Scissor Sweep

Sweep

The scissor sweep is a fundamental sweep from closed or open guard where the bottom player uses a knee shield and a low hooking leg to create a scissoring motion that topples the opponent laterally, landing in mount. It is most effective when the opponent's weight is driven forward or centered, and it works in both gi and no-gi contexts.

Quick Reference

Key principles

  • · Break the opponent's posture and pull their weight forward over you before initiating the sweep.
  • · The cross-collar or head control grip combined with a sleeve or wrist grip eliminates the opponent's ability to post with the far hand.
  • · The scissoring action works by driving the top knee across the chest while the bottom leg sweeps the opponent's knee or thigh in the opposite direction.
  • · Timing the sweep when the opponent drives forward or shifts weight off their base multiplies your leverage.
  • · If the opponent posts wide or backsteps, transition to a hip bump sweep or armbar to chain attacks.

Execution

  1. 1 From guard, secure a cross-collar grip (or head/neck control in no-gi) and a same-side sleeve or wrist grip on the opposite arm.
  2. 2 Open your guard, hip out slightly to create an angle, and place your shin across the opponent's chest as a knee shield with your knee pointing toward their far shoulder.
  3. 3 Place your bottom foot on the mat near the opponent's far knee or hook behind their thigh.
  4. 4 Pull the opponent forward and into you with your grips while simultaneously chopping your top knee across their body and sweeping their far leg out with your bottom leg.
  5. 5 Follow through with the momentum, keep your grips tight, and come up directly into mount.

Common mistakes

  • × Attempting the sweep while flat on your back instead of hip-escaping to create an angle, which removes the shearing force needed to off-balance the opponent.
  • × Failing to control the far-side sleeve or wrist, allowing the opponent to post their hand and block the sweep.
  • × Placing the shin too low on the stomach instead of high across the chest, reducing the leverage of the top leg and letting the opponent flatten you.

Do it from

Positions and situations where the Scissor Sweep shows up.

Closed Guard Bottom
6 less common
Double Sleeve Guard Feet On Hips Guard Open Guard Bottom Spider Guard Bottom Reverse De La Riva Guard Bottom Seated Guard

Where it lands

The position you end up in.

Mount Top