Hip Bump Sweep

The Hip Bump Sweep is a fundamental and high-percentage sweep from closed guard that capitalizes on the opponent’s forward posture and broken base. This technique is particularly effective when the opponent attempts to establish strong posture or begins to stand in your guard. By controlling one arm, bumping your hips explosively toward the same side, and using your opponent’s reaction, you can reverse position and establish mount.

The beauty of the Hip Bump Sweep lies in its versatility and chain attack potential. It works seamlessly with other closed guard attacks like the Kimura and Guillotine, creating a systematic approach where each technique feeds into the next. When opponents defend the Hip Bump by posting their free hand, they immediately expose themselves to the Kimura. When they pull their arm back, the Guillotine becomes available. This creates the fundamental closed guard attack triangle that every practitioner should master.

The Hip Bump Sweep is also an excellent technique for developing timing, hip mobility, and the ability to off-balance opponents. It teaches practitioners to feel weight distribution and exploit moments of vulnerability. While beginners often struggle with the explosive hip movement and timing required, intermediate and advanced practitioners can execute this sweep with remarkable consistency, especially when integrated into a comprehensive guard attack system.

Starting Position: Closed Guard Ending Position: Mount Success Rates: Beginner 30%, Intermediate 50%, Advanced 70%

Key Principles

Control the opponent’s arm on the side you’re sweeping toward to prevent posting
Break opponent’s posture forward before initiating the sweep to compromise their base
Generate explosive hip bump at a 45-degree angle toward the controlled arm
Maintain close connection throughout the movement to prevent opponent’s escape
Use your free hand to pull opponent’s head down and prevent posture recovery
Time the sweep when opponent’s weight is distributed forward or they attempt to stand
Chain this technique with Kimura and Guillotine attacks for maximum effectiveness

Prerequisites

Closed guard established with ankles locked behind opponent’s back
Opponent’s posture broken forward with head pulled down toward your chest
Strong grip on opponent’s same-side wrist or sleeve (the side you’ll sweep toward)
Opponent’s weight shifted forward or attempting to establish strong posture
Your hips mobile and ready to generate explosive movement
Free hand controlling opponent’s head or collar to prevent posture recovery

Execution Steps

Establish control and break posture: From closed guard, secure a firm grip on your opponent’s right wrist or sleeve with your left hand. Simultaneously, use your right hand to grip behind their head or collar. Pull their head down and forward, breaking their posture completely. Your ankles should remain locked, and you should feel their weight distributed forward onto you. (Timing: Initial setup - take time to establish solid grips and broken posture)
Open guard and plant posting hand: Unlock your ankles and open your closed guard. Immediately plant your right hand on the mat approximately 6-12 inches away from your hip, fingers pointing away from your body. This hand will serve as the base for your explosive hip movement. Keep your left hand firmly controlling their right wrist, preventing them from posting on that side. (Timing: Quick transition - don’t allow opponent time to establish base)
Hip escape and angle creation: Shrimp your hips slightly to the left, creating a 30-45 degree angle with your body relative to your opponent. This angle is crucial - if you stay square, the sweep becomes much more difficult. Your right foot should come to the mat with your knee bent, ready to drive. Your left leg should begin to swing out wide to the left side. (Timing: Smooth and deliberate - proper angle sets up the entire sweep)
Execute explosive hip bump: Drive explosively off your right foot and right hand simultaneously, bumping your left hip and shoulder into your opponent’s right side (the side where you control their arm). The force should be directed diagonally upward at approximately 45 degrees. Your entire left side should make contact with their right side. Keep their right arm pinned to your body throughout this movement. (Timing: Explosive and committed - this is the critical moment of the technique)
Follow through and establish base: As your opponent tips over from the hip bump, continue driving through the movement. Your left shoulder should drive into their chest as they fall to their left side. Immediately begin to establish your base by getting your left knee to the mat on the far side of their body. Your right leg follows through, and you begin to stack their position. (Timing: Continuous movement - maintain momentum from the hip bump)
Secure mount position: Complete the sweep by bringing your right knee over their body to establish mount. Keep your weight forward and your hips low as you settle into the mount position. Maintain control of their right arm if possible, as this prevents them from using it to escape. Establish your posture in mount with your head up, back straight, and base wide. (Timing: Controlled finish - secure position before celebrating)

