BJJ Graph

Tripod Sweep

Jun 15, 202512 min read

Tripod Sweep

bjjtransitionsweepopen_guardfundamental

Required Properties for State Machine

Core Identifiers

  • Transition ID: T063
  • Transition Name: Tripod Sweep
  • Alternative Names: Ankle Grip Sweep, De La Riva Tripod Sweep

State Machine Properties

Transition Properties

  • Success Probability: Beginner 35%, Intermediate 55%, Advanced 75% - core probability data
  • Execution Complexity: Medium - requires grip control and hip movement
  • Energy Cost: Medium - demands active hip escape and leverage
  • Risk Level: Low to Medium - minimal risk if mistimed
  • Execution Speed: Medium - must be executed with control and timing

Physical Requirements

  • Strength Requirements: Medium for grip control and hip drive
  • Flexibility Requirements: Medium for hip mobility and leg positioning
  • Coordination Requirements: Medium to High for timing grip, hip escape, and sweep
  • Speed Requirements: Medium for quick reaction to opponent’s weight shift

State Machine Content Elements

Visual Execution Sequence

Detailed step-by-step description for clear movement sequence visualization:

From an Open Guard Bottom or De La Riva Guard position, you start on your back or seated, facing the opponent who is standing or kneeling in your guard, with one of your feet hooked behind their ankle (often the near leg in De La Riva) or placed on their hip for control, while your other foot is positioned on the mat or their other hip to create a tripod base, and you secure a strong grip on their ankle or pants at the cuff with one hand, maintaining control of their posture with your other hand gripping their sleeve or collar. You maintain a tight connection with your legs and grips, keeping your elbows close to your body to prevent them from pulling out, while your head is positioned defensively to avoid being easily passed, ensuring your hips are slightly elevated or angled to prepare for the sweep, as you use your core to maintain tension and control their forward movement. As you initiate the sweep, you pull on their ankle with your grip while simultaneously pushing with your hooked foot or hip foot to off-balance them backward or to the side, using your other leg on the mat as a tripod point to post and drive your hips upward, creating the leverage to topple them, while your sleeve or collar grip assists in pulling their upper body down or to the side to complete the imbalance. With the opponent off-balanced, you continue the motion by driving forward with your hips and posting leg, rolling them over their trapped ankle or hip, maintaining control of their leg and upper body as they fall to their back or side, ensuring you follow through by coming up on top, often landing in a top position like side control or directly into mount if their defenses are open. You consolidate the position by securing an underhook or crossface to prevent their immediate escape, having successfully reversed the position from bottom guard to top dominance through a fundamental open guard sweep.

Template: “From Open Guard Bottom or De La Riva Guard, hook foot behind ankle or on hip, other foot on mat or hip for tripod base, grip ankle/pants and sleeve/collar. Maintain tight connection, keep elbows in, elevate hips for sweep preparation. Pull ankle, push with hooked foot, post on tripod leg, drive hips up to off-balance opponent backward/sideways. Roll opponent over trapped ankle/hip, follow through to top position or side control. Consolidate with underhook/crossface to secure dominance.”

Execution Steps (Numbered Sequence)

  1. Setup Requirements: Start in Open Guard Bottom or De La Riva Guard
  2. Leg Positioning: Hook one foot behind opponent’s ankle or on hip, other foot on mat/hip for tripod
  3. Grip Establishment: Secure ankle/pants grip with one hand, sleeve/collar grip with other
  4. Posture Control: Maintain tight connection, elbows in, control opponent’s forward movement
  5. Hip Preparation: Elevate or angle hips, engage core for leverage and tension
  6. Off-Balance Action: Pull ankle grip, push with hooked foot, post on tripod leg to unbalance
  7. Hip Drive: Drive hips upward, use tripod base to topple opponent backward or sideways
  8. Sweep Completion: Roll opponent over trapped ankle/hip, maintain leg and upper body control
  9. Position Transition: Follow through to come up on top, land in side control or mount
  10. Position Consolidation: Secure underhook or crossface to prevent immediate escape

Key Technical Details

Critical elements that determine success:

  • Ankle Grip: Strong control of opponent’s ankle or pants to pull and trap leg
  • Tripod Base: Stable posting leg on mat or hip to drive hips and create leverage
  • Hip Movement: Active hip elevation and drive to off-balance opponent
  • Upper Body Control: Sleeve or collar grip to pull opponent’s posture down or sideways
  • Follow-Through: Continuous motion to come up on top after sweep

Success Modifiers

Factors that increase/decrease probability:

