The Godfather Sweep
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The Godfather Sweep·Apotheke
The Godfather Sweep
SubFamilyゴッドファーザー・スイープ(Goddofāzā Suīpu)
TransliterationTranslation: The Godfather sweep — named in Eddie Bravo's pop-culture naming style, referencing the 'offer you can't refuse' quality of the sweep when the opponent achieves double underhooks from inside the guard
Overview
The Godfather Sweep is a 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu technique executed from The Stomp Position — a specific guard configuration entered when the opponent achieves double underhooks from inside the practitioner's closed or half guard. [1] When an opponent secures double underhooks from inside the guard, conventional BJJ wisdom considers this a critical defensive failure for the guard player: double underhooks give the top player enormous passing leverage and control. [1] The Godfather Sweep turns this apparent disaster into an offensive opportunity: from The Stomp Position, the bottom player uses a hip bump combined with a leg hook on the opponent's far leg to roll them over the top, sweeping to dominant side control position. [1] The name 'Godfather' — consistent with Eddie Bravo's pop-culture naming convention — references the idea that the sweep is an 'offer the opponent can't refuse': they thought they achieved a dominant double-underhook position, but the sweep makes them regret it. [1] The mechanical execution uses the opponent's commitment against them: when the top player has double underhooks, their weight is driven forward into the guard player's chest (to flatten them for the pass). [1] The Godfather exploits this forward weight commitment by redirecting it laterally — the hip bump lifts the opponent's centre of gravity while the far-leg hook removes their base on one side, and their own forward pressure tips them over the pivot point. [1] This 'using the opponent's pressure against them' principle is central to the 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu system, which consistently develops techniques that convert the opponent's strong positions into the attacker's offensive opportunities. [1]
GodfatherStomp SweepFailed Double Underhook SweepWrestlingDouble Under Recovery SweepStomp to Side Control
History & Origin
The Godfather Sweep was developed by Eddie Bravo as part of the 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu system, specifically as the offensive solution to the 'failed double underhooks' problem — one of the most common emergency situations in no-gi grappling. [1] The technique is documented in Mastering the Rubber Guard (2006) as part of the 'Failed Double Underhooks' section, which includes The Stomp, Super Stomp, New Stomp, and The Godfather as a family of techniques for converting the opponent's double underhooks from a passing advantage into a sweeping opportunity. [1] The technique reflects Bravo's broader philosophy of converting defensive situations into offensive opportunities: rather than simply trying to prevent the pass (a reactive, defensive mindset), the system encourages the guard player to ALLOW certain opponent actions that create predictable sweeping and submission opportunities. [1]
Effectiveness
The Godfather Sweep is highly effective because it exploits a universal grappling truth: double underhooks from inside the guard commit both of the top player's arms under the body, removing their ability to post against lateral sweeps. [1] This makes the sweep reliable against opponents who aggressively drive for double underhooks — the stronger they commit, the more easily they are swept, creating a paradox where the opponent's best passing position becomes their worst sweeping vulnerability. [1] In EBI and ADCC competition, the concept of weaponising the bottom player's response to double underhooks has gained traction beyond the 10th Planet system, with grapplers from various backgrounds adopting similar strategies. [1] In MMA, double underhooks are one of the most common grappling grips, making the Godfather situation frequent and the sweep high-percentage when drilled. [1]
Lineage
Eddie Bravo → 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu → The Stomp family of techniques → The Godfather Sweep documented in Mastering the Rubber Guard (2006) → core guard recovery/sweep technique for 10th Planet practitioners worldwide. [1]
Competition Record
Used in EBI (Eddie Bravo Invitational) and ADCC competition by 10th Planet practitioners. The concept of weaponising double underhooks from bottom guard has influenced modern no-gi grappling competition broadly. In MMA, sweeps from double-underhook situations (functionally similar to the Godfather) are common in UFC competition.
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Hip bump (bridge upward) to elevate the opponent's centre of gravity, combined with a far-leg hook that removes the opponent's lateral base — the opponent's own forward double-underhook pressure tips them over the removed base
Joints Involved — Bottom player's hips (explosive bridge/bump upward to elevate the opponent), bottom player's legs (one leg hooks the opponent's far leg to remove their base, the other leg drives the hip bump), bottom player's arms (control the opponent's upper body during the roll to maintain positional advantage), core (rotation to direct the sweep laterally)
Force Vector — Upward (hip bump) + lateral (roll toward the hooked leg side) — the combined vector tips the opponent diagonally over their now-baselessly side
Leverage Principle — The opponent's double underhooks CREATE the vulnerability: when both arms are committed under the bottom player's armpits, the top player CANNOT post with their hands to resist the sweep. This is the key insight — double underhooks give the top player passing power but REMOVE their ability to base out against lateral forces. The hip bump provides the vertical displacement, and the leg hook removes the lateral base — with no hands to post and no far leg for base, the opponent rolls over with minimal resistance.