Opponent Counters

Opponent posts their free hand on the mat to prevent being swept (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Immediately transition to Kimura attack on the posted arm. The posting motion places their arm in perfect Kimura position. This is why the Hip Bump, Kimura, and Guillotine form the fundamental closed guard attack triangle.
Opponent pulls their controlled arm back forcefully to break your grip (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Follow their arm back and transition to Guillotine choke or High Elbow Guillotine. As they pull back, their head comes forward into perfect guillotine position. Wrap your arm around their neck and lock up the choke.
Opponent establishes extremely strong posture before you can execute the sweep (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Abandon the Hip Bump temporarily and work to break their posture again using collar grips, overhooks, or by threatening other attacks like Triangle or Armbar. Strong posture makes the Hip Bump significantly less effective.
Opponent sprawls their hips back as you begin the hip bump motion (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: If they sprawl early, you can often still complete the sweep with more emphasis on pulling their head down and driving through. Alternatively, transition to Technical Stand-up or Sit-up Sweep variations.
Opponent steps over into mount as you open your guard (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Response: This rarely happens if you maintain proper control, but if they attempt it, keep your grips tight and use their forward momentum to assist your hip bump. Their stepping motion actually loads their weight forward, making them easier to sweep.

Common Mistakes

Mistake: Attempting the sweep without properly breaking opponent’s posture first
- Consequence: Opponent’s strong base makes the sweep nearly impossible. You waste energy and telegraph your intentions, allowing them to defend easily.
- Correction: Always establish posture control before opening your guard. Use collar grips, head control, and closed guard pressure to break them forward. Their head should be below their hips before you initiate the sweep.
Mistake: Bumping straight forward instead of at a 45-degree angle
- Consequence: You drive into their strongest base rather than their weakest point. The sweep fails and you end up in an inferior position with your guard open.
- Correction: Create proper angle with hip escape first. Bump diagonally toward the controlled arm side, not straight forward. Visualize knocking them over sideways, not backward.
Mistake: Releasing the controlled arm during the hip bump
- Consequence: Opponent posts with the free arm and easily prevents the sweep. You lose the chain attack option to Kimura.
- Correction: Maintain a death grip on their wrist or sleeve throughout the entire technique. Pin their arm to your body as you bump. This arm control is absolutely critical to success.
Mistake: Insufficient explosive power in the hip bump
- Consequence: The sweep becomes a slow pushing match that gives opponent time to establish base and counter. Lower success rate and higher energy expenditure.
- Correction: Commit fully to the explosive hip drive. Use your posting hand and driving foot to generate maximum power. The movement should be sharp and sudden, not slow and grinding.
Mistake: Failing to follow through to mount after the sweep
- Consequence: Opponent recovers guard or you end up in a scramble. You complete the sweep but fail to establish dominant position, negating your advantage.
- Correction: As soon as opponent tips, immediately drive your knee through to the far side and establish mount. Don’t pause to celebrate - the sweep isn’t complete until you have secure mount position.
Mistake: Attempting the sweep when opponent has already passed guard angle
- Consequence: You’re sweeping from a compromised position where they already have angle on you. Very low success rate and high risk of giving up position.
- Correction: Only attempt Hip Bump when you have square or advantageous position. If they’ve already achieved passing angle, focus on guard retention first, then look for sweep opportunities.

