Ask many bjj black belts what their favorite part of brazilian jiu-jitsu is and they’ll tell you: Sweeps!
One of the coolest things about bjj compared to other martial arts, is that it allows the person on bottom to be losing the fight and turn the fight around in an instant by sweeping from bottom to top position.
Seminars with high level bjj black belts can show innumerable advanced sweeps and all of their variations.
The number and complexity is mind boggling!
Which sweeps are most important to a first year student of bjj?
These 6 sweeps will give you the tools to handle most guard situations.
Some common sweep mistakes beginners make:
1) Failing to control the opponent’s arm. If you try to sweep, but the opponent has a hand or arm free to post, they can thwart your sweep.
2) The right technique for twe right situation. You want to sweep in a direction that your opponent has no balance and where they are placing their bodyweight. Pick the correct sweep for that speciofic situation.
3) Use your legs and move your hips. The sweeps don’t work because you are pushing with your arms, you must move your hips to creat the correct angle and use the pwer of your legs to sweep the opponent.
* Note: As bjj lacks a standardized naming system, you may know one of these sweeps by a different name.
I used the most commonly used names for these basic techniques.
Don’t message me and tell me the sweep has a different name in your academy!
1) Lumberjack sweep
Against an opponent who stands in your closed guard…this is the best weapon.
2) Scissors sweep
The first technique that really workled for me in bjj. A great sweep to start with sleeve and collar grips.
Saulo Ribeiro shows the details.
3) Closed Guard Sweep Hip Bump Sweep
This one is used in Fundamentals class all the way up to the UFC. Works great in combination with the kimura!
4) Flower Sweep
By learning how to correctly move your hips for the flower sweep, you will teach your body how to move for MANY other guard techniques.
5) Elevator Hook Sweep
You NEED to know this to deal with a much bigger, heavier opponent who is trying to squeeze your head and put the pressure on you.
6) Butterfly Sweep
Kurt Osiander shows this sweep that works at the highest levels gi or no-gi. You can build your entire guard game around the basic butterfly sweep.
on Jiu-jitsu Times: The Most Important 6 Submissions that White Belts Should Learn in Bjj
Make this a series and do 5 escapes to learn first year. I think the sweeps and subs were good. Now do escapes and takedowns and finish the series.