Butterfly Guard: Complete BJJ Sweeping Guide – Marcelo Garcia System
By BJJ Sportswear Editorial Team
Reviewed by competitive black belts | Last Updated: February 1, 2026
The Butterfly Guard is the great equalizer in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
If you are smaller than your opponent, staying flat on your back is a death sentence. You need to get underneath them and lift their weight. The Butterfly Guard allows you to do exactly that. By using your shins as levers, you can elevate opponents twice your size and sweep them effortlessly.
Championed by the legendary Marcelo Garcia, this guard is aggressive, dynamic, and essential for No-Gi grappling.​
Table of Contents
What is the Butterfly Guard?
The Butterfly Guard is an open guard played from a seated position.
- The Hooks:Â Your feet (insteps) are hooked inside the opponent’s thighs.
- The Posture:Â You are sitting up, not lying back. Your head should be higher than your hips.
- The Connection:Â You must be close enough to control their upper body (using underhooks, overhooks, or arm drags).
As Digitsu explains, the power comes from “loading” the opponent onto your shins. Once their weight is off the mat, they are weightless.
The Butterfly Guard System: 3 Golden Rules
To play a successful Butterfly Guard system, you must follow these principles:
1. Don’t Be Flat
If your back touches the mat without a grip, you are getting passed. Always stay seated upright until you are ready to sweep.
2. Fight for the Underhook
The “Double Underhooks” are the holy grail. If you can get underneath both their arms, you can sweep them in any direction. Even a single underhook is powerful.
3. Constant Forward Pressure
Don’t wait for them. Scoot your butt forward constantly. The butterfly guard Marcelo Garcia made famous relies on never letting the opponent settle.
Step-by-Step Butterfly Instructions
The Butterfly Guard is a “triple threat” position: Sweep, Submit, or Wrestle Up.
1. The Classic Hook Sweep
This is the most fundamental sweep in BJJ.
- Grips:Â Get an underhook on one side and trap their arm on the other side.
- Fall:Â Fall to your shoulder (not your back).
- Kick:Â Elevate with your top hook and drive off your bottom foot to flip them over.
2. The Arm Drag
If they refuse to engage or keep their posture high:
- Grip:Â Grab their tricep and drag it across your centerline.
- Pull:Â Pull yourself to their side.
- Take the Back:Â Use the momentum to climb onto their back.
3. The Guillotine Choke
If they drive their head forward to stop the sweep:
- Action:Â Snap their head down and wrap your arm around their neck.
- Finish: Fall back into Closed Guard or High Guard to finish the Guillotine Choke.
Passing: The Half Butterfly Guard Pass
Conversely, if you are on top, passing this guard is tricky. The most effective method is the half butterfly guard pass (or Float Pass).
- The Smash:Â Force one of their hooks flat to the mat.
- The Float:Â Float your hips over their shin, killing the leverage of their hook.
- The Slide: Once the hook is neutralized, slide your knee over their thigh to enter the Knee Slice Pass.
Transitions: Where to Go Next?
If the sweep fails, you have options.
To Single Leg X
If you lift them but can’t finish the sweep, slide your hips underneath them and transition directly to Single Leg X. This is the classic Marcelo Garcia combo.​
To Half Guard
If they smash one of your legs, trap their leg and switch to Half Guard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Butterfly Guard work in the Gi?
Yes. In the Gi, you can use belt grips and collar grips to make the sweeps even stronger. Adam Wardzinski is famous for his Gi Butterfly game.
What if they stand up?
If they stand up, you should switch to Shin-to-Shin guard or Single Leg X. Don’t stay sitting in Butterfly against a standing opponent.
Conclusion
The Butterfly Guard turns the bottom position into an attacking position. It teaches you to be aggressive and use leverage instead of strength.
Start by mastering the “Hook Sweep.” Once you feel the power of lifting a heavy opponent, you will be hooked.
