Butterfly Guard

Butterfly guard involves the bottom player placing hooks inside the opponent’s thighs, allowing them to lift, off-balance, and sweep while maintaining defensive posture. This position is highly dynamic and facilitates transitions to submissions, sweeps, or back takes.

It offers excellent control over opponents’ posture while enabling explosive attacks, particularly in no-gi competition. The guard is effective against larger opponents, allowing leverage and timing to offset size differences.

Mastery of butterfly guard requires precise hook placement, balance, and sensitivity to the opponent’s movements. It has become a foundational guard in modern sport BJJ due to its versatility and offensive potential.