The Ultimate Guide to the Butterfly Guard in BJJ

If you’ve ever felt flat on your back with someone posturing up, raining down pressure… yeah, I’ve been there too. More times than I’d like to admit. But guess what? That’s exactly when the butterfly guard becomes your secret weapon.

And no, it’s not just for tiny guys or black belts. It’s one of the most dynamic, high-percentage tools in BJJ, used by legends like Marcelo Garcia, and today, I’m breaking it all down for you.

By the end of this guide, you’ll know how to set it up, sweep hard, chain attacks, and even transition into dominant positions.

What Is the Butterfly Guard?

So, what is the butterfly guard in BJJ?

Imagine sitting up, knees bent, feet planted on your opponent’s inner thighs, like two levers ready to launch them off balance. That’s the butterfly guard.

It’s not closed. It’s not passive. It’s active, mobile, and explosive.

I remember my first time trying it. I was getting flattened in closed guard, frustrated, tired. My coach yelled, “Sit up! Use your legs!” I did, and boom, I swept a guy who outweighed me by 40 pounds. First real “aha!” moment in BJJ.

That’s the power of the butterfly guard: leverage over strength.

Unlike closed guard, where you’re wrapped around their waist, butterfly guard uses your hips and legs to control and elevate. You’re not hugging, you’re engineering a takedown from your back.

And yes, it works in both gi and no-gi. In fact, some argue it’s even more effective without the fabric to grab.

Why Every BJJ Practitioner Should Master the Butterfly Guard

Let’s be honest: not everyone loves being on their back. But if you’re going to be there, you might as well make it dangerous for your opponent.

The butterfly guard turns defense into offense. Fast.

Leverage Over Strength: The Great Equalizer

You don’t need to be strong. You need to be smart.

Think of your legs like springs. When compressed, they store energy. When released, they explode upward.

That’s the core idea. You use your opponent’s forward pressure against them. They push in? You lift. They stand up? You stretch and sweep.

I’m 5’9”, 165 lbs. I’ve swept guys who look like they bench press cars. Not because I’m stronger, but because I timed it right.

A Gateway to an Entire System

Here’s what most beginners miss: the butterfly guard isn’t just a position. It’s a hub.

From here, you can slide into X-guard, single-leg X, deep half, or even saddle up for a back take.

It’s like the front door to your offensive house. Open it right, and the whole game opens up.

Works in Gi and No-Gi

In the gi? Use collar and sleeve grips to break posture.
No gi? Underhooks and wrist control do the job.

Same principles. Slight grip changes. Same devastating results.

And in competition? Judges love sweeps. And the butterfly guard delivers high-scoring ones.

Anatomy of the Butterfly Guard: Building a Strong Foundation

Before you start sweeping, let’s nail the basics. A shaky foundation means a failed sweep, and a sore back.

Hips & Posture: Stay Seated, Stay Dangerous

Your biggest enemy? Getting flattened.

If your back is flat on the mat, your legs can’t lift. Your hips are dead. Game over.

So stay seated upright. Think of a tripod: your butt and two feet. Keep that spine rounded, chest up, head behind your knees.

I used to lean back like a lazy couch surfer. Bad move. Now I sit like I’m about to jump out of a chair.

Foot Placement & Hooks: Your Secret Levers

Your feet aren’t just resting there. They’re active hooks.

• Soles flat on inner thighs
• Heels close to your glutes (not stretched out)
• Knees bent at 90 degrees, like you’re ready to spring

Too far out? You lose power.
Too narrow? They step over you.

Find that sweet spot. Adjust constantly.

And don’t just rest your feet, squeeze. Feel their movement. Be sensitive.

Grips & Hand Fighting: Control the Upper Body

Legs do the lifting. Hands do the steering.

You need at least one underhook. Without it, you’re guessing, not controlling.

Use it to pull their shoulder down, break their posture, and set up your sweep.

No gi? Tie up their arms.
Gi? Grab collar and sleeve.

