opponent forward and slightly to the side using your collar or sleeve grip while simultaneously extending your De La Riva hook. This forces their weight onto the hooked leg and creates the foundational angle needed for your inversion. Your free leg should be framing against their near hip or controlling their other leg. (Timing: As opponent begins to pass or stand)
3. Begin inversion: Release your frame leg and begin rotating your hips underneath your body, turning your shoulders toward the mat. Your De La Riva hook remains active throughout this movement. Start threading your head and shoulders under the opponent’s posted leg, creating a corkscrew-like rotation that takes you beneath their base. (Timing: Explosive movement as you feel opponent’s weight shift)
4. Thread under opponent’s leg: Continue your rotation, threading your entire upper body under the opponent’s De La Riva-hooked leg. Your shoulders should pass completely underneath their thigh as you maintain the hook. Pull strongly with your grip to bring opponent’s upper body forward and down, compromising their posture and balance. (Timing: Mid-rotation, continuous fluid motion)
5. Secure back exposure: As you complete the rotation and your shoulders emerge on the other side of their leg, you’ll find yourself positioned behind or beside the opponent. Your De La Riva hook naturally transitions to control their far leg or hip. Immediately begin establishing back control grips or consolidating top position depending on how opponent reacts. (Timing: As rotation completes)
6. Finish sweep or take back: Complete the technique by either sweeping opponent to their back (if they base heavily) or climbing onto their back for back control (if they turn away to defend). Secure seat belt grip and both hooks if taking the back, or establish side control or mount if completing as a traditional sweep. Maintain aggressive forward pressure to prevent re-guard. (Timing: Immediate transition to dominant position)

Opponent Counters

• Opponent steps over your inverting body with their free leg (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Immediately hook their stepping leg with your free leg and transition to X-Guard or Single Leg X-Guard position. Use their stepping motion to off-balance them backward.
• Opponent posts their hand on the mat to prevent rotation (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Switch to attacking the posted arm with a triangle setup or transition to Kiss of the Dragon by continuing your rotation toward the posted arm side. Use their posting as an anchor point for different sweeping angle.
• Opponent sits back and pulls their hooked leg away (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Follow their backward movement by coming up on your posting hand and transitioning to a wrestling-style single leg attack or reverting to standard De La Riva sweeping mechanics.
• Opponent sprawls heavily and drives chest pressure down (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Response: Use their forward pressure to accelerate your rotation. Their weight commitment forward actually assists your inversion and makes it harder for them to retract or change direction.

Common Mistakes

• Mistake: Releasing De La Riva hook too early during rotation
  • Consequence: Opponent easily steps away or passes guard as you lose primary control mechanism
  • Correction: Maintain active De La Riva hook throughout entire rotation until back exposure is achieved. The hook should be the last control released, not the first.
• Mistake: Inverting without creating sufficient angle first
  • Consequence: Rotation is blocked by opponent’s base and you end up stuck underneath with no sweeping leverage
  • Correction: Always establish proper angle by pulling opponent forward and to the side before beginning inversion. Your shoulders should already be turned 30-45 degrees before you start rolling.
• Mistake: Failing to pull opponent’s upper body forward with grip
  • Consequence: Opponent maintains strong posture and base, making rotation ineffective and allowing easy counter-passing
  • Correction: Actively pull with your collar or sleeve grip throughout the movement. Your grip hand should move in a large arc, dragging opponent’s shoulders down and forward.
• Mistake: Stopping rotation halfway through the movement
  • Consequence: You end up inverted but not properly positioned for sweep or back-take, leaving you vulnerable to leg attacks or passing
  • Correction: Commit fully to the rotation with explosive movement. The Bolo is not a position - it’s a transitional movement that must be completed with speed and commitment.
• Mistake: Not immediately securing back control after rotation
  • Consequence: Opponent escapes or counters because you fail to capitalize on the positional advantage created
  • Correction: Have a clear plan for finishing - either seat belt grip for back control or immediate pressure for top position. Begin establishing controls before your rotation is completely finished.

