Passing butterfly guard

On top of someone playing butterfly guard, their hooks under your thighs. You kill the hooks with low hips, heavy pressure and smart footwork before they can lift you.

PassingIntermediate
Lesson video · 1 of 13

4 Essential Butterfly Guard Passes

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Essentials

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You’re on top of a butterfly guard player with their hooks under your thighs. Butterfly is built to lift you, so you kill the hooks with low hips and heavy pressure before you try to pass.

Your goals
  • Hips back and low so the hooks can’t lift you
  • Head heavy on their chest or shoulder
  • Pin a hook and pass to half guard top or side control
What they want
  • Elevate you with a hook
  • Arm drag you or win an underhook
Key principles
  • Low hips beat hooks
  • Win head position before you move
Common mistakes
  • Sitting tall on their hooks
  • Reaching for their legs with your head up

Techniques to learn

Each one opens its own page and video.

Passes & back takes
Body lock passPressure pass · IntermediateFloat passPressure pass · IntermediateCartwheel passStanding pass · Advanced

Where it leads

Other side
Butterfly guard
Moves from here
Half guard (top)Side control (Yoko Shiho Gatame)Passing open guardSide control (bottom)
In courses
Foundations IV: Passing

If this happens…

  1. they start to lift you with a hookSprawl your hips back and drop your weight
  2. they grab an arm dragTurn your hips in and re-pummel the arm
Advanced detailsTransitions, threats, reactions, troubleshooting and a sparring drill

1. Overview

On top of someone playing butterfly guard, their hooks under your thighs. You kill the hooks with low hips, heavy pressure and smart footwork before they can lift you.

Key controls

  • Hips back and low so the hooks can’t lift you
  • Head low and heavy on their chest or shoulder
  • Win the underhook or inside arm position
  • Pin or step over one hook at a time

In this position

4 transitions · 0 sweeps · 0 submissions · 3 reactions · 2 troubleshooting fixes · 1 sparring exercise · 3 techniques

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