Worm Guard Sweep
Sweep · Open Guard
A lapel sweep from worm guard in open guard, gi only, for when the opponent steps to pass; he tips over his tied leg and you come up on top. Keep a De La Riva hook or a foot on his same-side hip while you build it: the distance it buys lets your hands work. Pull out a long piece of his lapel, feed it under his near leg and sit up to pass it to your other hand, then hold it tight close to your body, so the lapel ties his leg like a rope. When he steps to pass, pull the lapel, block his free leg with a hook or a push, and tip him toward the side where the tied leg cannot step to recover. Any slack lets the leg slip out. If he breaks the lapel grip, go back to De La Riva; if he backs away, take the back.
How to do it
- Keep a De La Riva hook or a foot on their same-side hip while you work: the distance it buys is what lets your hands feed the lapel. Pull out a long piece of their lapel.
- Feed the lapel under their near leg to your hand, sitting up to pass it to the other hand, because on your back you cannot reach.
- Hold the lapel tight, gripping close to your body: their leg is tied, and the lapel works like a rope around it.
- When they step to pass, pull the lapel and block the free leg with a hook or a push.
- Tip them over the tied leg toward the side where it cannot step to recover, and come up on top.
Key details
- The lapel works like a rope tied around their leg: the leg can only move as far as you let it.
- Keep constant tension on the lapel: any slack lets the leg slip out of the loop.
- Keep your foot on their same-side hip while you build it, or they pass while your hands are busy.
- Gi only: it needs their lapel, because the wrap around the leg is what does the holding instead of your hand strength.
- Sweep toward the side where the tied leg cannot step to recover.
- Grip the lapel like a rope, the whole width of the fabric in your fist, not just the edge, and turn your head away from the lapel side as you feed it, so you get it deep.
Common mistakes
- A loose lapel. — The leg slips out of the loop. — Pull it tight before you move.
- Too little lapel pulled out. — There is not enough to wrap the leg and hold. — Pull out a long piece of lapel first.
- No block on the free leg. — The free leg steps over your legs and they pass. — Hook or push the free leg as you pull.
How to drill it
Lapel feed 10 times, then worm guard sweep 6 each side.
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