The Butterfly Sweep with Guillotine represents one of the most powerful combinations in bottom guard attacking, merging a high-percentage sweep with continuous submission pressure. This technique exploits a fundamental defensive dilemma: when an opponent drives forward to relieve guillotine pressure, they provide the exact energy needed for a butterfly sweep. The sweep uses their forward momentum against them while the guillotine grip maintains constant threat throughout the transition.
From the Hindulotine bottom position, the practitioner establishes butterfly hooks inside the opponent’s thighs while maintaining the guillotine grip. When the opponent attempts to pressure forward to flatten the bottom player and neutralize the choke, the butterfly hooks catch their weight. A coordinated hip elevation and directional pull on the neck redirects their forward momentum into a sweeping arc, landing the attacker in mount with the guillotine still locked.
The strategic brilliance of this combination lies in its offensive layering. The opponent faces a no-win scenario: defending the sweep by posting wide opens the guillotine finish, while driving forward to escape the choke enables the sweep. This dilemma-based approach represents modern submission grappling at its highest level, where every defensive action opens a new offensive opportunity.
From Position: Hindulotine (Bottom) Success Rate: 58%
Possible Outcomes
| Result | Position | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Success | Mount | 58% |
| Failure | Hindulotine | 27% |
| Counter | Closed Guard | 15% |
Attacker vs Defender
| Attacker | Defender | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Execute technique | Prevent or counter |
| Key Principles | Use opponent’s forward pressure as the primary energy source… | Address the guillotine grip and butterfly hooks simultaneous… |
| Options | 7 execution steps | 4 defensive options |
Playing as Attacker
Key Principles
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Use opponent’s forward pressure as the primary energy source for the sweep rather than muscular effort
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Maintain constant guillotine grip pressure throughout the entire sweep sequence without loosening
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Time the butterfly hook elevation precisely as opponent commits weight forward
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Direct the sweep at a 45-degree angle toward your choking arm side for mechanical advantage
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Keep hips close to opponent throughout transition to prevent space creation and escape
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Land in mount with immediate finishing position rather than needing to re-establish grip
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Use the pulling direction of your guillotine grip to guide the sweep trajectory
Execution Steps
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Establish grip and hooks: From Hindulotine bottom, ensure your guillotine grip is locked tight with forearm blade positioned h…
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Angle your hips: Rotate your hips approximately 45 degrees toward your choking arm side, creating the angle necessary…
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Absorb forward pressure: Allow opponent’s forward drive to load onto your butterfly hooks rather than resisting directly. Kee…
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Elevate and pull: Explosively extend your butterfly hooks upward while simultaneously pulling opponent’s head toward y…
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Follow through rotation: Continue the sweeping motion by following your opponent over, keeping your hips connected to theirs …
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Establish mount with active grip: Land in mount position with your hips settling onto opponent’s solar plexus, guillotine grip still l…
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Finish or transition from mount: Drive your hips toward your choking arm side while pulling your elbow toward your opposite hip, crea…
Common Mistakes
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Releasing or loosening guillotine grip pressure during the sweep transition
- Consequence: Opponent escapes the choke during movement and you land in mount without submission threat, giving them time to establish defensive frames
- Correction: Treat the guillotine grip as completely independent from the sweep mechanics. Your arms maintain constant choking pressure while your legs and hips execute the sweep. Never sacrifice grip integrity for sweep success.
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Attempting sweep when opponent is sitting back rather than driving forward
- Consequence: Butterfly hooks lack the loaded weight necessary for elevation. Sweep fails and you expend energy without position change, potentially losing guillotine angle.
- Correction: Wait for opponent to commit forward pressure before initiating sweep. If they remain static, use the guillotine to pull them forward or threaten the finish to force their reaction.
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Sweeping directly to the side rather than at 45-degree angle toward choking arm
- Consequence: Poor sweep trajectory results in landing beside opponent rather than on top in mount, losing dominant position and likely losing guillotine grip
- Correction: Always sweep toward your choking arm side at approximately 45 degrees. This trajectory maintains your grip angle and ensures you land directly in mount position.
Playing as Defender
Key Principles
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Address the guillotine grip and butterfly hooks simultaneously rather than focusing on only one threat
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Keep your chin tucked and posture as upright as possible to reduce choking pressure on the neck
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Control your hip position to prevent the 45-degree angle needed for the sweep trajectory
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Never drive forward blindly as this loads the butterfly hooks with the weight needed for elevation
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Create inside position with your arms to wedge space between your neck and their grip
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Accept positional retreat when necessary rather than remaining trapped in the submission-sweep dilemma
Recognition Cues
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Opponent secures guillotine grip from bottom and begins inserting butterfly hooks inside your thighs while maintaining neck control
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You feel opponent’s hips rotating to an angle beneath you rather than staying flat, indicating they are loading the sweep trajectory
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Opponent pulls your head down while simultaneously hooking your inner thighs with their feet, combining choke pressure with sweep setup
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Your weight begins shifting forward as opponent uses the guillotine pull to provoke the exact forward pressure they need for the sweep
Defensive Options
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Posture recovery with chin tuck and hand fighting to strip guillotine grip - When: Early in the sequence before opponent has fully loaded butterfly hooks and committed your weight forward
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Hip retreat and sprawl to remove butterfly hook leverage while keeping head position neutral - When: When you feel butterfly hooks loading with your weight and the sweep is imminent
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Stand up explosively to disengage from both sweep and choke simultaneously - When: When you cannot strip the guillotine grip and hooks are engaged, as a last resort to reset the exchange entirely
Position Integration
The Butterfly Sweep with Guillotine serves as the primary sweep option from Hindulotine bottom position, transforming a defensive guard situation into immediate mount control with submission. This technique integrates into the broader front headlock and guillotine attack system by providing a positional advancement option when the direct choke finish is defended. It chains naturally with other Hindulotine attacks: if opponent defends by posting, the guillotine finish opens; if they retreat, closed guard recovery maintains control; if they turn, back takes become available. The sweep also connects to the mount attack system, as landing with guillotine locked creates immediate submission pressure that can transition to mounted guillotine finish, darce setup, or release into standard mount attacks like armbar and cross collar choke.