Balloon Sweep
Sweep · Closed Guard
A sweep from closed guard bottom against a standing opponent who leans over you; you finish on top. Put both feet on his hip bones, knees bent, and grip both sleeves at the wrists or a sleeve and a collar. Push with the feet and pull the sleeves at the same time until his weight rests on your feet and his feet start to leave the mat: while his weight is still on his own feet, the lift fails. Extend the legs up over your head, steering him to one of your shoulders, while the sleeves circle to your sides so he cannot post. Hold the grips, roll back over your shoulder after him and come up on top. Feet low on the thighs fold instead of lifting. If he steps back off your feet, grab the ankles for the double ankle sweep; if he drops to his knees, close the guard.
How to do it
- With the opponent standing and leaning over you, put both feet on their hips, on the hip bones and not low on the thighs, knees bent.
- Grip both sleeves at the wrists, or a sleeve and a collar, so you can steer their upper body and stop them from posting.
- Pull them forward over you with the grips until their weight rests on your feet and their face is over your face.
- Extend the legs up and over your head, steering them toward one of your shoulders, while the sleeves circle toward your sides so they cannot post.
- Hold the grips as they land, roll back over your shoulder after them and come up on top.
Key details
- Their weight must be over your feet before you lift: push with the feet and pull the sleeves at the same time until their feet start to leave the mat; while their weight is on their own feet, they are still on their base.
- Steer them to one shoulder, not straight over your head, so they land on their back beside you.
- Keep the grips so you can follow them to the top.
- Feet on the hips, not low on the thighs: the hips carry the weight, the thighs fold.
- Circle the sleeves toward your sides so they cannot post their hands on the mat.
Common mistakes
- Lifting while their weight is back. — They simply step off your feet and stay standing. — Pull them forward with the sleeves until they lean on your feet.
- Throwing straight over your head. — They land on their feet behind you, or on your head. — Angle the throw toward one of your shoulders.
- Letting go of the grips. — They land free and you are still on your back underneath. — Hold the grips and roll backward after them into the top position.
- Trying to pull a fully standing opponent back down into the guard. — You lose that fight: his hands are free to break your grips and he walks away. — Take both sleeves, open the guard on your own timing, feet to his hips and push-pull into the balloon sweep.
How to drill it
8 balloon sweeps each side on a cooperative partner, then 4 where they lean randomly.
Safety
Your partner flies over your head: sweep to the side so they land on the shoulder, not the head.
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