Butterfly Kick/Tricker Aerial Tutorial (First Ever Tutorial!)
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Standard Single Butterfly·Zenix Tricking·Added by Admin
Hope you guys learn something! Enjoy! —————————————————————— This is a tutorial aimed at beginners to tricking. ————————…
Standard Single Butterfly
Genusスタンダードシングルバタフライ(Sutandādo Shinguru Batafurai)
TransliterationTranslation: standard single butterfly
Overview
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]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
The standard single butterfly hook is the baseline version of this guard position. [1]
Lineage
A standard BJJ guard variant. [1]
Competition Record
Used in BJJ competition. [1]
Images
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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
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
Videos
Butterfly Ashi and Single Leg to Aoki Lock!
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Standard Single Butterfly·Still Rolling
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Distance butterfly guard (Lachlan Giles)
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Standard Single Butterfly·Absolute MMA St Kilda - Melbourne
Check out http://lachlangiles.net for more instructionals and seminars
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3 videosWhat Instructors Say
The standard single butterfly hook is a foundational guard position employed in Brazilian jiu-jitsu from the butterfly guard, where the bottom player uses one foot to hook the opponent's inner thigh while maintaining strategic distance and hand positioning. Absolute MMA St Kilda emphasizes working from distance rather than a tight clinch, advising practitioners to keep one foot ready to free itself rather than committing both hooks, as this limits escape options if the top player pinches the knees together. The instructor prioritizes hand engagement based on the opponent's arm positioning: arm drags when the opponent reaches for the legs, two-on-one grips when they engage the upper body, and forward drives when hands are disengaged. The two-on-one grip proves particularly effective, allowing the bottom player to lock elbows to hips, control the opponent's arm across their body, and create opportunities for the underhook sweep or leg attacks. Still Rolling demonstrates how the single butterfly hook functions as a transition point within leg lock sequences, particularly when transitioning from a single-leg takedown attempt or when falling back from top position into leg lock entries. Both instructors agree that positional control and hand fighting dictate which attacks become available from the single butterfly hook, and that maintaining hip mobility rather than rigid hook placement provides superior tactical flexibility.
Synthesized from 3 instructors
- Absolute MMA St Kilda - Melbourne — Distance butterfly guard (Lachlan Giles): Detailed technical framework for working single butterfly hook from distance, including one-hook engagement strategy, hand-positioning decisions based on opponent arm placement (arm drag, two-on-one, or forward drive), underhook sweep mechanics, and proper hip positioning for sweep execution.
- Still Rolling — Butterfly Ashi and Single Leg to Aoki Lock!: Demonstrated single butterfly hook as a transition point in leg lock sequences, showing how it functions when transitioning from single-leg takedown attempts and as an entry into heel hooks, ankle locks, and berimbolo sequences.
- Zenix Tricking — Butterfly Kick/Tricker Aerial Tutorial (First Ever Tutorial!): Not applicable—this transcript concerns aerial tricking and gymnastics movements, not grappling guard positions.
Learn This Technique
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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
✓Standard single butterfly execution: insert one hook inside the opponent's thigh while the other foot posts on the mat or the opponent's hip, use an underhook or collar tie on the hook side, and threaten sweeps or transitions (Marcelo Garcia, Advanced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, 2011)
✓Step 1: from open guard, insert one butterfly hook on the side where you have upper body control
✓Step 2: the free leg posts on the mat for base or on the opponent's hip for distance
✓Step 3: use the underhook on the hook side to control the opponent's shoulder
✓Step 4: threaten the butterfly sweep on the hook side or transition to single-leg X
✓The single butterfly is the first position established during guard recovery — it's faster to get one hook than two
✓From single butterfly, the arm drag is particularly effective because the free leg can assist the rotation
✓Drill: partner passes, insert single hook and sweep or transition — 5 reps per side
Common Mistakes
!Inserting the hook without upper body control — the grip and hook must be coordinated
!Posting the free leg too far from the body — keep it close enough to assist with movement
!Not threatening sweeps from single hook — the position has offensive potential; use it
!Failing to transition when the opponent negates the hook — switch to half guard, single-leg X, or re-guard
!Using the hook passively — the hook should be actively elevating and destabilizing
!Not training single butterfly as a guard recovery tool — it is the most practical recovery position
!Keeping the torso flat while playing single hook — sit up for better leverage
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)
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)
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
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a gymnastics cartwheel and a tricker cartwheel for the butterfly kick?
According to Zenix Tricking, you should use a tricker cartwheel rather than a gymnastics one, as gymnastics cartwheels aren't the right form for this technique.
How should I position my back during the dip and kick portion of a butterfly kick?
Keep your back relatively straight when you dip and kick up. A bent back will make it much harder to get height and will also make the butterfly kick look worse overall, according to Zenix Tricking.
What's the main difference between a butterfly kick and an aerial?
The main difference is arm position and chest orientation. In a butterfly kick, your arms go out to the side, whereas in an aerial you tuck your arms in and move more vertically across, explains Zenix Tricking.
Is the butterfly kick considered an advanced move?
No, butterfly kicks are not really an advanced move and are primarily useful early on when learning to progress to more advanced techniques like aerials, according to Zenix Tricking.
How does the Standard Single Butterfly work?
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. This position serves as the entry point to full butterfly guard, X-guard transitions, single leg X entries, and arm drag attacks.
Where does the Standard Single Butterfly come from?
The standard single butterfly hook is a fundamental transitional position in modern guard play, used as the gateway between various guard positions and sweeping systems. It is one of the most commonly occurring guard configurations in competition due to its role in guard transitions.
Is the Standard Single Butterfly 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 Standard Single Butterfly?
Danger rating 2/10. Low — guard positions are defensive; injury risk comes from transitions, not the position itself
How do I set up the Standard Single Butterfly?
The standard setup chain: Achieve Guard Contact → Control Grips → Manage Distance → Threaten Submissions/Sweeps.
How do I defend against the Standard Single Butterfly?
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 Standard Single Butterfly?
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 Standard Single Butterfly in competition?
Used in BJJ competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Standard Single Butterfly?
Top errors to watch for: Inserting the hook without upper body control — the grip and hook must be coordinated / Posting the free leg too far from the body — keep it close enough to assist with movement / Not threatening sweeps from single hook — the position has offensive potential; use it / Failing to transition when the opponent negates the hook — switch to half guard, single-leg X, or re-guard.
What are other names for the Standard Single Butterfly?
The Standard Single Butterfly is also known as Sutandādo Shinguru Batafurai, Basic Single Hook, Half Butterfly Guard.