Beginners' Guide to the Berimbolo
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Berimbolo·Vital Jiu Jitsu
Vital Jiu Jitsu's very own berimbolo addict is excited to give you his blueprint for how to quickly learn the berimbolo.…
Berimbolo
Familyベリンボロ(Berinboro)
TransliterationTranslation: berimbolo
Overview
The Berimbolo family covers the berimbolo technique and its variations — a spinning inversion from De La Riva guard that uses an under-the-back rotation to take the opponent's back or achieve a sweep. [1] The berimbolo revolutionised guard play by introducing an inverted spinning mechanic that bypasses the traditional sweep paradigm entirely, going directly to back control instead of top position. [1],[2] The technique involves inverting under the opponent from DLR guard, using the DLR hook to off-balance them, and spinning underneath to emerge behind the opponent with back control. [2],[3]
History & Origin
The berimbolo was developed by Samuel Braga and popularised by the Mendes brothers (Rafael and Guilherme) and the Miyao brothers (Paulo and João), who used it to dominate the lighter weight classes in IBJJF competition from approximately 2009 onward. [1] The technique's name comes from Brazilian Portuguese slang meaning 'to scramble' or 'to mix up.' [2] It became the signature technique of the modern guard game and sparked an entirely new approach to guard play based on inversions and back takes. [2],[3]
Effectiveness
The berimbolo is one of the most technically sophisticated and effective back-taking techniques in modern BJJ, though it requires significant athletic ability and drilling to execute reliably. [1] It is most effective in gi competition where grip control allows for the inversion and rotation, and is generally used by lighter, more agile competitors. [1],[2]
Lineage
The berimbolo was developed and popularised by Samuel Braga and Andre Galvao in the late 2000s, then perfected by the Mendes Brothers (Gui and Rafa Mendes) of Art of Jiu-Jitsu. [1] The technique emerged from De La Riva guard innovations and became the defining technique of the modern guard game in IBJJF competition. [2]
Competition Record
The berimbolo transformed competitive BJJ from 2009 onward. The Mendes Brothers used it to win multiple IBJJF World Championships — Gui Mendes won worlds at roosterweight in 2009, 2012, and 2013, while Rafa Mendes won at featherweight in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015, with the berimbolo as a cornerstone of their competition game. [1],[2] Paulo and Joao Miyao also became famous for their berimbolo-centric competition style. [2]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Breaking the opponent's leg control to advance to a more dominant position
Joints Involved — Hips (posture and pressure), knees (opening the guard with knee-in or standing), hands (grip fighting)
Force Vector — Forward pressure (stack/smash) or backward posture (stand-up break) to open the closed guard
Passing Mechanic — Once the guard is opened, speed passing, pressure passing, or toreando passing advances the position
Position & Entry
From bottom (opponent has back control) — Fight the hands to prevent the choke, slide hips to the mat on the choking side, escape the hooks and turn into the opponent
From standing (opponent has back clinch) — Drop the hips, peel the hands, turn and face the opponent
From body triangle — Address the body triangle first by positioning the trapped leg to pry it open, then escape the hooks
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
3
Moderate3/10
Sweeps reverse position from bottom; moderate impact on landing for top player
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
— Unified MMA — Legal defensive/transitional technique
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— IBJJF — Legal
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— IJF — Legal
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF— ADCC — Legal
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— UWW — Legal
UWW International Wrestling Rules, January 2026PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓The berimbolo is an inverted guard technique that uses de la Riva guard entries to invert underneath the opponent and take the back — one of modern BJJ's most revolutionary techniques (Samuel Braga / Mendes Brothers, Competition BJJ, 2010s)
✓The berimbolo works by inverting (going upside down) under the opponent while controlling their leg with de la Riva hook
✓The de la Riva hook is the foundation: hook the outside of the opponent's lead leg, grip the far ankle or belt, and invert
✓As you invert, you spin underneath the opponent and emerge behind them for a back take
✓The berimbolo is a position-based attack: it's a sweep/back-take hybrid that bypasses traditional passing
✓In IBJJF competition, the berimbolo is a dominant technique at all belt levels — it has changed the meta of modern BJJ
✓The berimbolo requires exceptional hip flexibility and inversion skills — drill the movement patterns before adding resistance
✓Study the Mendes brothers (Gui and Rafa) and the Miyao brothers — they are the architects of modern berimbolo play
Common Mistakes
!Attempting the berimbolo without the de la Riva hook — the DLR hook is the control point; without it, there's no berimbolo
!Inverting without controlling the far leg or belt — the grip prevents the opponent from stepping away during your inversion
!Inverting too slowly — the inversion must be fast enough that the opponent can't react and re-base
!Not completing the back take after the inversion — the berimbolo ends with back control; stopping at the inversion is incomplete
!Using the berimbolo against a standing opponent without proper grips — the opponent can simply walk away
!Not training inversion movement patterns — the berimbolo requires hip flexibility that must be developed
!Over-relying on the berimbolo without developing passing and top game — well-rounded games are more effective
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Create Space — use frames, hip movement, or leverage to generate room to move
2Disrupt Control — break or weaken the opponent's grips and weight placement
3Execute Escape — apply the specific escape mechanic with timing and commitment
4Recover Position — establish a safe position (guard, standing, or top)
Sources & References
Primary Source