Training Progressions

Week 1-2: Fundamental Movement Pattern - Developing proper hip bump mechanics and angle creation Practice the hip bump motion solo and with compliant partner. Focus on creating the 45-degree angle, generating explosive hip drive, and maintaining arm control throughout. Partner provides minimal resistance. Drill 20-30 repetitions per session, alternating sides. Emphasis on feeling the proper angle and explosive hip movement. (Resistance: None)

Week 3-4: Posture Breaking Integration - Combining posture control with sweep execution Partner begins with good posture. Practice breaking their posture first, then executing the sweep. Partner provides light resistance to posture breaking but allows sweep once posture is broken. Drill 15-20 repetitions per session. Learn to feel when posture is sufficiently broken before attempting sweep. (Resistance: Light)

Week 5-8: Adding Chain Attacks - Hip Bump to Kimura to Guillotine triangle system Partner provides medium resistance and can post their free hand or pull their arm back. Practice transitioning smoothly to Kimura when they post, or Guillotine when they pull back. 10-15 repetitions per session of the full sequence. Focus on reading opponent’s defensive reactions and flowing between techniques. (Resistance: Medium)

Week 9-12: Timing and Reactive Drilling - Executing sweep in response to opponent’s movements Partner moves randomly between attempting to stand, establishing posture, and breaking grips. Practitioner must recognize optimal timing windows and execute sweep or transition to alternative attacks. 5-10 minutes of continuous flow drilling per session. Developing timing awareness and reaction speed. (Resistance: Medium)

Month 4-6: Positional Sparring - Full resistance application from closed guard Start in closed guard with full resistance. Partner attempts to maintain posture, pass guard, and defend sweeps using their full skill set. Practitioner works to create opportunities for Hip Bump Sweep and chain attacks. 5-minute rounds, multiple rounds per session. Real-time problem solving and adaptation. (Resistance: Full)

Month 6+: Competition Integration - Applying technique in live rolling and competition Regular live rolling with focus on creating and recognizing Hip Bump opportunities. Competition-level drilling where partner knows the technique is coming and defends accordingly. Video review of execution to identify technical deficiencies. Refinement of timing, setups, and chain attacks under maximum pressure. (Resistance: Full)

Variations

No-Gi Hip Bump Sweep: Without gi grips available, control the opponent’s wrist directly and use your free hand to wrap around their head (overhook style) or control their tricep. The mechanics remain the same but grips must be adjusted. Often more challenging due to sweat and lack of friction, requiring even more explosive hip movement. (When to use: No-gi training, MMA applications, or when opponent has removed their gi jacket)

Hip Bump to Technical Mount: Instead of completing the sweep to traditional mount, as you sweep them you can trap their arm across your body and land directly in Technical Mount position. This variation provides immediate submission attacks (armbars, triangles from mount) and is harder to escape than regular mount. (When to use: When opponent’s arm becomes available to trap during the sweep, or when you want to emphasize submission attacks over positional control)

Sit-Up Sweep Variation: Instead of bumping from your back, sit up completely as you execute the sweep, creating a more vertical angle. This variation works well when opponent is very heavy or when you need extra leverage. The sit-up motion also disguises your intentions slightly better than the traditional hip bump. (When to use: Against larger, heavier opponents, or when traditional hip bump angle isn’t working due to opponent’s defensive posture)

Hip Bump to Back Take: If the opponent posts and you go for the Kimura, but they defend by pulling their elbow back, you can use that momentum to come up and take their back instead of completing the sweep to mount. This creates a three-way attack: sweep to mount, Kimura submission, or back take. (When to use: When opponent defends the Kimura strongly by pulling their arm back, creating opportunity for back exposure)

Test Your Knowledge

Q1: What is the primary purpose of controlling your opponent’s arm during the Hip Bump Sweep? A: Controlling the opponent’s arm serves two critical purposes: first, it prevents them from posting that arm to stop the sweep, and second, it creates the chain attack opportunity to Kimura if they post with their other arm. The arm control is the linchpin that makes the entire closed guard attack system work together.