And if they grab your head? Fight it. Frame, bump, re-establish.

Because posture wins guards. Every time.

Kuzushi: The Art of Off-Balancing

Kuzushi just means “off-balancing.” And it’s everything.

You’re not trying to muscle them over. You’re tipping them, like nudging a shopping cart on a hill.

Every small shift in their stance is an opening.

Lean them left? Sweep right.
Make them post a hand? That’s your cue.

Timing beats strength. Sensitivity beats force.

How to Set Up the Butterfly Guard: High-Percentage Entries

Now, how do you actually get into butterfly guard?

Not by luck. By setup.

From Closed Guard: The Smooth Transition

You’re in closed guard. They’re pushing your knees down.

Instead of fighting, let them. Open your legs, sit up, and insert your feet into their thighs.

Break their posture first, maybe with a collar tug, then rise like a cobra.

I practice this drill every week. Smooth entry = smooth offense.

From Half Guard or Scramble: Turn Chaos Into Control

You’re tangled. Maybe they’re passing. Maybe you’re recovering.

Use the scramble to your advantage.

As they shift weight, trap their hip with your leg, secure an underhook, and seat up fast.

It’s messy. It’s real. And it works.

From Standing or Combat Base: Surprise Attack

This one’s fun.

You’re on your knees. They step in. Boom, you shoot your feet in, grab an underhook, and lift.

They didn’t see it coming. Neither will your next training partner.

Just remember: timing > speed. Wait for their weight to commit.

Core Butterfly Guard Techniques: Sweeps, Submissions & Chains

Alright. You’re in position. Now what?

Time to attack.

The Classic Butterfly Sweep: Your First Must-Learn Move

This is bread-and-butter. If you learn one sweep, make it this one.

Step 1: Secure an underhook
Step 2: Break their posture, pull their head or shoulder down
Step 3: Load their weight onto your feet
Step 4: Elevate your hips and extend your legs
Step 5: Rotate and finish on top

Simple? Yes.
Effective? Absolutely.

Pro tip: Turn your head toward the direction you’re sweeping. It helps your body rotate. I learned this after failing the same sweep ten times in a row.

And don’t worry if it doesn’t work at first. Most sweeps fail. But each attempt sets up the next.

High-Crotch Sweep: For When They Stand Up

They’re standing? Perfect.

Keep your feet on their thighs, sit deep, and push up and back.

It’s like a long-range trip. Use their momentum against them.

Great for no-gi. Even better when they’re overconfident.

Scissor Sweep from Butterfly: Add Power

Want more force? Combine butterfly hooks with a scissoring motion.

One foot stays glued to their thigh. The other crosses over their knee or hip.

Then, squeeze.

It’s slower but harder to stop. Good against strong passers.

Sweep into Saddle: Advanced but Deadly

After your sweep, instead of stopping, keep moving.

Slide your leg behind their knee, lock your ankles, and saddle up.

Now you’re one step from back control, or a heel hook.

Dangerous? Yes.
Rewarding? Even more so.

Submissions from Butterfly Guard: Don’t Just Sweep, Submit!

Most people think butterfly guard is only for sweeps.

Wrong.

It sets up perfect submission opportunities.

Guillotine Choke: When They Dive In

They shoot their head down to flatten you? That’s Guillotine City.

Lock it in tight. Squeeze. Roll if needed.

I’ve tapped three blue belts this way in the last month. All from butterfly setups.

Triangle Choke: From Failed Sweeps

You go for the sweep. They post a hand. Now their arm and head are isolated.

Boom, triangle.

It’s not Plan A. It’s Plan B that works better.

Kimura and Armbar Setups: Chain Like a Pro

Control their arm during the setup. Isolate it. Threaten the kimura.

If they defend, their head drops, hello, guillotine.

Or switch to armbar by extending your leg.

Chaining attacks keeps them guessing. And guessing means mistakes.

Transitions: Connecting the Butterfly Guard to Other Positions

Here’s where you level up.

