Single Butterfly Hook

SubFamily

Translation: single butterfly hook

Range & classification

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]

Also known as

Half Butterfly^[1]Single Hook GuardBoxing^[2]One Butterfly HookBoxing^[3]

Used in

BJJ MMA Submission Grappling

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]

Country of origin· shown in random order

BrazilBJJ, MMA, Submission Grappling
JapanBJJ, Submission Grappling
USAMMA, Submission Grappling

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]

Images

No images yet for this technique.

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

Eduardo Fraga BJJ

Use your Butterfly Hook from Half Guard

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…

1 video

Learn This Technique

No instructional courses yet for this technique.

Ratings

Danger Rating

Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to

Low2/10

Guard positions are defensive; injury risk comes from transitions, not the position itself

Difficulty

Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably

Intermediate

Competition Legality

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 27PDF

Legal

— 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 RulesPDF

Training 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

Guard Pass — the primary attacking objective against this guard position Transition — movement between this position and adjacent positions in the hierarchy

Counter Techniques

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

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

Find by what a technique does — not its name

Every move, in any martial art, shares a few universal traits. Mix and match below to pinpoint the right tool — or compare equivalents across styles.

Standard Single Butterfly

Genus

The Standard Single Butterfly establishes one butterfly hook inside the opponent's thigh while the other foot is positioned on the mat, on the hip, or in a secondary control position. [1] This position serves as the entry point to full butterfly guard, X-guard transitions, single leg X entries, and arm drag attacks. [1,2] The asymmetric leg positioning provides different tactical options than double butterfly hooks, particularly for angular attacks and guard transitions. [2,3]

Explore

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?

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.

single butterfly hook shinguru batafurai fukku position guard position butterfly guard bjj mma submission grappling half butterfly single hook guard one butterfly hook