Best Closed Guard Sweep EVER...Period!
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Closed Guard Sweep·Matt Arroyo Jiu Jitsu
http://www.mattarroyo.com for more free videos Matt Arroyo shows a modified pendulum sweep often referred to as the flow…
Closed Guard Sweep
Familyクローズドガードスイープ(Kurōzudo Gādo Suīpu)
TransliterationTranslation: closed guard sweep
Overview
The Closed Guard Sweep family covers all sweeps executed from the closed guard position, where the guard player wraps the legs around the opponent's waist with ankles crossed. [1] Closed guard sweeps are among the most fundamental techniques in BJJ because the closed guard is the first guard position most grapplers learn, and its sweeps teach the core principles of off-balancing, hip movement, and timing that apply to all guard play. [1],[2] This family includes the scissor sweep, hip bump sweep, flower/pendulum sweep, and elevator sweep — each attacking a different angle and exploiting a different type of imbalance. [2],[3]
Full Guard Sweep[1]
History & Origin
Closed guard sweeps were central to the original Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu curriculum developed by the Gracie family, who made the closed guard the foundation of their ground fighting system. [1] The closed guard and its sweeps were the primary mechanism by which smaller BJJ fighters could reverse position against larger opponents, proving the art's effectiveness. [2],[3]
Effectiveness
Lineage
Closed guard sweeps are fundamental in BJJ, developed from the Gracie system's guard-based fighting. [1]
Competition Record
Closed guard sweeps are fundamental scoring techniques in IBJJF competition. [1]
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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 guard (bottom) — Off-balance the opponent using grips and hip movement, execute the sweep to reverse position to top
From half guard — Secure an underhook, drive into the opponent and execute the sweep
From butterfly guard — Use the butterfly hooks to elevate the opponent, then direct them to the side to complete the sweep
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 technique
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— IBJJF — Legal — escapes and sweeps are fundamental to BJJ...
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— IJF — Legal
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF— 4 from mount/back
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDF— FIAS Combat Sambo — Legal
FIAS Combat Sambo RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓Closed guard sweeps are the fundamental guard reversals — using the closed guard position to control the opponent's posture and base before sweeping them to top position (Renzo Gracie & Royler Gracie, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique, 2001)
✓The closed guard provides maximum control for sweeping: your legs around the opponent's waist control their posture and movement
✓The four classic closed guard sweeps: scissor sweep, hip bump sweep, elevator sweep, and flower/pendulum sweep — together they cover all defensive reactions
✓Sweeps work in combinations: the hip bump threatens the opponent forward, so they lean back — this opens the scissor sweep
✓Breaking the opponent's posture is the first step of every closed guard sweep — without posture break, no sweep has power
✓Closed guard sweeps are grip-dependent: collar-sleeve in gi, wrist-collar tie in no-gi — establish grips before attempting
✓In competition, closed guard sweeps are the foundation of bottom-position offence from white belt to black belt
✓The opponent's defensive reaction to one sweep creates the opening for the next — this is the chain-sweep principle
Common Mistakes
!Attempting sweeps without breaking the opponent's posture — posture break must precede any sweep attempt
!Only attempting one sweep direction — the opponent reads single-direction attacks; chain sweeps together
!Sweeping without proper grips — grips control the opponent's base and posture; no grips means no sweep
!Keeping the guard locked during the sweep — many sweeps require opening the guard to create angles
!Lying flat on the back — active hips and angular movement are required for effective sweeping
!Not following the sweep to top position — the sweep is incomplete without establishing dominance on top
!Training sweeps only as isolated techniques — drill them in combinations where one sets up the other
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
The Guard (Joe Moreira & Ed Beneville, 2008)
1BookThe Guard (Moreira & Beneville, 2008)
Alias sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
2BookJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003) [2] Jiu-Jitsu University (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] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
5CitationJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003) [2] Jiu-Jitsu University (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
Elevator Sweep
SubFamilyThe Elevator Sweep subfamily covers the closed guard sweep that uses a butterfly-style hook (elevator hook) inside one of the opponent's thighs to elevate and roll them over while controlling the upper body with grips. [1] The guard player opens the closed guard, places one foot inside the opponent's thigh as an elevator hook, and uses this hook to lift and tip the opponent over while pulling with the arms. [1,2] The elevator sweep bridges the mechanics of the closed guard with the butterfly guard, using a single hook insertion to generate powerful sweeping leverage. [2,3]
1 genera·1 techniquesExplore
Flower-Pendulum Sweep