The butterfly guard isn’t an island. It’s connected to everything.

To X-Guard: Insert and Destroy

After elevating, shoot one leg between their legs. Lock it in.

Now you’re in X-guard, prime position for sweeps or back takes.

I use this against pressure passers. They can’t flatten me, so they step wide. That’s my opening.

To Single Leg X (SLX): Target One Side

Focus on one leg. Trap it. Off-balance them.

SLX is sneaky. They don’t see it coming until they’re on the mat.

To Deep Half or Ashi Garami: Go Deep

If they overcommit, roll through. Catch a leg. Start hunting heel hooks.

Butterfly guard is the perfect setup for modern leg-lock systems.

Defending Against Common Butterfly Guard Passes

Even the best guard gets tested.

Know how to survive.

Against the Leg Smash Pass

They try to smash your leg down? Use your free foot to block.

Or transition to X-guard before they settle.

Don’t just hold on, move.

Against the Long Step Pass

They step far out? Don’t panic. Follow their hip.

Use your butterfly hook to ride along. Then attack the back.

Marcelo Garcia does this all the time. Study his matches.

When They Sprawl

They sprawl to stop your sweep? Switch to submissions.

Head down? Guillotine.
Arm exposed? Kimura.

Always have a backup plan.

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

Even black belts mess this up. But knowing the errors? That’s half the battle.

Here are the top mistakes I see, and how to fix them fast.

Mistake #1: Flat Back = No Power

If your back is flat on the mat, your legs can’t lift. It’s like trying to jump while lying down.

Fix: Sit up! Keep your spine rounded, chest forward, head behind your knees.

Think of yourself as a coiled spring, not a pancake.

I used to get flattened every time. My coach said, “You look like you’re sunbathing.” Not helpful, but true.

Now I push my butt into the mat and lift my chest. Instant upgrade.

Mistake #2: Passive Hooks

Just resting your feet on their thighs? That’s not a hook. That’s a foot massage.

Your hooks must be active. Squeeze. Adjust. Feel their movement.

If they shift, you shift. Stay glued.

Fix: Practice bumping your hips, small lifts, to keep tension. Don’t wait. Initiate.

Mistake #3: Ignoring the Underhook

No underhook? You’re guessing, not controlling.

Without it, you can’t break posture. Without broken posture, no sweep works.

Fix: Fight for the underhook before you set your feet. Or use a collar/sleeve grip to pull them down first.

And if they grab your wrist? Frame, bump, re-grip. Never stop fighting.

Mistake #4: Only Sweeping One Side

You’ve practiced the right-side sweep 100 times. But when they pressure left?

Crickets.

Fix: Drill both sides equally. Switch during rolling. Make ambidextrous sweeps second nature.

I made this mistake for months. Now I treat my left side like a stubborn mule, train it harder.

Drills to Build an Unstoppable Butterfly Guard

You don’t get good by thinking about techniques. You get good by doing them, over and over.

Here are the drills that transformed my game.

Solo Drills: Train When No One’s Watching

• Hip Lifts: Lie on your back, knees bent, feet on floor. Lift your hips high, squeeze glutes, lower slowly. 3 sets of 15.
  This builds explosive power, exactly what you need for elevation.
• Seated Hip Heists: Sit in butterfly position. Lift one hip, then the other, shifting weight side to side.
  Teaches balance and mobility.
• Leg Pummeling Motion: Mimic hook insertion and adjustment. Fast, small movements.
  Great for muscle memory.

Do these 10 minutes before class. Your body will thank you.

Partner Drills: Where Real Learning Happens

• Entry Repetition: Start from closed guard. On cue, open up and establish butterfly, under light resistance. 10 reps per side.
  Speed + accuracy = consistency.
• Sweep Mechanics Drill: Partner posts hands on the ground. You practice the motion of the sweep, load, lift, and extend, but don’t finish.
  Focus on form, not force.
• Guard Retention Drill: Partner tries to pass. Your goal? Keep your hooks and posture for 30 seconds.
  Builds resilience under pressure.

