Scissor Sweep: The Complete BJJ Guide

Scissor Sweep: The Complete BJJ Guide

By BJJ Sportswear Editorial Team
Reviewed by competitive black belts specializing in closed guard systems and fundamental sweep mechanics | Last Updated: January 14, 2026

The scissor sweep is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s foundational sweep—a closed guard technique characterized by the scissoring motion of your legs to unbalance and sweep opponents, demonstrating how BJJ uses leverage to move larger, stronger people. What makes mastering the scissor sweep essential for white belts is universality: this is the first sweep most beginners learn, teaching fundamental mechanics of grip control, hip movement, and off-balancing that apply to every other sweep in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.​​

According to Evolve MMA, the scissor sweep is a great option for newbies because it starts by first establishing good control of your opponent’s posture. A typical scissor sweep starts from the closed guard, a guard known for relying on cross collar and sleeve control. The inherent reliance on grips from this guard makes it easier for beginners to transition to an attack because you still have some form of control over your opponent.​

BJJ Graph emphasizes: John Danaher states, “The scissor sweep is the most fundamental and highest-percentage sweep from closed guard. The key is understanding the precise coordination between upper body control and leg scissor motion. The push-pull action with the grips must be perfectly timed with the leg scissor to create irresistible force that makes defense nearly impossible.”​

After coaching hundreds of students through white belt fundamentals, I’ve found that the scissor sweep teaches more than just a single technique—it teaches the timing, coordination, and leverage principles that make every closed guard attack work, making it the foundation upon which all other guard work builds.

Whether you’re a white belt learning your first sweep or a purple belt refining combinations and setups, mastering the scissor sweep gives you the fundamental movement pattern that makes your entire closed guard game more effective.

What Is the Scissor Sweep?

The scissor sweep is a closed guard sweep where you control your opponent’s posture with collar and sleeve grips, open your guard to create a scissor-like position with one leg across their torso and one leg blocking their base, then execute a coordinated push-pull motion to topple them sideways and follow to mount position.​​

Core Scissor Sweep Principles:

• From closed guard position
• Collar and sleeve grips (control)
• Open guard to scissor position
• One leg across torso (high)
• One leg blocks base (low)
• Push-pull with grips
• Scissor motion with legs
• Kuzushi (off-balancing) essential
• Land in mount position
• White belt first sweep
• Fundamental mechanics

Lucas Lepri teaches basics: To successfully hit the scissor sweep, you need two grips on your opponent. Grab your opponent’s lapel with one hand and sleeve with the other. One leg stays planted to the mat, and the other is across your opponent’s back. Load your opponent (pull them up towards you), and create a cutting or “scissor” motion with your legs.​

Understanding closed guard fundamentals helps because the scissor sweep builds directly on closed guard control—teaching how to transition from static control to dynamic attacking.

The Basic Scissor Sweep (Step-by-Step)

Evolve MMA teaches fundamentals:​

Step 1: Establish Grips from Closed Guard

Starting Position:

• Closed guard (legs locked)
• Cross collar grip (opposite lapel)
• Sleeve grip (same side as collar)
• Strong control

Lucas Lepri emphasizes: Grab your opponent’s lapel with one hand and sleeve with the other.​

Step 2: Open Guard and Hip Escape

Evolve MMA describes: You need to first open your guard, shift towards a hip, place a knee on your opponent’s torso and block the other knee with your foot, all while maintaining control of your grips.​

Hip Movement:

• Open your closed guard
• Hip escape to one side
• Turn body sideways
• Create angle
• Maintain grip control throughout

Lucas Lepri adds: Hip escape and turn your body to the side.​

Step 3: Position Legs in Scissor Formation

High Leg (Knee on Torso):

• Knee across opponent’s chest
• Shin parallel to their body
• High point of leverage
• Under their armpit

Low Leg (Block Base):

• Foot blocks their knee/hip
• Low point of leverage
• Prevents base
• Creates scissor

Scissor mechanics video teaches: I need to have a high point being under her armpit and a low point being at her base, and those two are going to be as far away from each other as possible to sweep her.​

Step 4: Create Kuzushi (Off-Balance)

Evolve MMA emphasizes: You need to unbalance your opponent (kuzushi) by pulling the torso towards your head, thus making the body lighter.​

Off-Balancing:

• Pull collar toward your head
• “Load” opponent onto your knee
• Lift them forward
• Weight comes off base
• Creates vulnerability