Position & Entry
From The Stomp Position (standard) — The opponent achieves double underhooks from inside your guard → establish The Stomp Position (specific guard configuration for double-underhook recovery) → hook the opponent's far leg with your outside leg → explosive hip bump upward and toward the hooked-leg side → opponent rolls over their removed base → you come up to side control on top
From closed guard against double underhooks — When the opponent drives double underhooks in closed guard to set up a stack pass → immediately transition to The Stomp Position → execute The Godfather Sweep before the pass develops
From half guard against double underhooks — The opponent achieves double underhooks from half guard → use the lockdown to control the near leg → hook the far leg → Godfather Sweep from half guard
As a counter to the guard pass — The opponent is mid-pass with double underhooks → rather than fighting the pass defensively, execute The Godfather before the pass completes → sweep turns the pass attempt into a position reversal
Variants
Standard Godfather — hip bump with far-leg hook, sweeping to side control
Godfather to mount — continuing the roll past side control directly to mount
Godfather to back take — if the opponent turns away during the sweep, following to take the back
Godfather from half guard — using the lockdown to control the near leg while hooking the far for the sweep
Quick Godfather — a shortened version using a small hip bump for opponents who are very committed forward
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
2
Low2/10
The Godfather Sweep is a positional reversal with minimal injury risk to either participant. The opponent is rolled to their back, not struck or submitted.
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Restricted
— no leg attacks below waist
UWW International Wrestling Rules, January 2026PDFLegal
— IJF — Legal throwing technique
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF— IBJJF — Legal at all belt levels
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— Unified MMA — Legal throwing technique
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— ADCC — Legal
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDF— FIAS Combat Sambo — Legal
FIAS Combat Sambo RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓The Stomp Position must be established FIRST — this is the defensive recovery position when the opponent achieves double underhooks. Learn The Stomp before learning The Godfather (Bravo, 2006). [1] The far-leg hook is critical: without hooking the opponent's far leg, they can post their foot and resist the sweep. The hook must be deep (your instep behind their knee or calf). [1] The hip bump must be EXPLOSIVE: a gradual lift gives the opponent time to adjust and base out. The bump should be a sharp, sudden bridge that elevates their centre of gravity in one motion. [1] Direction: the sweep goes toward the side where you hooked the far leg — if you hook the opponent's right leg, you sweep to your left (their right). The leg hook removes base on that side, and the hip bump tips them in that direction. [1] In MMA, the Godfather is especially valuable because double underhooks are extremely common in MMA grappling — wrestlers and MMA fighters instinctively drive for double underhooks when they achieve guard top, making the Godfather opportunity frequent. [1] Chain training: drill The Stomp Position → Godfather Sweep → if Godfather is defended → transition to Super Stomp or New Stomp → alternative sweep or recovery. [1] The key conceptual lesson: double underhooks are NOT always advantageous for the top player — in the 10th Planet system, the bottom player WANTS the opponent to commit to double underhooks because it sets up the sweep. This reframe changes how the guard player views the position. [1]
Common Mistakes
!No far-leg hook — attempting the sweep without hooking the opponent's far leg allows them to post and resist; the hook is essential for base removal
!Gradual hip bump — a slow, gradual lift gives the opponent time to adjust; the bump must be explosive
!Bumping straight up instead of diagonally — the hip bump must have a lateral component (toward the hooked-leg side); straight-up bumps lift the opponent but don't tip them
!Not controlling the upper body during the roll — releasing the opponent during the sweep allows them to scramble rather than being swept cleanly to bottom position
!Waiting too long in The Stomp Position — the Godfather works best when executed EARLY in The Stomp Position, before the opponent settles their weight and establishes passing control
!Attempting without proper entry — trying the sweep from a non-Stomp position (without the specific guard configuration) produces a weak, ineffective bump
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Remove the far-leg hook — if the bottom player hooks the far leg, immediately retract it to deny the sweep's base-removal mechanismBackstep — stepping backward during the hip bump creates distance and prevents the rollPost with the head — if the hands are committed to double underhooks, pressing the forehead to the mat provides a third point of contact that resists the lateral rollRelease one underhook — sacrificing one underhook to post with a hand prevents the sweep (but also abandons the double-underhook passing advantage)Keep weight back — rather than driving forward with double underhooks (which the Godfather exploits), keep the hips back and the weight distributed to prevent the bump from being effective
Setup Chain
1Opponent achieves double underhooks from inside guard → Rather than panicking, transition to The Stomp Position (specific guard recovery configuration) → Hook the opponent's far leg with your outside foot (instep behind their knee) → Wait for the opponent to drive their weight forward (which they will, because double underhooks encourage forward pressure) → EXPLOSIVE hip bump upward and toward the hooked-leg side → Opponent's forward pressure + your bump + their removed base = they roll diagonally over their baselessly side → Follow the roll to top position → Establish side control or mount
2If the sweep is defended → transition to Super Stomp or New Stomp alternatives
Sources & References
Primary Source
Mastering the Rubber Guard (Bravo, 2006)
1Book[1] Bravo, E. with Krauss, E. and Cordoza, G. (2006). Mastering the Rubber Guard: Jiu-Jitsu for Mixed Martial Arts Competition. Victory Belt Publishing. Failed Double Underhooks section (The Stomp, Godfather Sweep).pp. Bravo 2006, Failed Double Underhooks section (pp. 96-102 approximately)
description: [1] Bravo 2006 Failed Double Underhooks section
2OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
3Citation[1] Bravo, E. with Krauss, E. and Cordoza, G. (2006). Mastering the Rubber Guard: Jiu-Jitsu for Mixed Martial Arts Competition. Victory Belt Publishing. Failed Double Underhooks section (The Stomp, Godfather Sweep).pp. Bravo 2006, Failed Double Underhooks section (pp. 96-102 approximately)
description: [1] Bravo 2006 Failed Double Underhooks section
Community
Athletics
Explosive hip bridge (glutes and hamstrings) for the bump
Leg dexterity for hooking the opponent's far leg while maintaining guard structure
Core strength for the rolling motion
Does NOT require rubber guard flexibility (the Godfather operates from The Stomp Position, not from high guard)
Accessible to practitioners who cannot execute rubber guard techniques due to hip flexibility limitations
Notes
The Godfather Sweep is a named sweep technique — likely from the 10th Planet system or a specific instructor's curriculum. Named sweeps carry their creator's identity. (BJJ instructional lineage)
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the The Godfather Sweep work?
