The Butterfly Guard in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a type of open guard wherein the guard player has both shins (hooks) in, between their opponent’s legs. While the guard can be effective with or without the use of underhooks, most butterfly guard players will prefer getting underhooks on their opponent.
Most sweeps from this guard center around shifting their center of gravity away from their (passer) hips and towards the guard player’s upper body. Underhooks limit the passer’s movements by threatening the back take. For the passer, submissions to watch out for are guillotines, loop chokes, reverse armors and leg attacks. Transitions into the single leg x-guard and the saddle (411) are also common from this guard.
Passing the butterfly guard can be a little bit tricky as a skilled guard player will have attacks prepared for every time the passer moves laterally. Limiting the guard player’s hip movement can minimize some risk when passing this guard.
In the video above, Professor Gamal shows us a few options to pass the butterfly guard safely.
Pass #1 3:00-7:12
The intention of the first pass is to keep advancing the position to the opponent’s upper body while pinning their back to the floor and limiting their hip movement. This pass will go straight to the mount and will usually net you 7 points under IBJJF rules – 3 points for the pass and 4 points for the mount.
• From within the opponent’s butterfly guard, keep their back flat on the mat by using your head and shoulders to put pressure on their upper body.
• Keep your elbows tight to your body to trap their butterfly hook and limit their hip mobility.
• Do not extend your arms to prevent your opponent from establishing overhooks.
• Initiate the pass by bringing your right arm down to grip their left shin- this will put pressure on the butterfly hook and prevent them from using that leg to elevate you.
• Lift your left knee as you put more downward pressure on your opponent.
• Place your left hand on their knee and push their leg down as you step over. This movement will force them into a half butterfly guard.
• Trap their right leg by placing your left leg underneath their knee, as if going into a mount position.
• You will enter a top lockdown position by placing your right leg over your opponent’s left leg (windshield wiper) and placing your left shin behind your right knee.
• Underhook your opponent’s right arm as you advance towards his upper body, placing your head on the right side of their shoulder and your chest on top of their chest.
• As you get ready to extract your right leg, move your head to the left side of their chest.
• Push your opponent’s left knee down with your right hand, as you slide your right knee through their half butterfly and land into the mount position.
Pass #2 11:20-13:10
The initial stages of the second pass will be the same as the first, but instead of ending up in the mount, you will finish the pass in the side mount.
• From within the opponent’s butterfly guard, keep their back flat on the mat by using your head and shoulders to put pressure on their upper body.
• Keep your elbows tight to your body to trap their butterfly hook and limit their hip mobility.
• Do not extend your arms to prevent your opponent from establishing overhooks.
• Initiate the pass by bringing your right arm down to grip their left shin.
• Sprawl out and move laterally to your right side whilst still grabbing their shin.
• Walk on your toes all the way to side mount, keeping your hip next to opponent’s hips and your left knee, underneath their left knee – this will help prevent them from creating space, whether they use a hip escape, or try to frame your upper body to eject.
• If they try to face you, drive their hips to the opposite direction using your own hips.
• Finish the side mount with a crossface and underhook. You can substitute the crossface for another underhook on their left arm.
Pass #3 14:50-17:00
The third pass is a good option if your opponent is able to sit upright. It is a variation of the long step pass. The butterfly hook will be addressed so as to prevent the opponent from reversing the position as you flop out of the butterfly guard.
• Against a sitting opponent, make a grip on the collar with your left hand.
• Your right arm will go under your opponent’s left leg as you reach all the way through to grip their lower right pant leg.
• Drive forward using your head to push on their shoulder or chest.
• As their back hits the mat, initiate a long step pass by bringing your right leg to the opponent’s right side. The ending position is similar to a reverse scarf-hold or reverse kesa gatame.
• The entire long step motion is done while your right hand grips their right pant leg – the grip serves to prevent them from recovering their butterfly hooks and to stop them from using your momentum to reverse the position.
• While still controlling the right pant leg, transition into side mount to finish the pass.
Conclusion
By making a few changes to some grips, such as cupping the neck instead of gripping the collar, the passes above are effective in no-gi as well.
To address different situations, it would be advantageous for the passer to be proficient in more than one butterfly guard pass. The passes shown by Professor Gamal are some of the most effective ways to get through this tricky guard.
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