SubFamilyThe Flower-Pendulum Sweep subfamily covers the closed guard sweep that uses a wide, pendulum-like swinging motion of the legs to generate the momentum needed to roll the opponent over. [1] The guard player grabs the opponent's same-side sleeve and opposite-side collar (or pants), then swings the legs in a wide arc (like a pendulum) while pulling the opponent's arm across and driving them over. [1,2] The pendulum swing generates significantly more force than a simple hip bump or bridge, making this one of the most powerful closed guard sweeps. [2,3]
1 genera·1 techniquesExplore
Hip Bump Sweep
SubFamilyThe Hip Bump Sweep subfamily covers the closed guard sweep that uses an explosive hip thrust (bump) to drive the opponent backwards off their base. [1] The guard player sits up explosively, wraps an overhook around the opponent's arm, and drives the hips forward in a bumping motion that pushes the opponent backward and over. [1,2] The hip bump sweep is uniquely effective because it attacks the opponent's balance directly backward, exploiting the common tendency of guard passers to lean forward with their weight. [2,3]
1 genera·1 techniquesExplore
Kimura Grip Sweep
SubFamilyThe Kimura Grip Sweep is a closed guard sweep that uses the kimura (figure-four) grip as both a submission threat and a sweeping mechanism — when the opponent defends the kimura by posturing, the attacker uses the kimura grip leverage to sweep them instead, and when they defend the sweep by staying low, the kimura submission becomes available. [1] This is one of the best examples of the sweep-submission chain principle in BJJ. [1,2]
1 genera·1 techniquesExplore
Scissor Sweep
SubFamilyThe Scissor Sweep subfamily covers the closed guard sweep that uses a scissoring leg motion — one shin blocking across the opponent's chest while the other leg sweeps the knee — to roll the opponent over. [1] The scissor sweep is often the very first sweep taught in BJJ because it clearly demonstrates the fundamental sweeping principle: a combination of an upper body push/pull with a lower body off-balancing motion. [1,2] The top leg blocks the opponent from coming forward while the bottom leg chops the knee, creating an irresistible rotational force. [2,3]
1 genera·1 techniquesExplore
Notes
The scissor sweep and hip bump sweep are the two most fundamental sweeps from closed guard, taught in every BJJ fundamentals curriculum worldwide. (Ribeiro, Jiu-Jitsu University; Gracie & Danaher, Mastering Jujitsu)
Frequently Asked Questions
What grips should I use to set up a closed guard sweep?
According to Matt Arroyo Jiu Jitsu, grab your opponent's opposite-side sleeve (for example, their right arm if sweeping left) with either a pistol grip or finger grip, then place your other hand on the opposite leg. You need two solid grips to successfully sweep, as a single grip can be broken too easily.
When should I grab the leg during a closed guard sweep?
Matt Arroyo Jiu Jitsu emphasizes not touching the leg until you're ready to commit to the sweep—this is the key to catching your opponent off guard and preventing them from defending by breaking your grips early.
How do I finish the sweep and transition to mount position?
Once your opponent is tipped over you, use your elbow to push yourself forward and transition to mount position. Keep your wrist grip tight as you execute this movement, and stay on your elbow until you're ready to advance your position.
How does the Closed Guard Sweep work?
The Closed Guard Sweep family covers all sweeps executed from the closed guard position, where the guard player wraps the legs around the opponent's waist with ankles crossed. Closed guard sweeps are among the most fundamental techniques in BJJ because the closed guard is the first guard position most grapplers learn, and its sweeps teach the core principles of off-balancing, hip movement, and timing that apply to all guard play.
Where does the Closed Guard Sweep come from?
Closed guard sweeps were central to the original Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu curriculum developed by the Gracie family, who made the closed guard the foundation of their ground fighting system. The closed guard and its sweeps were the primary mechanism by which smaller BJJ fighters could reverse position against larger opponents, proving the art's effectiveness.
Is the Closed Guard Sweep legal in competition?
Unified MMA: legal — Legal defensive technique; IBJJF: legal — Legal — escapes and sweeps are fundamental to BJJ, sweep from bottom scores 2…; IJF: legal — Legal; ADCC: legal — Legal, sweep scores 2 points (4 from mount/back); FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Closed Guard Sweep?
Danger rating 3/10. Moderate — sweeps reverse position from bottom; moderate impact on landing for top player
How do I set up the Closed Guard Sweep?
The standard setup chain: Control Grips → Off-Balance → Execute Sweep → Follow to Top.
How do I defend against the Closed Guard 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 Closed Guard 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 Closed Guard Sweep in competition?
Closed guard sweeps are fundamental scoring techniques in IBJJF competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Closed Guard Sweep?
Top errors to watch for: Attempting sweeps without breaking the opponent's posture — posture break must precede any sweep attempt / Only attempting one sweep direction — the opponent reads single-direction attacks; chain sweeps together / Sweeping without proper grips — grips control the opponent's base and posture; no grips means no sweep / Keeping the guard locked during the sweep — many sweeps require opening the guard to create angles.
What are other names for the Closed Guard Sweep?
The Closed Guard Sweep is also known as Kurōzudo Gādo Suīpu, Full Guard Sweep.