  • Grip Strength: Effectiveness of ankle and sleeve/collar control (+/-20%)
  • Opponent Posture: Degree of forward lean or imbalance (+/-15%)
  • Hip Mobility: Ability to elevate and drive hips dynamically (+/-15%)
  • Tripod Stability: Strength of posting leg for leverage (+/-10%)
  • Knowledge Test Performance: Understanding open guard sweep mechanics (+/-10%)

Counter-Attack Analysis

Common Counters

Opponent responses with success rates:

  • Posture Recovery: Stepping back to regain balance → Open Guard Top (Success Rate: 40%, Conditions: early recognition)
  • Base Widening: Lowering center of gravity to resist sweep → Top Open Guard (Success Rate: 30%, Conditions: quick reaction)
  • Leg Freeing: Pulling trapped leg free from grip → Neutral Position (Success Rate: 20%, Conditions: strong grip break)
  • Counter Sweep: Using sweep momentum for own attack → Top Position (Success Rate: 10%, Conditions: advanced skill)

Format: [[Counter Technique]] → [[Result State]] (Success Rate: X%, Conditions: [when applicable])

Decision Logic

If [sweep setup] is recognized early:
- Execute [[Posture Recovery]] (Probability: 40%)

Else if [center of gravity] can be lowered quickly:
- Execute [[Base Widening]] (Probability: 30%)

Else if [grip break] can free trapped leg:
- Attempt [[Leg Freeing]] (Probability: 20%)

Else [advanced skill] allows counter attack:
- Attempt [[Counter Sweep]] (Probability: 10%)

Else [optimal execution]:
- Accept transition (Probability: Success Rate - Modifiers)

Educational Content

Expert Insights

Commentary as if from recognized authorities:

  • John Danaher: “The Tripod Sweep is a fundamental open guard technique that exemplifies the principle of using a stable base to create leverage for sweeping. The key is in the tripod configuration of your legs and the coordinated pulling and pushing actions to off-balance the opponent, demonstrating how structural stability can overcome strength. This sweep teaches critical principles of balance disruption that are essential for all guard systems.”
  • Gordon Ryan: “In competition, the Tripod Sweep is a high-percentage move from open guard, especially against standing opponents who overcommit forward. I focus on securing the ankle grip and using my tripod leg to drive my hips up explosively for the sweep. This technique shows how simple mechanics can be adapted into powerful attacks from the bottom.”
  • Eddie Bravo: “Tripod Sweep is a slick fundamental sweep that blends classic open guard with modern De La Riva concepts, offering a reliable way to reverse position. It’s a great move for grapplers who like to control the legs and create dynamic sweeps, often chaining into other attacks. This sweep integrates well with systems that prioritize fluid transitions and off-balancing from the guard.”

Each insight should focus on one key technical or strategic element.

Common Errors

For knowledge test generation:

  • Error: Weak ankle grip or insufficient pull

  • Why It Fails: Lacks control to trap opponent’s leg and create off-balance

  • Correction: Secure strong grip on ankle or pants, pull with intent to disrupt balance

  • Recognition: Opponent easily steps out or maintains posture

  • Error: Poor tripod base or unstable posting leg

  • Why It Fails: Reduces leverage for hip drive, making sweep ineffective

  • Correction: Ensure posting leg is firmly on mat or hip for stable tripod base

  • Recognition: Sweep stalls or hips collapse during drive

  • Error: Lack of hip elevation or drive

  • Why It Fails: Fails to generate enough force to topple opponent

  • Correction: Actively elevate hips and drive upward using tripod leg

  • Recognition: Opponent remains balanced or counters with posture recovery

Timing Considerations

When to attempt this transition:

  • Optimal Conditions: When opponent stands or leans forward in open guard
  • Avoid When: Opponent maintains low, defensive posture with strong base
  • Setup Sequences: After establishing ankle and sleeve/collar grips for control
  • Follow-up Windows: Must complete sweep within 3-5 seconds to avoid counters

Prerequisites

Requirements before attempting:

  • Technical Skills: Understanding of open guard principles and sweep mechanics
  • Physical Preparation: Hip mobility and core strength for driving motion
  • Positional Understanding: Control points in open guard and De La Riva positions
  • Experience Level: Beginner to Intermediate - fundamental sweep with accessible mechanics

Technical Assessment Elements

Knowledge Assessment Questions

5 technical questions with multiple choice answers:

  • Mechanical Understanding: “What creates the leverage in a Tripod Sweep?”
  • Timing Recognition: “When is the optimal moment to initiate a Tripod Sweep?”
  • Error Prevention: “What is the most common mistake in executing a Tripod Sweep?”
  • Setup Requirements: “Which grip is essential for starting a Tripod Sweep?”
  • Adaptation: “How do you adjust if the opponent resists during a Tripod Sweep?”