Advanced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Techniques (Marcelo Garcia, 2011)
1BookThe Guard (Moreira & Beneville, 2008)
Alias sources — [1] IBJJF Rules and Regulations [2] IBJJF Rules and Regulations
2BookJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Effectiveness sources — [1] IBJJF competition analysis, Mendes Brothers instructional material [2] Jiu-Jitsu University (Saulo Ribeiro, 2008)
3OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
4CitationThe Guard (Moreira & Beneville, 2008)
Alias sources — [1] IBJJF Rules and Regulations [2] IBJJF Rules and Regulations
5CitationJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Effectiveness sources — [1] IBJJF competition analysis, Mendes Brothers instructional material [2] Jiu-Jitsu University (Saulo Ribeiro, 2008)
Community
Athletics
Requires
timing, hip power, off-balancing skill
Favours
strong hips and active legs for sweeping leverage
Key muscles
hip flexors, glutes, quadriceps, core rotators
Sub-techniques
Kiss Of The Dragon
SubFamilyThe Kiss Of The Dragon subfamily covers the specific berimbolo variation where the guard player inverts and threads through the opponent's legs from a reverse De La Riva position, emerging on the other side with back control. [1] Unlike the standard berimbolo which spins under the opponent, the Kiss of the Dragon threads between the legs, making it particularly effective when the opponent is standing with a wide base. [1,2] The technique involves inverting, threading the head and shoulders between the opponent's legs, and emerging behind them with immediate back control. [2,3]
1 genera·1 techniquesExplore
Standard Berimbolo
SubFamilyThe Standard Berimbolo subfamily covers the core berimbolo technique — the foundational inversion from De La Riva guard that spins underneath the opponent to take the back. [1] This is the original berimbolo mechanic from which all variations derive, involving an inversion from DLR guard, an under-the-back spin, and the emergence behind the opponent with back control. [1,2] The standard berimbolo is initiated by off-balancing the opponent with the DLR hook, then inverting and spinning underneath while maintaining the hooking connection. [2,3]
1 genera·1 techniquesExplore
Notes
The berimbolo was popularized by the Mendes Brothers and became the signature technique of modern sport BJJ. It inverts under the opponent from De La Riva guard to take the back. Controversial — critics argue it is only effective under sport BJJ rules. (Mendes Brothers competition records; IBJJF World Championship data)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the berimbolo just a back-take technique, or can it be used for other positions?
According to Vital Jiu Jitsu, the berimbolo should be thought of as more of a position rather than just a trick to get to the back, because it has many opportunities to take you to different styles and places in jiu-jitsu.
What's the most important detail when gripping the opponent's leg during a berimbolo?
Vital Jiu Jitsu emphasizes cupping the back of the knee rather than grabbing the calf or material, because pulling the calf doesn't give you enough control of the opponent's hips.
How should I position my body once I have the berimbolo position secured?
Vital Jiu Jitsu recommends posting your hands wide and keeping your chest low to stabilize the position, and when transitioning to the back, sink low onto the opponent's back rather than staying extended upward.
How does the Berimbolo work?
The Berimbolo family covers the berimbolo technique and its variations — a spinning inversion from De La Riva guard that uses an under-the-back rotation to take the opponent's back or achieve a sweep. The berimbolo revolutionised guard play by introducing an inverted spinning mechanic that bypasses the traditional sweep paradigm entirely, going directly to back control instead of top position.
Where does the Berimbolo come from?
The berimbolo was developed by Samuel Braga and popularised by the Mendes brothers (Rafael and Guilherme) and the Miyao brothers (Paulo and João), who used it to dominate the lighter weight classes in IBJJF competition from approximately 2009 onward. The technique's name comes from Brazilian Portuguese slang meaning 'to scramble' or 'to mix up.
Is the Berimbolo legal in competition?
Unified MMA: legal — Legal defensive/transitional technique; IBJJF: legal — Legal; IJF: legal — Legal; ADCC: legal — Legal; UWW: legal — Legal; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Berimbolo?
Danger rating 3/10. Moderate — sweeps reverse position from bottom; moderate impact on landing for top player
How do I set up the Berimbolo?
The standard setup chain: Create Space → Disrupt Control → Execute Escape → Recover Position.
How do I defend against the Berimbolo?
Standard counters include: Maintain Pressure — keep consistent weight distribution to limit escape space / Anticipate Direction — read escape attempt direction and block early / Transition — flow to a new position when the current one is threatened.
What are the variants of the Berimbolo?
Common variants: Standard sweep (primary off-balancing and reversal technique from the guard); Combination sweep (chaining two sweep directions to catch the opponent's adj…); Counter sweep (sweeping as the opponent initiates a guard pass attempt); Competition sweep (optimised for point-scoring in tournament settings).
How effective is the Berimbolo in competition?
The berimbolo transformed competitive BJJ from 2009 onward. The Mendes Brothers used it to win multiple IBJJF World Championships — Gui Mendes won worlds at roosterweight in 2009, 2012, and 2013, while Rafa Mendes won at featherweight in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015, with the berimbolo as a cornerstone of their competition game.
What are common mistakes when doing the Berimbolo?
Top errors to watch for: Attempting the berimbolo without the de la Riva hook — the DLR hook is the control point; without it, there's no beri… / Inverting without controlling the far leg or belt — the grip prevents the opponent from stepping away during your inv… / Inverting too slowly — the inversion must be fast enough that the opponent can't react and re-base / Not completing the back take after the inversion — the berimbolo ends with back control; stopping at the inversion is….
What are other names for the Berimbolo?
The Berimbolo is also known as Berinboro, Bolo, Spinning Back Take.