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Techniques, Tutorials and Gear for BJJ, MMA and Submission Grappling

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Home » Guard Sweeps

Guard Sweeps

Revolutionary Omoplata

August 1, 2024 by Stephan Kesting

A Technique that Bridges the Gap between Sweep and Submission By Stephan Kesting Originally published in Grappling Magazine in 2002. The omoplata is all the rage these days: it's a submission, a sweep, and a setup for other submissions and sweeps. If you go to a high-level grappling competition tomorrow, you will almost certainly see it used multiple times. The omoplata is a little bit … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques, Miscellaneous Tagged With: Closed Guard, Gi, Guard Sweeps, Omoplata, Open Guard, Submission, Submission Grappling, Techniques

When to Keep Pushing the Pace in Jiu-Jitsu

September 8, 2023 by Stephan Kesting

Partially completed sweep - who will win the race to the top now?

Imagine that you're in a match, and you've just swept the other guy onto his ass.  That's a great feeling, but should you take a brief time out to congratulate yourself? Of course not. Languidly taking your time after a sweep might work great against white and blue belts in friendly, relaxed rolling, but it'll never work against a serious opponent, especially in competition where people just … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Training Tagged With: Competition, Guard Sweeps, Strategy, Technical Standup, Training

A Quickstart Guide to the Omoplata in Jiu-Jitsu

June 22, 2023 by Stephan Kesting

Omoplata Quickstart Guide on Grapplearts

This step-by-step guide is designed for you to quickly incorporate the omoplata into your game and build a solid foundation for more advanced omoplata techniques. The omoplata is an incredibly versatile technique in jiu-jitsu that serves as a submission, a sweep, and a setup for other sweeps and submissions. Fundamentally it uses your legs to force your opponent's arm behind his back into a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Armlocks, Closed Guard, Gi, Guard Sweeps, No Gi, Omoplata, Techniques, Video

The Easiest Way to Do the Berimbolo

December 22, 2022 by Stephan Kesting

the easiest way to do the berimbolo

At the bottom of this post is a Youtube video I just created to show the easiest way to do the Berimbolo. Now if you're a Berimbolo aficionado then you've probably already scrolled down. But maybe you're on the fence about this move. Or maybe you don't even know what it is and why you should care about it. Well, give me a minute to put it into context for you... Over the last couple of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Competition, Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Berimbolo, Competition, de la Riva Guard, Drills, Guard Sweeps, Open Guard, Rear Mount, Techniques, Video

A Safe and Effective Open Guard Pull

December 9, 2022 by Stephan Kesting

Pulling Open Guard in No Gi Competition

If you do it wrong then pulling guard can be dangerous for both competitors; I've seen people pulling guard knock themselves out AND people pulling guard injure their training partners by pulling guard incorrectly. It's important to clarify that I'm not against pulling guard in competition.  I mean, what if your opponent is much bigger than you, or is a much better at takedowns than you, or … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Butterfly Guard, Elliott Bayev, Guard Sweeps, Open Guard, Pulling Guard, Strategy, Techniques, Video

Fancy Yet Effective: The ‘Shaolin’ Half Guard Sweep

September 29, 2022 by Stephan Kesting

Shaolin sweep from half guard

Normally I advise against flashy techniques.  Generally speaking it's rock solid basics and non-fancy fundamentals that win sparring sessions, tournament matches and MMA fights. But I have to make an exception for this technique... If you're already semi-competent from the half guard position then the Shaolin Sweep might be something you want to add to your game. First of all, the Shaolin … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: BJJ, Guard Passes, Guard Sweeps, Half Guard, Shaolin Sweep, Video, Vitor Shaolin Ribeiro

Hip Bump Sweep from Closed Guard

February 21, 2022 by Stephan Kesting

The closed guard hip bump sweep with Jon Thomas

In this video excerpted from The Closed Guard System renowned BJJ black belt Jon Thomas covers the advanced details of the hip bump sweep. The hip bump sweep is one of those classic attacks from the closed guard that still works incredibly well in the modern jiu-jitsu game. 00:10 - How to break your opponent's posture in closed guard 00:40 - How to exploit him defending the posture … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Closed Guard, Guard Sweeps, Jon Thomas, Techniques, Triangle Choke, Video