Training Progressions

Week 1-2: Static Drilling - Basic inversion mechanics and body awareness Practice the inversion movement in isolation with no resistance. Partner remains stationary in De La Riva position. Focus on smooth rotation, maintaining hook connection, and proper threading of shoulders under opponent’s leg. Repeat 20-30 repetitions per training session to build muscle memory. (Resistance: None)

Week 3-4: Cooperative Movement - Timing and grip coordination Partner provides light resistance by maintaining base but not actively countering. Practice coordinating your grip pulls with your rotation. Work on creating the initial angle before inverting. Begin recognizing when opponent’s weight is properly positioned for the technique. Add finishing sequences - either sweep completion or back-take. (Resistance: Light)

Week 5-8: Active Counters - Problem-solving against common defenses Partner provides specific counters - stepping over, posting hands, pulling leg back, sprawling. Practice recognizing and responding to each counter appropriately. Develop decision-making skills for when to continue Bolo versus when to transition to alternative attacks. Begin chaining Bolo attempts with other De La Riva attacks. (Resistance: Medium)

Week 9-12: Live Integration - Competition timing and positioning Execute Bolo attempts during live positional sparring from De La Riva guard. Partner uses full resistance and all available defenses. Focus on setting up the technique from realistic guard situations. Work on combinations - Bolo to X-Guard, Bolo to Kiss of the Dragon, Bolo to Triangle. Begin using technique in full sparring rounds. (Resistance: Full)

Variations

Reverse Bolo (Reverse Berimbolo): Instead of rotating under opponent’s far leg, rotate under their near leg in the opposite direction. This variation is particularly effective when opponent defends traditional Bolo by posting or shifting weight away from standard rotation. (When to use: When opponent anticipates standard Bolo and shifts weight to defend, or when their positioning makes traditional Bolo difficult but opposite-side rotation is open)

Bolo to Crab Ride: Complete the rotation but instead of taking full back control, establish crab ride position with one hook in and opponent face-down. This variation provides excellent control while maintaining multiple attacking options including second hook insertion, armbar setups, or continued back exposure. (When to use: When opponent is belly-down defending back exposure, or in no-gi situations where traditional back control grips are harder to secure)

Kiss of the Dragon to Bolo Combination: Begin with Kiss of the Dragon rolling technique, and if opponent defends by turning away or posting, immediately transition into Bolo rotation. This creates a two-direction attacking sequence that makes defense extremely difficult since opponent must defend against opposite rotational forces. (When to use: Against experienced opponents who recognize and defend single-direction inversion attacks, or as part of systematic De La Riva attacking sequence)

Test Your Knowledge

Q1: What is the primary control mechanism that must be maintained throughout the Bolo rotation? A: The De La Riva hook on the opponent’s far leg must be maintained throughout the entire rotation. This hook is the foundational control that prevents the opponent from stepping away, creates the leverage for the sweep, and guides your body through the proper rotational path. Releasing this hook prematurely is one of the most common errors that causes the technique to fail.

Q2: How should you respond if your opponent steps over your inverting body with their free leg during the Bolo? A: When the opponent steps over with their free leg, immediately hook that stepping leg with your free leg and transition to X-Guard or Single Leg X-Guard position. This counter uses their defensive stepping motion against them, turning their escape attempt into an opportunity for a different guard position with strong sweeping options. The key is recognizing the step early and reacting immediately rather than trying to force the original Bolo.

Q3: What angle must be created before initiating the inversion, and how is it established? A: Before inverting, you must create a 30-45 degree angle by pulling the opponent forward and to the side using your collar or sleeve grip while extending your De La Riva hook. This angle is critical because it off-balances the opponent onto their hooked leg and creates the spatial opening for your rotation. Attempting to invert without this angle results in your rotation being blocked by the opponent’s base, leaving you stuck underneath with no leverage.

Q4: What are the two primary finishing options after completing the Bolo rotation, and how do you decide between them? A: The two primary finishes are: (1) completing a traditional sweep to top position, and (2) taking the back with seat belt control and hooks. The decision depends on the opponent’s defensive reaction. If they base heavily with their hands or turn toward you to defend, complete the sweep to establish top position (side control or mount). If they turn away or turtle to defend the sweep, climb onto their back and establish back control with seat belt grip and hooks. Advanced practitioners make this decision mid-rotation based on real-time feedback from the opponent’s weight distribution and defensive movements.

