Use your Butterfly Hook from Half Guard
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Single Butterfly Hook·Eduardo Fraga BJJ
Prof. Eduardo teaches how to use your shin hook from a poor position in half guard in order to recover to the full guard…
Single Butterfly Hook
SubFamilyシングルバタフライフック(Shinguru Batafurai Fukku)
TransliterationTranslation: single butterfly hook
Overview
The Single Butterfly Hook subfamily covers positions where only one butterfly hook is inserted inside the opponent's thigh, with the other leg positioned differently — on the hip, on the mat, or in another guard configuration. [1] The single butterfly hook is a common transitional position and serves as an entry point to full butterfly guard, X-guard, and single leg X-guard. [1],[2] While providing less control than double hooks, the single butterfly hook offers more flexibility for transitions and can be combined with other guard elements. [2],[3]
History & Origin
The single butterfly hook position is recognised as both a transitional state and a guard position in its own right, used extensively in the butterfly guard system as an entry point to various attacks and transitions. [1] Its versatility as a gateway to multiple guard positions makes it a frequently encountered position in competition. [2],[3]
Effectiveness
The single butterfly hook uses one hook inside the opponent's thigh, often as a transitional guard or half butterfly position. [1]
Lineage
The single butterfly hook is a transitional and deliberate guard position in modern BJJ. [1]
Competition Record
The single butterfly hook is commonly used in BJJ competition as a guard recovery and sweep platform. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Using the legs and hips to control the opponent from the bottom — maintaining distance management and attack angles
Joints Involved — Hips (primary engine for sweeps and attacks), knees (framing and hooking), ankles (secondary hooks)
Force Vector — Pulling, framing, and hip-escaping — creating angles for attacks while preventing passing
Positional Mechanic — The guard is an active offensive position — leg control compensates for bottom positioning by threatening sweeps and submissions
Position & Entry
From seated guard — Sit up facing the opponent, place both feet as hooks inside their thighs, control the upper body with grips
From half guard transition — Release one leg from half guard, insert both hooks to transition to butterfly guard
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
2
Low2/10
Guard positions are defensive; injury risk comes from transitions, not the position itself
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Restricted
— IJF — Guard pulling penalized as non-combativity — ground...
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDFLegal
— IBJJF — Legal — guard is fundamental to BJJ, sweeps from ...
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— ADCC — Legal, guard pull penalized -1 point in points por...
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— Unified MMA — Legal — no penalty for playing guard
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓The single butterfly hook position uses one hook inside the opponent's thigh while the other leg frames or controls — it is a transitional position between full butterfly and other guards (Marcelo Garcia, Advanced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, 2011)
✓The single hook is common during guard retention: one hook is established while working to insert the second
✓Single butterfly hook positions include half butterfly (one hook, one leg entangled) and asymmetric butterfly (one hook, one foot on hip)
✓The single hook can be more dynamic than double hooks — it allows for greater angle creation and movement
✓From single hook, the primary transitions are: insert second hook (full butterfly), transition to single-leg X, or transition to half guard
✓In scrambles, establishing a single butterfly hook is often the first step to recovering full guard
✓The single hook is particularly useful against knee-slice passes — the hook blocks the pass while the other leg frames
Common Mistakes
!Treating the single hook as a stable position — it is transitional; work to improve immediately
!Not using the free leg actively — the non-hooking leg should be framing, pushing, or threatening
!Allowing the opponent to clear the single hook without resistance — maintain active pressure with the hook
!Not transitioning to single-leg X when the opponent stands — this is the natural progression
!Keeping both legs in the same plane — angle the free leg differently from the hook for versatility
!Using only the hook without upper body grips — the hook and grips must coordinate
!Settling for single hook when double hooks are available — insert the second hook when possible
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Achieve Guard Contact — establish leg control around or against the opponent
2Control Grips — secure sleeve, collar, or wrist control for manipulation
3Manage Distance — use legs and grips to control the range and prevent passing
4Threaten Submissions/Sweeps — create offensive threats to keep the opponent reactive
Sources & References
Primary Source
Advanced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Techniques (Marcelo Garcia, 2011)
1BookThe Guard (Moreira & Beneville, 2008)
Alias sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [2] The Guard (Moreira & Beneville, 2003) [3] Marcelo Garcia: Advanced BJJ Techniques (2011)
2BookJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Effectiveness sources — [1] 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) [2] The Guard (Moreira & Beneville, 2003) [3] Marcelo Garcia: Advanced BJJ Techniques (2011)
5CitationJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Community
Athletics
Requires
hip flexibility, active legs, grip management
Favours
long legs for distance control and guard retention
Key muscles
hip flexors, adductors, quadriceps, core, grip
Sub-techniques
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I set up the butterfly hook from half guard?
