Butterfly to X-Guard
Transition · Butterfly Guard
From butterfly guard, when he stands up or posts on his feet against your sweep, this takes you under him into X-guard. Keep one hook in and pull him forward and up over you while he is still rising, so he has to step in. Reach one arm under his near leg and hug it, pulling your head toward that foot; drop your bottom hook behind his knee and bring the top foot through to the crease of his far hip: the X. Flare both knees out, hold the top of his kneecap as a handle and tilt him forward until his hands go to the mat. Waiting until he stands tall lets him step away; knees pointing in let him kick the leg free. If he steps back, go to single leg X; if he sits down on you, back to butterfly.
How to do it
- When they stand up out of butterfly guard, keep one hook in and go under them while they are still rising.
- Slide under them, your hips under their base and their center of gravity, pulling them onto you so their weight is on your hooks.
- Drop your bottom hook behind their near knee and bring the top foot through to the crease of their far hip: the X.
- Hug their leg to your chest and bring the knee of the straight leg back toward your chest so the X is tight.
Key details
- Go under them while they are still rising; once they stand tall they step away.
- Hug the leg; it is what keeps you connected to them.
- Get your hips under their center of gravity and pull them onto you so their weight is on your hooks.
- From X-guard the main finish is the technical stand-up.
- Flare both knees outward so the hooks pull apart, hold the top of their kneecap as a handle, and tilt them forward until their hands touch the mat: standing tall is where all their escapes come from.
Common mistakes
- Waiting until they stand tall. — They step away and you are left sitting alone. — Enter while they are still getting up.
- Losing the hook. — There is no connection to slide under them. — Keep at least one hook in the whole time.
- Not hugging the leg. — They pull the leg free and pass. — Hug the leg to your chest as soon as you are under.
- Leaving their near arm free as you go under. — They reach down, grab your head or neck and sit back down on you. — Block that arm and push it away as you kick the leg out and slide under.
How to drill it
Butterfly to X-guard as the partner stands, 8 reps.
What comes next
Where it comes from