Jiu-Jitsu | 2-on-1 Butterfly Hook Sweep Variations
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Overhook Butterfly Sweep·Danny Fung·Added by Admin
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Overhook Butterfly Sweep
Genusオーバーフックバタフライスイープ(Ōbāfukku Batafurai Suīpu)
TransliterationTranslation: overhook butterfly sweep
Overview
The Overhook Butterfly Sweep uses an overhook (whizzer) grip on one of the opponent's arms combined with a butterfly hook elevation to execute a powerful sweep. [1] The overhook pulls the opponent's arm across the centre line and breaks their posture, while the butterfly hook on the overhook side elevates them, creating a combined pulling-and-lifting motion that tips them over. [1],[2] The overhook grip provides particularly strong control because it both restricts the opponent's base hand and pulls them into the sweep trajectory. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
Lineage
The overhook butterfly sweep uses an overhook grip combined with butterfly hook elevation. [1]
Competition Record
Used in BJJ competition. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Creating space between the bottom player's body and the top player to recover guard or achieve underhook
Joints Involved — Hips (shrimping/hip escape), elbows and forearms (framing against crossface and hip), knees (re-inserting guard)
Force Vector — Lateral hip escape (shrimp) — moving the hips away from the opponent creates the space needed to insert knee or recover guard
Escape Mechanic — Frames create momentary space, hip escape maintains it, and knee insertion re-establishes guard
Position & Entry
From bottom side control — Create frames with the forearms against the opponent's neck and hip, hip escape (shrimp) to create space, insert the knee to recover guard
From underhook escape — Swim the near arm to an underhook, bridge into the opponent and come to knees or reverse
From opponent's transition — When the opponent moves to mount or north-south, use the movement to create space and escape
Variants
Standard sweep — primary off-balancing and reversal technique from the guard
Combination sweep — chaining two sweep directions to catch the opponent's adjustment
Counter sweep — sweeping as the opponent initiates a guard pass attempt
Competition sweep — optimised for point-scoring in tournament settings
Videos
1 video
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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 overhook butterfly sweep uses an overhook (whizzer) grip combined with a butterfly hook to sweep the opponent — the overhook controls the arm and posture while the hook provides the lifting force (Marcelo Garcia, X-Guard, 2008)
✓The overhook traps the opponent's arm and prevents them from posting — this is the upper-body control needed for the sweep
✓Execution: overhook the opponent's arm, pinch the elbow tight, use the same-side butterfly hook to elevate, and fall to the overhook side
✓The overhook butterfly sweep goes the opposite direction from the underhook sweep — you fall toward the overhook side
✓This sweep is particularly effective when the opponent denies the underhook — the overhook is the alternative
✓The overhook also threatens submissions: kimura, omoplata, and triangle setups from the overhook position
✓After the sweep, maintain the overhook for continued arm control in top position
✓The overhook butterfly sweep is a competition-proven technique in both gi and no-gi
Common Mistakes
!Overhooked but not pinching the elbow tight — a loose overhook lets the opponent pull the arm free
!Sweeping to the wrong side — the overhook sweep goes toward the overhook side, not away
!Not using the butterfly hook to elevate — the hook provides the lower-body force for the sweep
!Not trapping the opponent's posting ability — the overhook must prevent them from posting the trapped arm
!Falling straight back instead of to the overhook side — the diagonal fall creates the sweep force
!Not following to top position — the sweep must end with you on top
!Only training the overhook sweep and not the underhook sweep — both should be available from butterfly guard
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Control Grips — establish the controlling grips needed to load the sweep
2Off-Balance — shift the opponent's weight to the target direction
3Execute Sweep — apply the sweeping mechanic to topple the opponent
4Follow to Top — ride the sweep momentum to establish top position
Sources & References
Primary Source
Jiu-Jitsu University (Saulo Ribeiro, 2008)
1BookThe Guard (Moreira & Beneville, 2008)
Alias sources — [1] Advanced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Techniques (Marcelo Garcia, 2007) [2] Jiu-Jitsu University (Saulo Ribeiro, 2008)
2BookJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Saulo Ribeiro, 2008) [2] Mastering Jujitsu (Renzo Gracie & John Danaher, 2003)
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] Advanced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Techniques (Marcelo Garcia, 2007) [2] Jiu-Jitsu University (Saulo Ribeiro, 2008)
5CitationJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Saulo Ribeiro, 2008) [2] Mastering Jujitsu (Renzo Gracie & John Danaher, 2003)
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
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I prevent my opponent from freeing their arm when I have the overhook butterfly sweep grip?
According to Danny Fung, grab the belt with your other hand and use your elbow to shut down the space where their arm could escape, keeping them very stuck before you rock back and flip them over.
What should I do if my opponent posts their arm on the mat during the sweep?
Danny Fung emphasizes that if the arm is on the mat, don't rock back; instead, turn your feet inside so you can roll to your shoulder, kick them up, and rotate your hips while maintaining top position.
How do I execute the sweep effectively against a heavy opponent?
Danny Fung recommends first removing their post, then pulling them toward you before pushing them away, rotating and kicking them over while maintaining chest and hip connection for a solid base.
What's the proper sequence for setting up the butterfly hooks after breaking posture?
Break their grip, control the wrist, break their posture, stretch them out on both sides, insert the first grapevine hook, then insert the second hook before executing the sweep.
How does the Overhook Butterfly Sweep work?
The Overhook Butterfly Sweep uses an overhook (whizzer) grip on one of the opponent's arms combined with a butterfly hook elevation to execute a powerful sweep. The overhook pulls the opponent's arm across the centre line and breaks their posture, while the butterfly hook on the overhook side elevates them, creating a combined pulling-and-lifting motion that tips them over.
Where does the Overhook Butterfly Sweep come from?
The overhook butterfly sweep is a classic variation of the basic butterfly sweep, widely used in both gi and no-gi competition as an alternative when the standard underhook is unavailable. It has been a staple of butterfly guard play since the system's popularisation.
Is the Overhook Butterfly Sweep 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 Overhook Butterfly Sweep?
Danger rating 3/10. Moderate — sweeps reverse position from bottom; moderate impact on landing for top player
How do I set up the Overhook Butterfly Sweep?
The standard setup chain: Control Grips → Off-Balance → Execute Sweep → Follow to Top.
How do I defend against the Overhook Butterfly Sweep?
Standard counters include: Base and Posture — maintain wide base and upright posture to resist the sweep / Grip Strip — break controlling grips before the sweep can be loaded / Back Step — retreat the leg being attacked to remove the sweep fulcrum.
What are the variants of the Overhook Butterfly Sweep?
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 Overhook Butterfly Sweep in competition?
Used in BJJ competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Overhook Butterfly Sweep?
Top errors to watch for: Overhooked but not pinching the elbow tight — a loose overhook lets the opponent pull the arm free / Sweeping to the wrong side — the overhook sweep goes toward the overhook side, not away / Not using the butterfly hook to elevate — the hook provides the lower-body force for the sweep / Not trapping the opponent's posting ability — the overhook must prevent them from posting the trapped arm.
What are other names for the Overhook Butterfly Sweep?
The Overhook Butterfly Sweep is also known as Ōbāfukku Batafurai Suīpu, Whizzer Butterfly Sweep, Overhook Hook Sweep.