Atlas/Guard/Butterfly Guard
Guard position·guillotine choke (head snap down + pull guard), kimura (overhook trap), loop choke (gi grip with collar)
Hooks Guard
Butterfly

Butterfly Guard

Feet hook inside thighs - lifting sweeps

Dominance
60
vs 40
Control depth
Distal
Guarding
Transitions
30
outbound
Submissions
26
downstream
//01—About this position

What it is

Seated guard where both feet hook inside the opponent's thighs while sitting upright. The hooks lift and off-balance in any direction with minimal contact points. Serves as a transition hub between sweeping and other guard systems.

What you do

The step-by-step execution guide lives in the app — 6-step breakdown, biomechanics, and situational tips.

Open1position detailin the App Store↗
Dominance — Guarding perspective
60 vs 40
Disadvantaged↓ 20Dominant
Control depth · Distal — Hook and lift for sweeps
Dominance — Passing perspective
40 vs 60
Disadvantaged↓ -20Dominant
Control depth · Distal — Posture up and clear hooks
//02—Concept tags
ATTACKSWEEPBALANCEPASSCONTROL
//03—Transitions outbound

30 ways out.

All30transitionsin the App Store↗
Butterfly Guard →
Butterfly Sweep
Sitting on torso - heavy hips, dominant control
Type
Sweep
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Butterfly Guard →
2-on-1 Sweep from Butterfly
Lying across torso - cross-body pressure control
Type
Sweep
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Butterfly Guard →
Single Leg X Entry
One leg hooked, one elevating - sweep angles
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Butterfly Guard →
X-Guard Entry
Crossed leg hooks - explosive sweeps
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Butterfly Guard →
Guillotine from Guard
Arm around neck - choke or takedown
Type
Submission entry
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Butterfly Guard →
Arm Drag to Back
Behind with hooks - back control, submission access
Type
Back take
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Butterfly Guard →
De La Riva Hook Entry
Shin hook behind leg - off-balance, sweeps, back takes
Type
Position adjustment
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Butterfly Guard →
Reverse De La Riva Hook Entry
Reverse leg hook engaged - inverted angles, back access
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Butterfly Guard →
Butterfly to Single Leg
One leg captured - finish the takedown
Type
Standup
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Butterfly Guard →
Technical Stand Up
Equal standing - fight for grips
Type
Standup
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Butterfly Guard →
Butterfly Guard to Ashi Garami
Basic leg isolation - straight ankle locks
Type
Entanglement
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Butterfly Guard →
Kimura from Guard
Kimura grip for control - sweeps, back takes, submissions
Type
Submission entry
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Butterfly Guard →
Deep Half Guard Entry
Hip penetration beneath opponent - sweep leverage
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Butterfly Guard →
Irimi Ashi Entry
Half guard trap plus butterfly hook
Type
Position adjustment
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Butterfly Guard →
K-Guard Entry
Knee shield with distance control leg
Type
Position adjustment
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Butterfly Guard →
Shin-to-Shin Guard Entry
Shin pressed to shin - leverage connection for sweeps
Type
Position adjustment
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Butterfly Guard →
Collar Sleeve Guard Entry
Collar and sleeve grips - break posture, create angles
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Butterfly Guard →
Spider Guard Entry
Feet on biceps with sleeve grips - posture control
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Butterfly Guard →
Butterfly Guard to Inside Ashi Garami
Inside control - different angles for leg attacks
Type
Entanglement
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Butterfly Guard →
Tornado Guard
Inverted shin pressure - rotational sweep platform
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Butterfly Guard →
93 Guard
Deep De La Riva hook plus inside shin wedge - berimbolo platform
Type
Position adjustment
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Butterfly Guard →
False Reap
Legal reap shape - off-balancing, heel and back exposure
Type
Entanglement
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Butterfly Guard →
Butterfly Guard to Smash Pressure
Crushing chest pressure - flatten guard structure
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Butterfly Guard →
Butterfly Guard to Double Underhooks
Both underhooks on legs - lift and stack control
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Butterfly Guard →
Butterfly Guard to Over-Under Grip
Asymmetric grip - one over one under
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Butterfly Guard →
Butterfly Guard to Stack Pressure
Stacking weight on shoulders - compressed guard
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Butterfly Guard →
Butterfly Guard to Head-and-Arm Control
Arm trapped to neck - sets up arm triangle and darce
Type
Pass
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Butterfly Guard →
Butterfly Guard to Sprawl Control
Hips sprawled down, head controlled - stops takedown, creates attacks
Type
Pass
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Butterfly Guard →
Leg Drag
Leg dragged across body - modern pass hub
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Butterfly Guard →
Tornado Guard
Inverted shin pressure - rotational sweep platform
Type
Position adjustment
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
//04—Submissions downstream

26 finishes live
from this position.

All26submissionsin the App Store↗
SUB-001
Guillotine Choke
Guarding
Watch
7/10
SUB-002
High Elbow Guillotine
Guarding
Watch
7/10
SUB-003
Arm-in Guillotine
Guarding
Watch
6/10
SUB-004
Kimura
Guarding
Watch
6/10
SUB-005
Ten Finger Guillotine
Guarding
Watch
6/10
SUB-006
Hiza Gatame
Guarding
Watch
6/10
SUB-007
Loop Choke
Guarding
Long
5/10
SUB-008
Armbar
Guarding
Long
4/10
SUB-009
D'Arce Choke
Guarding
Long
4/10
SUB-010
Omoplata
Guarding
Long
4/10
SUB-011
Triangle Choke
Guarding
Long
4/10
SUB-012
Anaconda Choke
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-013
Brabo Choke
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-014
Cross Collar Choke
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-015
Straight Armlock
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-016
Baratoplata
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-017
Bicep Slicer
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-018
Cryangle
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-019
Gi Tail Choke
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-020
Goose Neck Wrist Lock
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-021
Inverted Armbar
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-022
Monoplata
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-023
Reverse Wrist Lock
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-024
Straight Wristlock
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-025
Tarikoplata
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-026
Wrist Lock
Guarding
Long
2/10
//05—Linked positions

Browse the graph.

Control85
Mount
Sitting on torso - heavy hips, dominant control
9 ↗ transitionsControlling
Control80
Side Control
Lying across torso - cross-body pressure control
15 ↗ transitionsControlling
Guard65
Single Leg X
One leg hooked, one elevating - sweep angles
16 ↗ transitionsGuarding
Guard68
X-Guard
Crossed leg hooks - explosive sweeps
15 ↗ transitionsGuarding
// Butterfly Guard · Guard

Read this position
on your phone.

Open Butterfly Guard in Grapla for the full detail block, all 30 outbound transitions, the counter graph, and the option to log this position straight to your journal.

Download on the
App Store