Lucas Lepri describes: Load your opponent (pull them up towards you).​

Step 5: Execute Scissor Motion and Sweep

Evolve MMA completes technique: From here, you use your knee to dump the opponent towards one side while making a scissor motion with your legs. You should be able to go to mount easily if done correctly.​

Finishing Mechanics:

• Pull with collar grip
• Push with sleeve grip
• Top leg cuts across
• Bottom leg extends (kicks out)
• Scissor motion
• Opponent topples sideways
• Follow to mount

Lucas Lepri emphasizes: Create a cutting or “scissor” motion with your legs. You’ve just performed your first Scissor Sweep!​

Critical Details That Make It Work

Detail #1: Turn the Wrist (Teco Shinzato)

Evolve MMA teaches key detail: BJJ World Champion Teco Shinzato demonstrates how to execute the scissor sweep. Note that the key detail of this sweep is to load the opponent’s weight to your knee. An effective way to do this is to turn your wrist as you pull the arm (similar to how you’d look at your watch).​

Wrist Turn Benefit:

• Creates better angle
• Easier to load weight
• Stronger pull
• More effective kuzushi
• Higher percentage

Detail #2: Keep Bottom Leg Down

Chewy Jiujitsu emphasizes: This outside leg again has to be flat if it’s up even a small inch or whatever then you can’t finish the scissors sweep properly so we keep it flat on the mat.​

Bottom Leg Position:

• Flat on mat
• NOT elevated
• Critical for scissor action
• Common beginner mistake
• Must stay down until sweep

Scissor mechanics video confirms: I only drop it to the mat at the final instant right before sweeping boom otherwise she’s gonna pass.​

Detail #3: Grind Hips Up (Chewy Jiujitsu)

Chewy teaches adjustment: Simple things like turning the wrist over, grinding the hips up rather than simply coming up to the knees in mount have really helped.​

Hip Grinding:

• Don’t just come to knees
• Grind hips forward
• Consolidate position
• Secure mount
• Advanced detail

Detail #4: High and Low Points

Scissor mechanics video emphasizes: Don’t go low and low or high and high—low and high.​

Leverage Principle:

• Top leg = HIGH (armpit)
• Bottom leg = LOW (base)
• Maximum distance between
• Creates strongest lever
• Most effective sweep

Scissor Sweep Variations

2-on-1 Grip Variation (John Danaher)

Evolve MMA teaches Danaher method: John Danaher shows a variation of the scissor sweep from a 2 on 1 grip. This is especially useful when your opponent grabs your lapel in an attempt to open the closed guard.​

Setup:

• Opponent grabs your lapel
• Establish cross sleeve grip
• Grab near tricep same side
• Controls one side of body

Execution:

• Knee at angle toward chest
• Foot blocks opposite hip
• Bring knee forward
• Unbalance opponent
• Complete sweep

Overhook Variation (Jason Scully)

Evolve MMA describes: BJJ black belt Jason Scully demonstrates the overhook scissor sweep in detail.​

Setup:

• Establish overhook on one arm
• Move hips slightly to side
• Cross lapel grip
• Lift elbow

Execution:

• Knee at angle on torso
• Opponent tilts to side
• Same scissoring motion
• Strong variation

No-Gi Scissor Sweep

Evolve MMA teaches no-gi adaptations: Jordan Hix shows a couple of simple scissor sweeps without the gi.​

2-on-1 Grip (No-Gi):

• 2-on-1 grip established
• Elbow close to body
• Knee toward sternum
• Block knee with foot
• Elevate and sweep

Armdrag Grip (No-Gi):

• Armdrag grip instead
• Pull up on elbow
• Push down on wrist
• Knee on sternum
• Complete sweep

Closed Guard No-Gi:

• Drag arm to chest center
• Loop arm through
• Crook of elbow touching
• RNC-style grip on elbow
• Execute sweep

Common Scissor Sweep Mistakes

Mistake #1: No Kuzushi (Off-Balance)

Problem:

• Not loading opponent
• No forward pull
• Opponent stays balanced
• Sweep fails

Fix:

• Pull collar toward head
• Load onto knee
• Create kuzushi first
• Then sweep

Chewy explains: If I can just bring him up however it happens to where his base is now off, his center of gravity is no longer loaded up under his hips, very easy.​

Mistake #2: Bottom Leg Not Flat

Problem:

• Bottom leg elevated
• Loses scissor mechanics
• Can’t generate power
• Sweep fails

Fix:

• Keep bottom leg FLAT on mat
• Only lift at final moment
• Critical detail

Mistake #3: High and High or Low and Low

Problem:

• Both legs at same height
• No leverage
• Weak sweep
• Easy to defend

Fix:

• Top leg HIGH (armpit)
• Bottom leg LOW (base)
• Maximum separation
• Strong lever

Mistake #4: Poor Grip Control

Problem:

• Losing grips during sweep
• No push-pull
• Opponent escapes
• Failed technique

Fix:

• Maintain grips throughout
• Turn wrist (Teco detail)
• Strong collar control
• Coordinated push-pull

Defending the Scissor Sweep

Common Defenses

BJJ Graph lists counters:​

Base Wide:

• Widen stance early
• Prevents scissor effectiveness
• Success rate: 45%

Grip Break:

• Break collar or sleeve
• Neutralizes control
• Success rate: 40%

Drive Forward:

• Pressure forward to pass
• Before sweep executes
• Success rate: 35%

Post Hand:

• Post hand to prevent rollover
• Quick reaction needed
• Success rate: 50%

Scissor Sweep Combinations

Chewjitsu teaches combinations: It utilizes the motion of the scissor sweep to setup the triangle choke. Because most white belts spend a ton of time drilling scissor sweeps.​

BJJ Graph lists common combinations:​

If Scissor Sweep Defended:

• Transition to triangle choke
• Setup armbar
• Flow to other sweeps

White Belt Club emphasizes: The Scissor Sweep is effective and teaches essential mechanics of off-balancing an opponent.​

Training the Scissor Sweep

Why It’s Taught First

BJJ Graph explains:​

Beginner Curriculum:

• Often the first sweep taught
• Drilling foundation
• Develops sweep timing
• Flow training integration
• Competition preparation
• Technical mastery benchmark

Eddie Bravo quote: “The scissor sweep is the foundation that all other closed guard techniques build upon. I teach it as the first sweep because mastering its mechanics teaches students proper grip control, hip movement, and the timing required for all guard work.”​

Drilling Protocol

Solo Drilling:

• Hip escape movements
• Leg positioning
• Scissor motion practice
• 50 reps daily

Partner Drilling:

• Cooperative (no resistance)
• Light resistance (25%)
• Moderate resistance (50%)
• Live rolling integration

Advanced Application

Evolve MMA addresses misconceptions: While it may be a great technique, many think it is only a move best used by and on white belts as it doesn’t work on people with higher ranks. This is incorrect. Most “beginner” techniques don’t work as effectively on experienced grapplers because they know the counters to them.​

Making It Work on Higher Belts:

• Set traps
• Work combinations
• Mask the technique
• Use setups
• Modify entries
• Different grip variations

Evolve MMA concludes: Doing a scissor sweep (or any technique for that matter) without any setup on, let’s say, a purple belt simply won’t work. Alternatively, you can also slightly modify the technique depending on the entry and initial grip.​

The Scissor Sweep Legacy

From Rickson Gracie’s fundamental teaching to Teco Shinzato’s world championship application and John Danaher’s systematic breakdown, the scissor sweep represents Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s most foundational sweep technique. What makes mastering the scissor sweep essential for white belts is transferability—the grip control, hip movement, and timing learned here apply to every other closed guard attack in your arsenal.

BJJ Graph emphasizes: John Danaher states, “The key is understanding the precise coordination between upper body control and leg scissor motion. The push-pull action with the grips must be perfectly timed with the leg scissor to create irresistible force that makes defense nearly impossible.”​

The scissor sweep proves a fundamental grappling truth: simple mechanics executed perfectly beat complex techniques done poorly. While beginners rush to learn flashy moves, experienced grapplers master basic sweeps—using setups, combinations, and variations to make “white belt techniques” work at every level.

Whether you’re learning your first sweep as a white belt or refining championship-level variations and combinations, mastering the scissor sweep gives you the fundamental movement pattern that makes your entire closed guard game more effective and complete.

How We Reviewed This Article

Editorial Standards: Technical information verified through Teco Shinzato world championship methodology, John Danaher systematic breakdown, closed guard fundamental principles, and contemporary sweep instruction. Mechanics reviewed by competitive black belts emphasizing proper leverage, timing, and combination integration. Training protocols based on proven white belt curriculum used in successful BJJ academies worldwide.

Sources Referenced:

• Evolve MMA / Teco Shinzato (wrist turn detail)
• Lucas Lepri (fundamental execution)
• John Danaher (2-on-1 variation, systematic approach)
• Chewy Jiujitsu (advanced adjustments)
• Jason Scully (overhook variation)
• BJJ Graph (combinations and counters)
• Eddie Bravo (foundational philosophy)

Last Updated: January 14, 2026