These aren’t flashy. But they’re effective.

Butterfly Guard vs. Other Open Guards: Where Does It Fit?

BJJ has a lot of guards. So where does butterfly stand?

Let’s break it down.

Spider Guard: Control with Your Hands

Spider guard uses grips on sleeves and collar to control distance.

Good for tall players. But if they strip your grips? You’re cooked.

Butterfly guard relies less on grips, more on hip movement. More mobile. Less fragile.

De La Riva: The Trip Specialist

D’L Riva uses one leg hooked behind their knee, great for trips and back takes.

But it’s narrow. Butterfly gives you two hooks, more stability, more options.

Use D’L Riva when they step wide. Use butterfly when they come straight in.

X-Guard: The Leg Entangler

X-guard is powerful, but hard to enter directly.

Butterfly guard? It’s the perfect setup. Elevate, insert one leg, boom, you’re in X.

I call it the “butterfly express” to dominant positions.

Deep Half Guard: High Risk, High Reward

Deep half can lead to instant reversals. But if they defend? You’re exposed.

Butterfly guard is safer, higher percentage. Use deep half as a surprise. Use butterfly as your bread and butter.

Bottom line: Butterfly guard is the most balanced, beginner-friendly, and versatile open guard out there.

Butterfly Guard for All Skill Levels

Whether you’re a white belt or close to black, this guard grows with you.

Here’s how to use it at every stage.

Beginners: Keep It Simple

Focus on:

• Sitting up
• Getting both feet in
• One solid sweep (the classic butterfly sweep)

Don’t worry about submissions or fancy transitions yet.

Master the basics. Drill them until they’re automatic.

My first month using butterfly guard? I failed 90% of my sweeps. But I kept drilling. Now it’s one of my highest-percentage moves.

Intermediate: Add Chains and Transitions

Now it’s time to level up.

• Chain sweep → submission
• Sweep → transition to X-guard or back control
• Work both sides fluidly

Start recognizing patterns:

• They post a hand? Triangle.
• They sprawl? Guillotine.
• They step wide? SLX or Ashi Garami.

This is where you become unpredictable.

Advanced: Innovate and Adapt

At this level, you’re not just following formulas. You’re writing your own.

• Blend butterfly with leg locks
• Use feints to draw reactions
• Develop your personal style

Maybe you’re more Marcelo, aggressive and fast.
Or maybe you’re more Leandro Lo, smooth and patient.

Either way, the butterfly guard adapts.

Conclusion

Let’s wrap this up.

The butterfly guard isn’t just another technique. It’s a complete system.

It gives you:

• Leverage to beat bigger opponents
• Sweeps that score points
• Submissions that end fights
• Transitions that dominate the match

And the best part? Anyone can learn it.

You don’t need to be gifted. You just need to practice.

So here’s my challenge to you:

Pick one thing from this guide, your favorite sweep, entry, or drill, and do it in your next three classes.

Track your progress. Notice the difference.

Because mastery isn’t about knowing everything.
It’s about doing one thing better, again and again.

FAQ: Your Butterfly Guard Questions, Answered

What is the butterfly guard in BJJ?
It’s a seated open guard where you use both feet on your opponent’s inner thighs to control, elevate, and sweep them.

Is the butterfly guard good for beginners?
Yes! It teaches timing, balance, and coordination, perfect for new grapplers.

Can you use butterfly guard in gi and no-gi?
Absolutely. In gi, use collar and sleeve grips. In no-gi, focus on underhooks and wrist control.

Who popularized the butterfly guard?
Marcelo Garcia made it famous with his aggressive, high-scoring style.

How do I stop my opponent from passing my butterfly guard?
Keep active hooks, secure an underhook, and use frames to create space. If they pass, transition fast.

What’s the most effective butterfly guard sweep?
The classic double-hook butterfly sweep is the most reliable and widely used.