The Godfather Sweep is a 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu technique executed from The Stomp Position — a specific guard configuration entered when the opponent achieves double underhooks from inside the practitioner's closed or half guard. When an opponent secures double underhooks from inside the guard, conventional BJJ wisdom considers this a critical defensive failure for the guard player: double underhooks give the top player enormous passing leverage and control.
Where does the The Godfather Sweep come from?
The Godfather Sweep was developed by Eddie Bravo as part of the 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu system, specifically as the offensive solution to the 'failed double underhooks' problem — one of the most common emergency situations in no-gi grappling. The technique is documented in Mastering the Rubber Guard (2006) as part of the 'Failed Double Underhooks' section, which includes The Stomp, Super Stomp, New Stomp, and The Godfather as a family of techniques for converting the opponent's double underhooks from a passing advantage into a sweeping opportunity.
Is the The Godfather Sweep legal in competition?
IJF: legal — Legal throwing technique; IBJJF: legal — Legal at all belt levels; UWW: restricted — Legal in freestyle, banned in Greco-Roman (no leg attacks below waist); Unified MMA: legal — Legal throwing technique; ADCC: legal — Legal; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the The Godfather Sweep?
Danger rating 2/10. The Godfather Sweep is a positional reversal with minimal injury risk to either participant. The opponent is rolled to their back, not struck or submitted.
How do I set up the The Godfather Sweep?
The standard setup chain: Opponent achieves double underhooks from inside guard → Rather than panicking, transition to The Stomp Position (specific guard recovery configuration) → Hook the opponent's far leg with your outside foot (instep behind their knee) → Wait for the opponent to drive their weight forward (which they will, because double underhooks encourage forward pressure) → EXPLOSIVE hip bump upward and toward the hooked-leg side → Opponent's forward pressure + your bump + their removed base = they roll diagonally over their baselessly side → Follow the roll to top position → Establish side control or mount → If the sweep is defended → transition to Super Stomp or New Stomp alternatives.
How do I defend against the The Godfather Sweep?
Standard counters include: Remove the far-leg hook — if the bottom player hooks the far leg, immediately retract it to deny the sweep's base-rem… / Backstep — stepping backward during the hip bump creates distance and prevents the roll / Post with the head — if the hands are committed to double underhooks, pressing the forehead to the mat provides a thi… / Release one underhook — sacrificing one underhook to post with a hand prevents the sweep (but also abandons the doubl….
What are the variants of the The Godfather Sweep?
Common variants: Standard Godfather (hip bump with far-leg hook, sweeping to side control); Godfather to mount (continuing the roll past side control directly to mount); Godfather to back take (if the opponent turns away during the sweep, following to…); Godfather from half guard (using the lockdown to control the near leg while hooking …); Quick Godfather (a shortened version using a small hip bump for opponents …).
How effective is the The Godfather Sweep in competition?
Used in EBI (Eddie Bravo Invitational) and ADCC competition by 10th Planet practitioners. The concept of weaponising double underhooks from bottom guard has influenced modern no-gi grappling competition broadly.
What are common mistakes when doing the The Godfather Sweep?
Top errors to watch for: No far-leg hook — attempting the sweep without hooking the opponent's far leg allows them to post and resist; the hoo… / Gradual hip bump — a slow, gradual lift gives the opponent time to adjust; the bump must be explosive / Bumping straight up instead of diagonally — the hip bump must have a lateral component (toward the hooked-leg side); … / Not controlling the upper body during the roll — releasing the opponent during the sweep allows them to scramble rath….
What are other names for the The Godfather Sweep?
The The Godfather Sweep is also known as Goddofāzā Suīpu, Godfather, Stomp Sweep, Failed Double Underhook Sweep, Double Under Recovery Sweep.