Butterfly Half Guard Back Take
Transition
A back take initiated from butterfly half guard bottom, using the butterfly hook to elevate and off-balance the opponent while the half guard hook facilitates hip movement to reach the back. This transition is most effective when the opponent bases forward or attempts to flatten you, giving you the leverage to redirect their weight and circle to their back.
Quick Reference
Key principles
- · The butterfly hook (instep on the inside thigh) creates the initial elevation and off-balance, making the opponent light enough to move underneath them.
- · An underhook on the butterfly hook side is essential to control the opponent's posture and create the angle needed to access the back.
- · Hip escape toward the underhook side while elevating with the butterfly hook generates the angle to clear your half guard hook and insert back hooks.
- · Anticipate the opponent posting with their far hand by securing a cross-grip on their wrist or controlling their far shoulder with a seatbelt grip as you rotate.
- · The transition must be one fluid motion—elevation, hip escape, and hook insertion happen nearly simultaneously to prevent the opponent from re-squaring.
Execution
- 1 From butterfly half guard bottom, secure a deep underhook on the side of your butterfly hook and control the opponent's far arm or establish a collar tie with your other hand.
- 2 Elevate the opponent using your butterfly hook while driving into them with your underhook shoulder, shifting their weight forward and over you.
- 3 Hip escape hard toward the underhook side, angling your body perpendicular to the opponent as they are elevated and off-balanced.
- 4 Release your half guard hook and use that leg to insert your first back hook on the far side while your butterfly hook transitions to the near-side back hook.
- 5 Secure the seatbelt grip (over-under on the torso) as you settle into back control with both hooks established.
Common mistakes
- × Attempting the back take without sufficient elevation from the butterfly hook, resulting in the opponent easily sprawling and flattening you out.
- × Failing to hip escape aggressively enough, leaving you still partially underneath the opponent and unable to insert the far-side hook, stalling the transition at a scramble position.
- × Releasing the half guard hook too early before establishing the underhook and angle, giving the opponent space to pass or re-establish top pressure.
Do it from
Positions and situations where the Butterfly Half Guard Back Take shows up.
Butterfly Half Guard Bottom
Where it lands
The position you end up in.
Back Control Top
