Defense Against The Homer Simpson Choke (Battery Choke)
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Homer Simpson Sweep·Fight Commentary Grappling·Added by Admin
Clinton Harris, black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, shows us one of the most feared positions that we have seen in a come…
Homer Simpson Sweep
Genusホーマーシンプソンスイープ(Hōmā Shinpuson Suīpu)
TransliterationTranslation: Homer Simpson sweep
Overview
The Homer Simpson sweep is a deep half guard sweep where the guard player hugs the opponent's knee tightly, pinches their own knees together to prevent leg extraction, and rolls backward toward the opponent to complete the sweep. [1] The rolling motion on the side resembles Homer Simpson running in circles on his side from The Simpsons — hence the name. Described as 'the most simple sweep from deep half.' [2] Without a proper knee pinch, the opponent can pull their leg free.
Homer Simpson SweepHomer Sweep10th Planet Homer
History & Origin
Part of the 10th Planet deep half guard system. Taught by Jeff Glover. [1]
Effectiveness
The simplest and most fundamental sweep from deep half guard. [1]
Lineage
10th Planet system. Taught by Jeff Glover.
Competition Record
Used in no-gi competition and EBI.
Images
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Hug opponent's knee tightly; pinch knees together; roll backward toward opponent
Key Detail — The knee hug dictates which direction the opponent moves; the knee pinch prevents leg extraction
Position & Entry
From deep half guard — Establish deep half control, hug the knee, pinch knees, and roll backward
Variants
Standard Homer — basic roll with knee hug
Homer to back take — continue the roll to establish back control
Videos
1 video
Learn This Technique
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
1
Low1/10
Very safe sweep
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Beginner
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
✓Taught by Jeff Glover at 10th Planet Van Nuys. Appears in Mastering the System episode 7. Also referenced in 'Mastering the Rubber Guard' (2006). Described as the most simple sweep from deep half guard — the knee hug and knee pinch are the critical details.
Common Mistakes
!Not pinching knees together — opponent pulls leg free
!Not hugging the knee tightly — lose control during the roll
!Rolling the wrong direction — must roll toward the opponent
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Establish deep half guard → Hug opponent's knee → Pinch knees together → Roll backward toward opponent → Come up on top
Sources & References
Primary Source
Mastering the Rubber Guard (Bravo, 2006)
1BookMastering the Rubber Guard (Bravo, 2006)
[1] MTS episode 7
2BookMastering the System episode 7
[2] Jeff Glover instruction at 10th Planet Van Nuys
3BookJeff Glover — Deep Half Guard (10th Planet Van Nuys)
4OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
5CitationMastering the Rubber Guard (Bravo, 2006)
[1] MTS episode 7
6CitationMastering the System episode 7
[2] Jeff Glover instruction at 10th Planet Van Nuys
7CitationJeff Glover — Deep Half Guard (10th Planet Van Nuys)
Community
Athletics
Requires
ability to get to deep half guard
Key muscles
hip adductors, core
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Homer Simpson Sweep used for?
The Homer Simpson Sweep (also called the battery choke) is a technique designed for a smaller person to defeat a larger opponent through proper technique rather than strength.
How do I control my opponent when defending against this technique?
Close your guard to control your opponent in this position, keeping them tight—the tighter the better—to prevent them from executing the sweep effectively.
Why is this technique effective in street self-defense situations?
On the street, attackers will naturally try to apply this kind of battery choke to maintain control, making understanding this technique important for real-world defense scenarios.
How does the Homer Simpson Sweep work?
The Homer Simpson sweep is a deep half guard sweep where the guard player hugs the opponent's knee tightly, pinches their own knees together to prevent leg extraction, and rolls backward toward the opponent to complete the sweep. The rolling motion on the side resembles Homer Simpson running in circles on his side from The Simpsons — hence the name.
Where does the Homer Simpson Sweep come from?
Part of the 10th Planet deep half guard system. Taught by Jeff Glover.
Is the Homer Simpson 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 Homer Simpson Sweep?
Danger rating 1/10. Very safe sweep
How do I set up the Homer Simpson Sweep?
The standard setup chain: Establish deep half guard → Hug opponent's knee → Pinch knees together → Roll backward toward opponent → Come up on top.
How do I defend against the Homer Simpson Sweep?
Standard counters include: Pull the leg free before the knee pinch / Crossface to prevent the roll / Sprawl away.
What are the variants of the Homer Simpson Sweep?
Common variants: Standard Homer (basic roll with knee hug); Homer to back take (continue the roll to establish back control).
How effective is the Homer Simpson Sweep in competition?
Used in no-gi competition and EBI.
What are common mistakes when doing the Homer Simpson Sweep?
Top errors to watch for: Not pinching knees together — opponent pulls leg free / Not hugging the knee tightly — lose control during the roll / Rolling the wrong direction — must roll toward the opponent.
What are other names for the Homer Simpson Sweep?
The Homer Simpson Sweep is also known as Hōmā Shinpuson Suīpu, Homer Simpson Sweep, Homer Sweep, 10th Planet Homer.