Bolo Sweep
Sweep
The bolo sweep is an inversion-based technique where you roll underneath your opponent to off-balance them and emerge on their back. It is typically initiated from de la Riva guard, reverse de la Riva, or after a failed leg drag defense, exploiting your opponent's forward pressure or lateral movement.
Quick Reference
Key principles
- · The inverting motion must be driven by your hips, not by pulling with your arms alone.
- · Maintaining a deep hook (typically de la Riva hook) on the near leg prevents your opponent from stepping free during the roll.
- · Gripping the far-side belt, pants, or lat creates the connection needed to drag them over you as you invert.
- · Timing the inversion when your opponent drives forward or shifts weight laterally makes the roll nearly effortless.
- · If they resist by posturing away, transition to kiss-of-the-dragon (back step entry) or leg drag as a chain option.
Execution
- 1 From de la Riva guard, establish a deep DLR hook on the near leg and grip the far-side belt or pant leg behind their knee.
- 2 Use your free foot on their hip or bicep to off-balance them forward while pulling their far side toward you.
- 3 Tuck your head, invert over your shoulder on the hook side, rolling underneath your opponent while keeping the hook and grip tight.
- 4 As you complete the inversion, use the hook leg to elevate and rotate their hips over you, clearing to their back side.
- 5 Secure seatbelt grip and establish both hooks or a body triangle to consolidate back control top.
Common mistakes
- × Inverting without a secure far-side grip causes the opponent to simply sprawl away, leaving you upside down with no control.
- × Rolling straight backward instead of diagonally over the shoulder results in landing flat under the opponent rather than emerging on their back.
- × Releasing the DLR hook too early during the inversion allows the opponent to free their leg and re-establish a passing position.
Where it lands
The position you end up in.
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