Butterfly Guard
Also known as seated guard, hooks guard, borboleta
A seated inside-position guard that uses instep hooks, upper-body connection, and off-balancing to sweep or enter the legs.
At a glance
- Family
- Guard
- Format
- Gi & no-gi
- Level
- Fundamental
- Connections
- 4 techniques
Concept
What it is
Butterfly guard places one or both insteps inside the opponent's thighs while the guard player remains seated or on a hip. Its power comes from connecting a lifting hook to a strong upper-body tie and directing the opponent into a weak posting angle.
Because it works with overhooks, underhooks, collar grips, and head control, butterfly guard crosses gi and no-gi unusually well. It also connects naturally to single-leg X, X guard, front headlocks, and wrestle-ups.
Core mechanics
Key principles
- Win inside knee position before trying to elevate.
- Pull the opponent's upper body over the lifting hook.
- Remove or overload the post on the sweeping side.
- Follow the sweep to a stable top position rather than admiring the elevation.
System map
How it connects
Jiu-jitsu techniques work in sequences. These are common conceptual routes in, productive next steps, and the defensive priorities that shape the exchange.
Common entries
Seated guard
Establish inside hooks as the opponent approaches on their knees.
Half guard
Insert a butterfly hook from knee-shield or flattened half guard.
Snap-down reaction
Sit under a recovering opponent while maintaining an upper-body connection.
Next actions
Butterfly sweep
Load the opponent over a hook while steering the upper body past its post.
Single-leg X
Elevate one leg and connect underneath the opponent's center of gravity.
Arm drag
Redirect an arm across the centerline to expose the back or create a wrestle-up.
Defensive priorities
Hip distance
Keep the hips heavy enough that the guard player cannot easily load your weight.
Pummel inside
Clear hooks and win knee position before committing to pressure.
Stable posts
Anticipate the side being overloaded and recover a post or hip turn.
Context
History and naming
Butterfly guard has long existed across grappling styles, but modern jiu-jitsu competitors developed it into a highly connected sweeping and submission system.
Competition connections
Athletes associated with Butterfly Guard
Keep exploring
Related techniques
Guard
Single-Leg X
A one-leg entanglement that controls the hip and knee line for sweeps, stand-ups, and straight ankle-lock attacks.
Guard
X Guard
An underneath guard that places crossed leg frames around one of the opponent's legs to control balance and expose sweeping directions.
Transition
Wrestle-Up
A guard-to-standing transition that keeps contact with a leg or body lock and converts bottom position into a takedown or top position.
Guard
Half Guard
A versatile guard family built around controlling one of the top player's legs while fighting for inside position, sweeps, or recovery.
Rules and reference sources
Rules evolve. The official organizer documents below are the source of truth for competition legality; the guide above explains the technique conceptually.