Get a grip on your opponent's hip, hip out to create space, and lock your hook in. Eduardo Fraga emphasizes that you need to pull your opponent back heavily on your shoulder to control them before executing any sweep.
What's the biggest mistake my opponent can make when I have the butterfly hook?
Driving their weight forward onto your hook is a huge mistake—the more pressure they apply, the easier the sweep becomes. Eduardo Fraga points out this weight distribution error makes the technique significantly more effective.
How should I use my legs when executing the butterfly hook sweep?
Keep the knee attached to your hook off the mat and think about pushing your foot out rather than focusing on the knee position, as your foot can get stuck otherwise. When transitioning to mount, you must move immediately rather than placing your knee down, or your opponent will trap your foot.
How does the Single Butterfly Hook work?
The Single Butterfly Hook subfamily covers positions where only one butterfly hook is inserted inside the opponent's thigh, with the other leg positioned differently — on the hip, on the mat, or in another guard configuration. The single butterfly hook is a common transitional position and serves as an entry point to full butterfly guard, X-guard, and single leg X-guard.
Where does the Single Butterfly Hook come from?
The single butterfly hook position is recognised as both a transitional state and a guard position in its own right, used extensively in the butterfly guard system as an entry point to various attacks and transitions. Its versatility as a gateway to multiple guard positions makes it a frequently encountered position in competition.
Is the Single Butterfly Hook legal in competition?
IBJJF: legal — Legal — guard is fundamental to BJJ, sweeps from guard score 2 points; IJF: restricted — Guard pulling penalized as non-combativity — groundwork from guard permitted …; ADCC: legal — Legal, guard pull penalized -1 point in points portion; Unified MMA: legal — Legal — no penalty for playing guard; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Single Butterfly Hook?
Danger rating 2/10. Low — guard positions are defensive; injury risk comes from transitions, not the position itself
How do I set up the Single Butterfly Hook?
The standard setup chain: Achieve Guard Contact → Control Grips → Manage Distance → Threaten Submissions/Sweeps.
How do I defend against the Single Butterfly Hook?
Standard counters include: Guard Pass — systematically work to clear the legs and establish a dominant position / Leg Pin — control one or both legs to neutralize guard retention / Pressure Passing — use heavy chest pressure to flatten and immobilize the guard player.
What are the variants of the Single Butterfly Hook?
Common variants: Standard butterfly guard (both feet hooked inside the opponent's thighs); Single butterfly hook (one hook in while the other leg posts or controls); Butterfly with overhook (combining the hooks with an overhook for sweep setups).
How effective is the Single Butterfly Hook in competition?
The single butterfly hook is commonly used in BJJ competition as a guard recovery and sweep platform.
What are common mistakes when doing the Single Butterfly Hook?
Top errors to watch for: Treating the single hook as a stable position — it is transitional; work to improve immediately / Not using the free leg actively — the non-hooking leg should be framing, pushing, or threatening / Allowing the opponent to clear the single hook without resistance — maintain active pressure with the hook / Not transitioning to single-leg X when the opponent stands — this is the natural progression.
What are other names for the Single Butterfly Hook?
The Single Butterfly Hook is also known as Shinguru Batafurai Fukku, Half Butterfly, Single Hook Guard, One Butterfly Hook.