Hey, Southern Soul family! Today, let’s dive deep into the Butterfly Guard—a staple in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu that combines control, leverage, and a wide range of attacks.

What is the Butterfly Guard?

The Butterfly Guard is an open guard position where you sit upright with your legs bent, feet inside or against your opponent’s thighs, and knees spread wide like butterfly wings. You typically use a combination of underhooks, overhooks, or collar ties to control your opponent’s upper body while your feet and legs manage their lower body. This position is highly versatile and provides numerous options for sweeps, submissions, and transitions, making it a favorite for both gi and no-gi practitioners.

Why Should You Learn the Butterfly Guard?

  1. Sweeps and Leverage: The Butterfly Guard is renowned for its ability to generate powerful sweeps using leverage rather than strength. By positioning your legs under your opponent’s hips or thighs, you can lift them off their base and use their momentum to sweep them over, gaining a dominant position.
  2. Control and Balance: Sitting in an upright position allows you to have better posture and balance while making it harder for your opponent to flatten you out. This is especially useful against heavier opponents or those who like to pass aggressively.
  3. Versatile Attacks: From the Butterfly Guard, you can transition to other guards (like X-guard or Single Leg X), set up submissions (like the guillotine, arm drag to back take, or triangle choke), or perform a variety of sweeps. This versatility makes it an essential tool in any BJJ practitioner’s arsenal.
  4. Works for All Body Types: Unlike some guards that may favor specific body types, the Butterfly Guard is accessible to everyone. It relies more on technique and timing than physical attributes, making it a great option whether you are tall, short, flexible, or less flexible.

Key Concepts to Master

  1. Positioning and Posture: Sitting up with a straight back and engaging your core is crucial. This posture helps you maintain balance and react quickly to your opponent’s movements. Your feet should be positioned under your opponent’s thighs or hips, ready to lift or push as needed.
  2. Hooks and Underhooks: The “hooks” in the Butterfly Guard refer to your feet being placed inside or on your opponent’s thighs. These hooks give you the ability to lift and control their legs. Underhooks (where you wrap your arm under their arm and control their torso) provide control over their upper body and help you set up sweeps and submissions.
  3. Timing and Sensitivity: Success in the Butterfly Guard often comes down to timing. You need to feel when your opponent’s weight is shifting or when they’re off-balance, so you can initiate sweeps or transitions. Developing this sensitivity takes practice and time on the mats.
  4. Constant Movement: The Butterfly Guard thrives on dynamism. Stay active with small adjustments to your hooks, posture, and grips. This keeps your opponent guessing and creates openings for sweeps and submissions.

Popular Techniques from the Butterfly Guard

  1. Basic Butterfly Sweep: This sweep is a fundamental technique where you use your hooks to lift one of your opponent’s legs while simultaneously pulling them in with an underhook or overhook. This off-balances them and allows you to sweep them to the side and come up on top. It’s simple, effective, and works well against opponents who pressure forward.
  2. Arm Drag to Back Take: By using an arm drag to pull your opponent’s arm across their body, you create an angle to move to their back. From here, you can work to secure a seatbelt grip and establish back control, one of the most dominant positions in BJJ.
  3. Guillotine Choke: The Butterfly Guard provides excellent opportunities to set up a guillotine choke, especially when your opponent is trying to pressure forward or pass. By controlling their head and arm, you can transition into a tight guillotine and finish the submission.
  4. Elevator Sweep: Similar to the basic Butterfly Sweep, the Elevator Sweep involves lifting your opponent with one hook while pushing or pulling with your hands to create a sweeping motion. This technique works exceptionally well when your opponent is off-balance or leaning too far forward.

Drills to Improve Your Butterfly Guard

  • Hook Retention Drills: Practice maintaining your hooks and balance while your partner tries to remove them or pass your guard. This helps develop a strong Butterfly Guard base and improves your ability to control and react to your opponent’s movements.
  • Sweep Drills: With a partner, practice the basic Butterfly Sweep repeatedly, focusing on timing and leverage rather than strength. This will help you understand the mechanics of the sweep and improve your execution.
  • Transition Drills: Work on transitioning from Butterfly Guard to other positions, such as X-guard or Single Leg X, as well as moving into submissions like the guillotine or triangle choke. The more comfortable you are with transitions, the more dangerous your guard becomes.

Final Thoughts

The Butterfly Guard is a game-changer in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It provides a unique blend of control, versatility, and leverage, allowing you to sweep, submit, or transition with ease. Whether you’re rolling in class or competing, mastering the Butterfly Guard can be a powerful addition to your BJJ toolkit.

So, next time you hit the mats at Southern Soul Academy, give the Butterfly Guard some love. Experiment with different grips, sweeps, and submissions. As always, remember that practice and patience are key to mastering any technique. Let’s continue to grow and evolve together as a community, helping each other unlock our full potential both on and off the mats.

See you on the mats, and keep soaring with that Butterfly Guard!