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Butterfly Guard 🚧

Quick Introduction​

Butterfly guard is a dynamic seated guard where you use your feet as hooks under the opponent's thighs. It's a natural wrestling position that offers immediate sweeping opportunities and back-taking options.

Position Overview​

Station: Guard System

Achieved from: Sitting up from bottom, open guard 🚧 transition, failed takedowns

Leads to: High-percentage sweeps to top, back takes 🚧, scrambles to better position

Butterfly Guard Types (3 Main Approaches)​

🎯 Standard Butterfly (Balanced)​

Objective

Equal sweeping threat to both sides; maintain center control; ready to react

Main Characteristic

Both hooks in with underhook/overhook grip combination

Execution (Step by Step)

  1. Sit up facing opponent
  2. Insert both feet as hooks under their thighs
  3. Establish one underhook and one overhook
  4. Keep head higher than theirs (posture battle)
  5. Elevate with hooks and sweep direction of broken posture

Tactical Advantage

Versatile; direct sweeps available; works gi and no-gi; beginner-friendly

⚔️ Single Butterfly (Offensive)​

Objective

Asymmetric control leading to back takes or powerful sweeps

Main Characteristic

One butterfly hook with deep underhook on same side

Execution (Step by Step)

  1. Establish one butterfly hook (dominant side)
  2. Get deep underhook on same side
  3. Other hand controls their far arm or posts
  4. Angle your body toward underhook side
  5. Elevate and climb to back or sweep

Tactical Advantage

Strong back-taking position; natural for wrestlers; one-sided commitment

🔄 Butterfly Seated Guard (Modern)​

Objective

Maintain distance with seated posture; instant reactions to movement; gi-specific control

Main Characteristic

Seated butterfly with collar/sleeve grips rather than underhooks

Execution (Step by Step)

  1. Sit in butterfly position
  2. Establish strong gi grips (collar, sleeves)
  3. Use grips to break their posture
  4. Hooks stay active, ready to elevate
  5. Sweep or transition based on their reaction

Tactical Advantage

Gi-specific control; safer from guillotines; modern competition approach

Important Observations (General Rules)​

Core Principles​

  1. 🎯 Head higher than theirs - Win the posture battle
  2. 💪 Active hooks - Elevate don't just rest feet there
  3. ⏱️ Underhook priority - Deep underhook = dominant position
  4. 🔄 Elevate and angle - Straight up then sweep direction
  5. 🎮 Approach selection - Choose based on opponent:
    • Standard → Balanced attack/defense
    • Single → When you get dominant underhook
    • Seated → Against aggressive guillotine threats

Connection to Theories​

Applying core principles:

  • Leverage: Small elevation, big result (fulcrum principle)
  • Posture Control: Higher head position controls engagement
  • Underhook Battle: Determines who controls the sweep direction

Common Mistakes​

⚠️ Flat hooks - Must actively lift, not just insert

⚠️ Low head position - They control you instead

⚠️ No underhook - Missing the dominant control point

⚠️ Static seated - Must threaten sweeps constantly

⚠️ Leaning back - Easy to pass around hooks

⚠️ Crossing ankles - Locks you in place, reduces mobility

🎯 Next Steps​

After mastering butterfly guard:

  1. Learn classic sweeps → Butterfly sweep, hook sweep, arm drag to back
  2. Study back takes → Single butterfly to back mount progression
  3. Combine with other guards → Flow to/from closed 🚧 and half 🚧

🔗 Related Resources​