3 Open Guard Options vs. Standing Opponents

January 20, 2022 by Stephan Kesting

If you don't have a gameplan from the open guard then this position can quickly become a confusing and ineffective tangle of arms and legs . And open guard chaos gets much, much worse when you don't have a good grip on your opponent. Even a single solid grip on your opponent's arm, neck, foot, heel or gi allows you to control his posture, limit his movement, and set up your own attacks. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: For Beginners, Grappling Techniques, Self Defense Tagged With: Brandon Mullins, Butterfly Guard, Emily Kwok, Guard Sweeps, iPhone, Marcelo Garcia, Marcus Soares, Open Guard, Techniques, Video

The 5 Main Omoplata Entries from Guard

December 16, 2021 by Stephan Kesting

5 Main Omoplata from Guard Entry Mechanisms

I just put a video onto Youtube breaking down the 5 main ways to get into an omoplata attack to either sweep or submit your opponent. Just to be clear, these are not the only entry mechanisms for the omoplata; there are definitely others including rolling entries, spinning entries, entries from the top, etc. That being said, at least 70% of all omoplatas come from one of these 5 styles of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Guard, Guard Sweeps, Omoplata, Techniques, Video

The 20 Year History of the Omoplata 2.0 Instructional

December 16, 2021 by Stephan Kesting

Stephan Kesting - Omoplata Flow

I was first exposed to something resembling the omoplata when learning a martial art known as Indonesian Silat from Dan Inosanto.  A move where you use your leg to bend your opponent's arm behind his back is often used in Silat as a finishing move after taking someone to the ground. It turned out that this move (with slight modifications) also worked in the jiu-jitsu and judo training that I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques, Instructional Videos Tagged With: BJJ, Competition, Dan Inosanto, Gi, Grapplearts DVDs, Guard Sweeps, History, No Gi, Omoplata, Silat, Submission, Techniques, Training, Video

Sweeping an Opponent Who Has One Knee Up In Your Guard

September 21, 2021 by Stephan Kesting

one knee up in guard

Having problems attacking an opponent who's basing with one knee up in your guard? Even if he's adopted this defensive posture you can definitely still attack him with the double shin sweep from butterfly guard. This is a very powerful sweep that has been proven in many high level jiu-jitsu competitions! In this attack you insert yourself deep under his center of gravity, lift one of his … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: BJJ, Brandon Mullins, Butterfly Guard, Guard Sweeps, Nonstop Jiu-Jitsu Book, Techniques, Video

The First Sweep You Should Learn from Spider Guard

July 30, 2021 by Stephan Kesting

The First Sweep You Should Learn from Spider Guard

Modern BJJ is unimaginable without the Spider Guard. In this form of Open Guard you grip your opponent’s wrists or sleeves and have at least one foot controlling at least one of his arms.  Usually your feet will be placed against his biceps, and/or one leg will spiral around his elbow with your toes hiding underneath his upper arm (this is called a 'lasso'). Controlling both of his arms … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Elliott Bayev, Guard Sweeps, Open Guard, Spider Guard, Techniques, Video

The 16 Most Important Techniques for the BJJ Beginner

June 24, 2021 by Stephan Kesting

16 BJJ Beginner Techniques

What's the most common problem (aside from getting caught under side control) facing the BJJ beginner? It's probably feeling overwhelmed by the staggering number of techniques that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu contains! There are a thousand variations of sweeps and locks and chokes and pins and escapes and guard passes.  It's enough to make your head spin! So where then do you start?  Which … [Read more...]