Q5: Why is the Bolo particularly effective against opponents who base heavily on their De La Riva-hooked leg? A: When an opponent bases heavily on their De La Riva-hooked leg, they concentrate their weight and structural support on that single point of contact. The Bolo’s rotational mechanics create a circular force that attacks perpendicular to this linear base structure. As you rotate underneath, your De La Riva hook pulls their base leg in a direction they cannot effectively resist without losing balance entirely. Their heavy weight commitment, which would normally make them more stable, actually works against them by creating momentum that accelerates their fall once the rotational sweep mechanics overcome their base. This is a perfect example of using opponent’s strength and weight commitment against them through superior positioning and leverage.

Q6: How does the Bolo exemplify modern sport BJJ’s evolution beyond traditional sweeping mechanics? A: The Bolo represents a paradigm shift in guard play by incorporating gymnastic-style inversion and three-dimensional rotation into traditional sweeping concepts. Unlike classical sweeps that primarily use linear or two-dimensional leverage to off-balance opponents, the Bolo creates rotational momentum through space underneath the opponent’s base. This evolution reflects modern sport BJJ’s acceptance of highly athletic, dynamic movements that would be impractical in self-defense contexts but are devastatingly effective in competition settings. The technique also demonstrates how modern practitioners have developed systematic approaches to back-taking directly from guard positions, bypassing traditional positional hierarchies. The Bolo’s success has influenced training methodology across the art, with increased emphasis on flexibility, inversion drills, and rotational awareness becoming standard in competition-focused academies.

Safety Considerations

The Bolo requires significant spinal flexibility and inversion ability, making proper warm-up essential to prevent neck and back injuries. Practitioners should develop neck strength and flexibility through progressive drilling before attempting the technique at full speed. When practicing, ensure adequate mat space is available since the rotation can carry practitioners several feet from starting position. Partners should avoid posting hands directly on the inverting practitioner’s head or neck, and both participants should be aware of potential collision with other training pairs. Beginners should practice the inversion mechanics slowly with cooperative partners before adding resistance. Those with pre-existing neck, back, or shoulder injuries should consult medical professionals before training this technique. In competition, be aware of legal vs illegal variations under IBJJF rules, particularly regarding the direction of opponent’s forced rotation.

Position Integration

The Bolo Sweep is the centerpiece technique of modern De La Riva guard systems, fundamentally defining how advanced practitioners approach this guard position. It integrates seamlessly with other De La Riva attacks including traditional sweeps, Kiss of the Dragon entries, and triangle setups, creating a comprehensive attacking system. The technique connects the lower-body control of De La Riva guard directly to back-taking sequences, bypassing traditional intermediate positions. In systematic guard development, the Bolo represents an advanced-level technique that builds upon fundamental De La Riva mechanics including hook maintenance, angle creation, and grip fighting. The position also connects to broader inversion-based guard systems including Reverse De La Riva Guard, allowing practitioners to attack with similar rotational mechanics from multiple guard variations. Understanding the Bolo provides insight into modern competition strategy, particularly in lighter weight divisions where speed and flexibility can be maximized. The technique has influenced development of related positions including Single Leg X-Guard and X-Guard, as practitioners developed systematic ways to transition between these positions during failed or defended Bolo attempts.

Related Techniques

• Berimbolo Entry - Alternative name and systematic entry method
• De La Riva Sweep - Foundational technique from same position
• Kiss of the Dragon - Complementary inversion attack creating two-way threat
• De La Riva to X-Guard Transition - Alternative when Bolo is defended by step-over
• X-Guard Sweep - Follow-up position after failed Bolo
• Single Leg X Sweep - Transition option when opponent defends rotation
• Reverse De La Riva Guard - Related guard position with similar inversion mechanics
• Triangle from De La Riva - Alternative attack creating submission threat
• Arm Drag to Back - Alternative back-taking method without inversion
• Rolling Back Take - Related inversion-based back attack
• Crab Ride to Back - Follow-up control position after Bolo rotation
• Waiter Sweep - Complementary De La Riva sweep creating different angle

