Knee Tap

Sweep
Also known as:
Knee Pick

The Knee Tap from butterfly half guard bottom is a sweep where you off-balance your opponent forward and tap their knee to collapse their base, allowing you to come up to a standing position. It exploits forward weight commitment and works in both gi and no-gi, making it a high-percentage option when the opponent posts high or drives into you from butterfly half guard.

Quick Reference

Key principles

  • · Disrupt the opponent's base by pulling them forward with an underhook or collar tie so their weight shifts over their knees.
  • · The butterfly hook elevates and redirects their weight to the side of the knee you intend to tap.
  • · The knee tap hand blocks the knee laterally or backward, preventing them from re-establishing their post.
  • · Timing the tap when the opponent drives forward or resists a pull converts their own momentum into the sweep.
  • · If the opponent backsteps or pulls away, chain into a technical standup or switch to a hook sweep in the opposite direction.

Execution

  1. 1 From butterfly half guard bottom, secure an underhook on one side and a collar tie or wrist control on the other, with your butterfly hook active on the underhook side.
  2. 2 Pull the opponent forward and slightly toward the underhook side using both your grips and butterfly hook to load their weight over their lead knee.
  3. 3 With your free hand (collar tie side), reach across and tap the opponent's far or near knee inward/backward while simultaneously elevating with your hook.
  4. 4 As their base collapses, follow through by driving your shoulder into them, clearing your legs and coming up to a standing position.
  5. 5 Immediately establish grips or a dominant tie to secure top position or disengage to full standing.

Common mistakes

  • × Tapping the knee without first off-balancing the opponent forward, resulting in no weight commitment over the knee and a failed sweep.
  • × Reaching for the knee tap too early and sacrificing the underhook, allowing the opponent to flatten you and establish a crossface.
  • × Failing to follow through after the tap by staying seated instead of driving forward to stand, giving the opponent time to recover guard or re-base.

Do it from

Positions and situations where the Knee Tap shows up.

Butterfly Half Guard Bottom

Where it lands

The position you end up in.

Standing Position