The Feet on Hips Sickle Sweep is a fundamental open guard sweep that capitalizes on the distance management structure of feet on hips guard to generate powerful lateral off-balancing force. The technique works by maintaining one foot on the opponent’s hip as a pushing frame while the other leg drops behind the opponent’s far ankle in a sickle-like hooking motion. When combined with coordinated upper body pulls through collar and sleeve grips, this creates an irresistible rotational force that topples the opponent laterally over the hooking leg, landing the sweeper in side control top.
The sweep’s effectiveness stems from its ability to exploit the natural instability created when a standing or kneeling opponent’s base is attacked from multiple vectors simultaneously. The pushing foot drives the opponent’s center of mass backward and laterally, the hooking leg removes their posting ability on the far side, and the grip pulls complete the off-balancing by directing their upper body in the direction of the sweep. This three-point force application makes the sickle sweep one of the highest-percentage sweeps available from open guard positions.
Strategically, the sickle sweep pairs naturally with the tripod sweep to form one of BJJ’s most effective sweep combinations. When the opponent defends the tripod by stepping the targeted foot back, they become vulnerable to the sickle sweep on the opposite side, and vice versa. This creates a sweep dilemma that significantly increases the success rate of both techniques when used in combination, embodying the principle that techniques become exponentially more dangerous when they force the opponent to choose between two equally threatening options.
From Position: Feet on Hips Guard (Bottom) Success Rate: 55%
Possible Outcomes
| Result | Position | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Success | Side Control | 55% |
| Failure | Feet on Hips Guard | 30% |
| Counter | Half Guard | 15% |
Attacker vs Defender
| Attacker | Defender | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Execute technique | Prevent or counter |
| Key Principles | Maintain one foot firmly on the opponent’s hip bone as the p… | Deny the collar grip establishment by fighting hands aggress… |
| Options | 7 execution steps | 4 defensive options |
Playing as Attacker
Key Principles
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Maintain one foot firmly on the opponent’s hip bone as the primary pushing frame throughout the entire sweep sequence to provide the lateral driving force
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Drop the hooking leg behind the opponent’s far ankle at calf level, not at the foot, to prevent them from simply stepping over the hook
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Coordinate the push-pull timing: extend the hip-foot to push while simultaneously pulling the collar grip in the sweep direction for maximum rotational force
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Attack when the opponent’s weight shifts forward or laterally, exploiting the momentary base compromise rather than forcing the sweep against a balanced opponent
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Use the hooking leg as a reaping motion that travels through the opponent’s base, not as a static block placed behind the ankle
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Maintain collar grip connection throughout the sweep and follow-through to control the opponent’s rotation and ensure you land in a dominant top position
Execution Steps
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Establish Grip Configuration: Secure a same-side collar grip with your right hand (if sweeping to your left) and control the oppon…
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Set the Pushing Foot: Place your left foot firmly on the opponent’s right hip bone, ensuring ball-of-foot contact on the a…
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Drop the Hooking Leg: Lower your right foot from the opponent’s left hip and thread it behind their far left ankle at calf…
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Initiate the Off-Balance: Begin the sweep by extending your left leg forcefully into the opponent’s right hip while simultaneo…
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Execute the Sickle Motion: Drive your right hooking leg through in a powerful sickle motion, sweeping the opponent’s left foot …
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Follow Through to Top Position: As the opponent falls, maintain your collar grip and immediately begin coming up to your knees by dr…
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Consolidate Side Control: Immediately establish crossface pressure with your forearm across their neck and drop your hips agai…
Common Mistakes
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Dropping the hooking leg too early before establishing proper collar and sleeve grips
- Consequence: Opponent recognizes the sweep telegraph and steps their far foot back or changes angle, eliminating the hook opportunity and potentially initiating a pass
- Correction: Establish collar and sleeve grips first, confirm solid foot-on-hip connection, then drop the hooking leg as the final piece of the sweep setup sequence
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Placing the hook at the opponent’s foot level instead of calf or Achilles level
- Consequence: Opponent easily steps over the low hook, nullifying the sweep and potentially creating a passing opportunity as your guard is opened
- Correction: Hook at mid-calf to Achilles tendon height where the opponent cannot simply lift their foot over the hook, ensuring the reaping motion captures their entire base
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Pushing and hooking without coordinating upper body pull through the collar grip
- Consequence: Opponent maintains upright posture despite leg mechanics, posting their hands to prevent the sweep or driving forward to pass your opened guard
- Correction: Initiate the sweep with the collar pull first to break their posture toward the sweep direction, then add the push and hook as their weight shifts to maximize rotational force
Playing as Defender
Key Principles
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Deny the collar grip establishment by fighting hands aggressively and keeping your posture upright with chin tucked to prevent deep collar access
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Maintain awareness of both feet on your hips—when one foot drops off, immediately suspect a sickle or tripod sweep setup and prepare your defense
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Keep your base wide and weight centered rather than committing forward, which loads the sweep by shifting your mass over the target foot
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Control the opponent’s hooking leg immediately when you feel it leave your hip and begin traveling behind your ankle
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Step the targeted foot back preemptively when you recognize the sickle setup, removing the hook target entirely
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Use the sweep attempt as a passing opportunity by capitalizing on the guard opening created when the opponent drops one foot from your hip
Recognition Cues
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Opponent establishes a deep collar grip while maintaining sleeve control—this specific grip configuration generates the pulling force essential for the sweep
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One of the opponent’s feet drops from your hip and travels laterally behind your far ankle or calf rather than resetting on your hip
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Opponent’s hips angle to one side as they set the sweep direction, breaking the symmetrical feet-on-hips frame you were facing
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You feel increasing pulling tension through the collar grip directing your weight and posture toward one side
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Opponent’s hooking leg makes firm contact with the back of your far calf or Achilles tendon area, signaling the sweep is loaded
Defensive Options
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Step the far foot back beyond hooking range when you feel the opponent’s foot drop from your hip - When: During the setup phase before the hook is fully set, when you first notice one foot leaving your hip and traveling behind your leg
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Strip the collar grip with a two-on-one grip break while driving forward pressure into the opponent’s guard - When: Early in the setup when the opponent is establishing the collar grip needed for the sweep’s pulling vector
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Grab the hooking leg at the ankle or pant cuff and pin it while stepping your far foot back and driving forward - When: When the hook is already set behind your ankle but the full sweep motion has not yet been initiated
Position Integration
The Feet on Hips Sickle Sweep occupies a central position within the open guard sweep hierarchy, serving as one half of the fundamental sickle-tripod sweep combination that forms the basis of systematic open guard play. This technique integrates with the broader feet on hips guard system by converting the defensive distance management structure into an offensive sweep without requiring a guard transition. It connects directly to side control top, creating an efficient pathway from guard retention to dominant position. The sweep also serves as a gateway to combination attacks: when defended, it naturally sets up tripod sweeps, balloon sweeps, and guard transitions to De La Riva or X-Guard. Mastery of this sweep is essential for any guard player because it teaches the fundamental principle that sweeps require coordinated multi-vector force application rather than relying on a single plane of off-balancing.