Expert Insights

• Danaher System: The Berimbolo represents a fascinating case study in how theoretical impossibilities become practical realities through systematic development and athletic evolution. From a purely mechanical perspective, the technique appears to violate fundamental principles of leverage and base - you are attempting to off-balance a standing opponent by rotating underneath their base while maintaining minimal points of contact. Yet through precise understanding of rotational momentum, timing relative to opponent’s weight distribution, and systematic coordination of grip work with lower body movement, the technique becomes not just possible but highly reliable. The key insight is recognizing that traditional sweeping mechanics operate primarily in two dimensions - forward/backward and side-to-side. The Berimbolo introduces a third dimension of rotation that opponents cannot effectively defend without fundamental changes to their base structure. This is why the technique is particularly effective against wrestlers and judoka who have developed exceptional two-dimensional balance but lack experience with rotational attacks. From a teaching perspective, the Berimbolo must be understood as part of a systematic guard approach rather than an isolated movement. Students must develop the foundational De La Riva mechanics - hook maintenance, grip fighting, angle creation - before attempting the more complex rotational elements. The progression from basic De La Riva control to successful Berimbolo execution typically requires 6-12 months of focused training for athletes with good flexibility and body awareness.
• Gordon Ryan: The Berimbolo is one of the most powerful weapons in modern no-gi competition, particularly at the elite level where everyone has strong passing and top pressure. What makes it so effective in high-level competition is that it forces your opponent into an impossible defensive dilemma - they either let you complete the rotation and take their back, or they defend so aggressively that they expose themselves to other attacks. I’ve used this extensively in competition, and the key to making it work at the highest level is developing it as part of an integrated system, not just a single technique. You need to chain it with X-Guard entries, Kiss of the Dragon, and traditional De La Riva sweeps so opponents can never settle into defending just one attack. The timing is absolutely critical - you cannot telegraph the movement or wait too long. The moment you feel their weight shift onto the De La Riva-hooked leg, you must initiate the rotation explosively. Hesitation kills the technique because it allows opponent to retract their leg or change their base. In my competitive experience, the Berimbolo is most effective in the 5-7 minute range of a match when opponents start getting tired and their defensive reactions slow down. Fresh opponents with good awareness can sometimes step over or sprawl effectively, but fatigued opponents make critical defensive errors that allow you to complete the sweep or take the back. One tactical note - in no-gi, the lack of collar grips changes some mechanics, but you can compensate with overhook or underhook control combined with aggressive hip movement.
• Eddie Bravo: The Berimbolo is beautiful because it completely breaks the traditional BJJ rules about position before submission and slow, controlled progression through positions. You’re literally going inverted underneath a standing opponent and ending up on their back - that’s some matrix-level shit that wouldn’t have been considered legitimate BJJ twenty years ago. At 10th Planet, we integrate Berimbolo-style movements into our overall system, particularly when working from our various guard positions. The key innovation we’ve added is combining Berimbolo mechanics with lockdown and rubber guard concepts, creating hybrid attacks that opponents have never seen. For example, you can use a modified Berimbolo rotation from lockdown to create back exposure without the traditional De La Riva hook. The inversion element is what makes it so powerful - most BJJ players, even high-level ones, don’t have extensive experience defending against inverted attacks because traditional BJJ dogma dismissed such movements as risky or impractical. But in modern sport BJJ, especially no-gi, these ‘impractical’ movements score points and win matches. What I love about the Berimbolo is it rewards creativity and athleticism, not just technique and strength. Smaller, more flexible practitioners can use it to absolutely dominate larger opponents who can’t match their inversion speed and rotational awareness. That’s the future of BJJ - technique that emphasizes movement quality, timing, and three-dimensional spatial awareness rather than just positional pressure and submission hunting. The Berimbolo also teaches a critical lesson about commitment - you cannot do this technique half-heartedly. You must fully commit to the rotation with explosive energy or you get stuck in a terrible position. That commitment and willingness to take calculated risks is what separates good competitors from great ones.