Filed Under: For Beginners, Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Americana, Armbar, BJJ, Collar Chokes, Fundamentals, Guard Passes, Guard Sweeps, Guillotine Choke, Mark Mullen, MMA, Rear Naked Choke, Submission, Techniques, Triangle Choke, Video

How to Set Up the Triangle Choke from Guard

November 9, 2020 by Stephan Kesting

Triangle choke submission

Today we'll cover the real 'secret' to using the triangle choke against higher belts from your guard - it's all about the set up! Tapping out higher belts is a different thing than tapping out beginners... There are certain techniques that serve you well against white and blue belts. But when you climb the ranks and start sparring against higher caliber opponents  some of those moves stop … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Ball and Chain Sweep, Brandon Mullins, Concepts, de la Riva Guard, Gi, Guard Sweeps, Open Guard, Rob Biernacki, Strategy, Techniques, Triangle Choke, Video

How to Connect Your Sweeps and Guard Passes in Order to Dominate More Opponents on the Mat

October 18, 2020 by Stephan Kesting

Guard Sweeps That Lead Into Guard Passes

The concept of connecting your guard sweeps to your guard passes is incredibly useful.  Anytime you can use one technique to set up the next you have an advantage, yet many grapplers fail to follow up after a successful guard sweep. Let's go through both the theory and practice of this concept.  If you start trying to this then we can probably improve your grappling overnight... The Theory of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques, Training Tagged With: Ball and Chain Sweep, Brandon Mullins, Butterfly Guard, Concepts, de la Riva Guard, Guard Passes, Guard Sweeps, Nonstop Jiu-Jitsu Book, Pressure Passing, Techniques, Video

Butterfly Guard to X Guard Standup Sweep

September 30, 2020 by Stephan Kesting

Butterfly Guard to Technical Standup Sweep

There's one particular guard sweep that I've hit more times than than any other in the last 10 years. When I start setting up this technique I always feel happy and confident because I know the odds of finishing it are very high. What's the name of this technique? It's the X guard standup sweep starting from butterfly guard, and it's one of the most powerful sweeping moves in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Brandon Mullins, Butterfly Guard, Guard Sweeps, Nonstop Jiu-Jitsu Book, Technical Standup, Techniques, Video, X Guard

Your First Attack from Butterfly Guard

September 24, 2020 by Stephan Kesting

Butterfly Guard Reversal, Step 5

The 'Butt Double" is a high percentage guard attack that's also a low risk way of guaging the distance, feeling out your opponent and setting up other attacks. It's called the "Butt Double" because a) you start sitting on your butt and b) you come up forward like you would in a double leg takdedown. You can use it anytime your opponent is backing up or drawing back from you in the open … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Brandon Mullins, Butterfly Guard, Guard Sweeps, Nonstop Jiu-Jitsu Book, Techniques

The Ball and Chain Sweep

August 9, 2020 by Stephan Kesting

The Ball and Chain Sweep is one of the highest percentage attacks from the de la Riva guard. This sweep has been used again and again by many high level competitors, and is one of the favorite techniques of BJJ World Champion Brandon 'Wolverine' Mullins. In simple terms, to do the ball and chin sweep you start in de la Riva Guard, kick the guy's back leg away from you, sit up, feed his near … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Brandon Mullins, de la Riva Guard, Gi, Guard Sweeps, Techniques, Video

A Fast and Easy de la Riva Guard Sweep

July 18, 2020 by Stephan Kesting

de la riva guard sweep

The de la Riva guard is an essential position in today's grappling repertoire. It's a very deep position with a ton of different options. But sometimes you just want an easy win; a reliable technique to give you some confidence with a position before exploring it further. To get you started here's the Easiest Sweep from de la Riva Guard that I just put onto Youtube last night. This is a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: de la Riva Guard, Guard Sweeps, Jon Thomas, Techniques, Video

Collar Drag from Open Guard, with Jon Thomas

June 25, 2020 by Stephan Kesting

The collar drag from the open guard with Jon Thomas

The collar drag is one of the fastest, simplest and yet most effective ways to reverse positions on the ground. This is a very versatile move: it's a sweep when performed from the guard, and it's a takedown when performed on the feet. And this technique been proven in many world championship matches. All you need is a grip on your opponent's cross collar,  a bit of distance, and the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Guard Sweeps, Jon Thomas, Lapel Drag, Open Guard, Techn, Video

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