Q2: Why must you create a 45-degree angle before executing the hip bump? A: The 45-degree angle directs your force into the opponent’s weakest base point rather than their strongest. Bumping straight forward attacks their strongest base, while bumping at an angle exploits the diagonal weakness in their structure. This angle also allows you to generate more power from your posting hand and driving leg while maintaining better control of their upper body.

Q3: How do the Hip Bump Sweep, Kimura, and Guillotine form an attack triangle in closed guard? A: These three techniques form a perfect chain attack system where defending one technique opens up another. When you attempt the Hip Bump, if the opponent posts their free hand, that arm is perfectly positioned for a Kimura. If they defend the Kimura by pulling their arm back, their head comes forward into Guillotine position. If they defend the Guillotine by pulling back, you return to Hip Bump opportunity. This creates a continuous attack cycle with no safe defensive option.

Q4: What should you do if your opponent establishes very strong posture before you can execute the Hip Bump Sweep? A: You should not force the Hip Bump Sweep against strong posture as it has a very low success rate and wastes energy. Instead, abandon the sweep temporarily and focus on breaking their posture again using collar grips, overhooks, threatening triangles or armbars, or attacking their base with off-balancing movements. Only attempt the sweep once their posture is compromised and their weight is forward.

Q5: Why is the Hip Bump Sweep considered a fundamental technique for guard players? A: The Hip Bump Sweep is fundamental because it teaches essential guard concepts including posture breaking, angle creation, explosive hip movement, and chain attacking. It works at all skill levels from white belt to black belt when executed properly. It forms the foundation of the closed guard attack system and helps develop the timing and sensitivity needed for more advanced guard work. Additionally, it’s effective in both gi and no-gi, making it a universally applicable technique.

Q6: What is the most common timing error when attempting the Hip Bump Sweep and how can it be corrected? A: The most common timing error is attempting the sweep too early, before the opponent’s posture is sufficiently broken or their weight is forward. This results in bumping against a strong base with predictably low success. The correction is to be patient and wait for clear indicators: opponent’s head below their hips, weight distributed forward, or the moment they attempt to stand or establish strong posture. The sweep should feel like you’re capitalizing on a moment of vulnerability, not forcing a movement against resistance.

Safety Considerations

The Hip Bump Sweep is generally a very safe technique for both practitioners when executed with proper control. The primary safety concern is ensuring you don’t land with excessive force on your opponent after the sweep - control your descent to mount rather than slamming down. When practicing, ensure adequate mat space for the sweeping motion, as you need room to hip bump and roll through. Partners should communicate clearly, especially during initial learning phases with minimal resistance. Avoid cranking the Kimura or Guillotine during chain attack drilling unless both partners are prepared for submission attempts. For beginners, it’s important to drill the explosive hip movement gradually, building power over time rather than attempting maximum force immediately, which could lead to muscle strains. The posting hand should be placed carefully to avoid wrist injuries - fingers pointed away from the body with a strong, flat palm base.

Position Integration

The Hip Bump Sweep is part of the fundamental closed guard attack system and serves as the cornerstone technique that connects to multiple other attacks. It integrates seamlessly with the Kimura and Guillotine to form what many instructors call the ‘closed guard triangle’ - a three-technique chain attack where each technique naturally flows into the next based on opponent reactions. This sweep also connects to the broader closed guard retention and attack framework, working in conjunction with techniques like the Scissor Sweep, Pendulum Sweep, and various submission attacks. From a systematic perspective, the Hip Bump Sweep represents the offensive transition from guard bottom to top control (mount), making it a critical component in the positional hierarchy. It teaches practitioners to recognize and exploit moments when the opponent’s base is compromised, a skill that transfers to all areas of guard work. Advanced practitioners use the Hip Bump as both a legitimate attack and a setup technique, threatening it to create reactions that open up other attacks. In the context of overall BJJ strategy, mastering this sweep and its chain attacks is considered essential for any guard player, as it provides a reliable method to reverse position against opponents who attempt to establish strong posture in closed guard.