Pendulum Sweep
Sweep · Closed Guard
A closed guard sweep from bottom to mount for when the opponent postures up and puts a hand on your belt or hips. Control the sleeve on one side; with the other arm reach under his opposite leg from the inside, above the knee. Put the foot on the sleeve-side hip as the pivot, open the guard and swing your hips out to about 45 degrees, head outside his knee. Kick the free leg high toward his chest or ear while the hooked arm lifts his knee: the momentum tips him over the trapped arm, which cannot post. The swing comes from the legs and hips and from timing it off his weight, not from the arms or raw speed; from square hips you only push him back. If he posts the free hand, take the armbar; if he pulls the hooked leg out, go to the scissor sweep.
How to do it
- From closed guard, grip one sleeve and keep that arm controlled; with your other arm reach under the opposite leg from the inside, above the knee, elbow deep behind it.
- Put the foot on the hip on the sleeve side: that foot is the pivot of the sweep.
- Open the guard and swing your hips out to the side of the hooked leg until your body is at about 45° and your head is outside their knee.
- Kick the free leg high like a pendulum, up toward their chest or ear, driving the swing from the whole leg and the hips, while the hooked arm lifts their knee off the mat.
- The momentum carries them over the trapped arm, which cannot post because you hold the sleeve; roll with them and come up in mount.
Key details
- The swing comes from the whole leg and the hips, not from the arms: the arms only steer, the momentum does the tipping.
- Keep the sleeve on the side they fall toward: without it that hand posts and stops the roll.
- Angle out far enough that your head is outside their knee; from square the swing pushes them straight back into your guard.
- The foot on the hip on the sleeve side is the pivot; swing the other leg high, near their chest or ear, not low along the mat.
- If they post the free arm to stop it, the armbar is there.
- Swing the leg so it lands against their side: they must roll just past you, not fall on top of you, or you cannot come up to mount. If they hunker down, keep kicking until the base breaks.
Common mistakes
- Staying square under them. — The swing then pushes them straight back into your guard instead of over the trapped arm. — Hip out before the swing so your body is at 45° and your head is outside their knee.
- Hooking the leg from the outside. — From outside you cannot lift the leg; you only hug it and their knee stays on the mat. — Reach through from the inside, above the knee, with the elbow deep.
- A lazy, low swing. — Momentum is the whole sweep; a slow leg only shifts their weight and they rebalance. — Kick up toward the ceiling as if you wanted to touch it with the foot.
- Sweeping while they sit back in a strong base. — Sitting back their weight is over their hips and the swing does not move them. — Pull them forward off balance first, then hook the leg, open and swing.
How to drill it
Swing drill without a partner: lie on your back and swing the leg to the ceiling while the hips rotate, 10 each side; then add the partner.
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