Variants and Adaptations

Different versions for various scenarios:

  • Standard Tripod Sweep: Classic open guard sweep with ankle grip and tripod base
  • De La Riva Tripod Sweep: Modified with De La Riva hook for added control
  • No-Gi Variation: Adjusted grip strength on ankle without pants cuff
  • Counter Adaptation: Applied as counter to opponent’s passing attempt
  • Combination Setup: Used in chain with other open guard sweeps or submissions

Training Progressions

Skill development pathway:

  • Solo Practice: Hip elevation and tripod base drills without partner
  • Cooperative Drilling: Partner allows sweep for technique development
  • Resistant Practice: Partner provides progressive resistance to setup
  • Sparring Integration: Attempt during live open guard scenarios
  • Troubleshooting: Identify and correct issues with grip or hip drive

Audio & Narration Elements

Action Descriptions

Dynamic language for TTS narration:

  • Movement Verbs: Hook, grip, pull, push, post, drive, elevate, roll, follow, consolidate
  • Spatial References: Ankle hook, tripod base, hip drive, top position landing
  • Pressure Dynamics: Posture control, off-balancing force, sweeping leverage
  • Momentum Descriptions: Hip elevation, continuous roll, positional reversal

Coaching Commentary

Real-time instruction and feedback:

  • Setup Cues: “Secure ankle grip, hook behind their leg, establish tripod base”
  • Execution Guidance: “Pull ankle, push with hook, drive hips up using tripod leg to sweep”
  • Adaptation Prompts: “If they resist, adjust angle or chain to another guard attack”
  • Completion Confirmation: “Roll them over, come up on top, secure side control or mount”

Technical Specifications

Animation Keyframes

For potential visual development:

  • Starting Position: Open guard with ankle grip and tripod base
  • Transition Points: Off-balance pull/push, hip drive, sweep completion
  • Finishing Position: Top position or side control after sweep
  • Alternative Outcomes: Failed attempt leading to guard retention or counter

Biomechanical Analysis

Scientific movement breakdown:

  • Force Vectors: Pulling force on ankle, pushing force with hooked foot, upward hip drive
  • Leverage Ratios: Tripod leg as fulcrum for opponent’s body weight
  • Range of Motion: Hip flexion and extension for sweep mechanics
  • Power Generation: Core and leg strength for driving and rolling action

Validation Checklist

Every transition file must include:

  • All required properties with specific numeric values
  • Detailed visual execution sequence (minimum 4 sentences)
  • Complete numbered execution steps (minimum 6 steps)
  • At least 3 common counters with success rates
  • Decision logic for opponent behavior
  • Expert insights from all three authorities
  • Minimum 3 common errors with corrections
  • 5 knowledge test questions with answers
  • Timing considerations and prerequisites
  • Training progression pathway

Example Implementation

See Hip Bump Sweep for a complete example implementing all standard requirements.

Notes for Developers

This standard ensures:

  • Consistent transition data for state machine implementation
  • Probability calculations with modifier systems
  • Rich content for comprehensive technical documentation
  • Educational value through expert analysis
  • Technical depth for authentic understanding
  • Structured decision analysis patterns
  • Knowledge assessment integration
  • Training progression guidance

Updates to this standard should be reflected across all transition files to maintain consistency and educational value.

  • Open Guard Bottom - Primary starting position for this sweep
  • De La Riva Guard - Alternative starting position with similar mechanics
  • Scissor Sweep - Similar fundamental open guard sweep with different leverage
  • Top Position - Common outcome after successful sweep

Competition Applications

  • IBJJF Rules: Legal at all belt levels, scores as sweep (2 points)
  • No-Gi Competition: Effective with modified grip setups
  • Self-Defense: Useful for reversing position in real-world scenarios
  • MMA Applications: Applicable with adjustments for striking defense

Historical Context

The Tripod Sweep is a fundamental technique in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, developed as part of the open guard system to address standing or kneeling opponents. It has been a staple in BJJ competition since the early days, often taught as an introductory sweep due to its accessible mechanics and high success rate.

Safety Considerations

  • Controlled Sweep: Execute with control to avoid injuring opponent on fall
  • Personal Safety: Be prepared to adjust if sweep fails or opponent counters
  • Partner Communication: Ensure opponent is ready for dynamic guard movement
  • Training Environment: Use in controlled settings with proper mats to prevent injury

Position Integration

Common Tripod Sweep combinations:

Training Applications

  • Sweep Development: Essential for open guard sweeping game
  • Competition Preparation: High-percentage move for scoring sweep points
  • Control Training: Builds skills in off-balancing from bottom position
  • Timing Mastery: Encourages development of precise timing and leverage

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