Berimbolo from 50/50 Guard

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Berimbolo from 50/50 Guard is a transition between related positions built around a handful of repeatable controls. The bottom player has reached 50/50 from collar-and-sleeve and the opponent is posting heavy to defend the sweep. Another common starting shape: the bottom player is in collar-and-sleeve guard with the opponent's near leg posted. It is worth attempting once comfortable with: Collar-and-sleeve to De La Riva basic transition and comfortable with: Collar-and-sleeve to X-guard transition. The ideas that hold it together are sweep defense becomes back-take entry, invert through the hole, and 50/50 As a hub for back attacks.

The berimbolo chain is a sequence of small controls, not one athletic burst. Feel the heavy post and abandon the sweep. Invert under the opponent's near hip pulling the sleeve. Spin around the trapped leg in berimbolo variation fashion. Set the hooks as you arrive on the back. Thread the legs into 50/50 by stepping the free leg over. Invert under the opponent's near hip pulling on the sleeve. Rotate around the trapped leg to climb the back. Insert the hooks as you arrive on the back. The bottom player has rolled into berimbolo variation and arrived on the back of the opponent with hooks set.

Later in the berimbolo, invert through, not into, connection between grips and hips drives the technique, and timing the action with the opponent's reaction makes it efficient tend to decide whether the position stays on track. Watch for these mistakes: Spinning without the sleeve grip. Leaving the trapped leg shallow so the opponent escapes. Inverting before the 50/50 is locked. Losing the sleeve grip during the inversion. The high-percentage version of berimbolo from 50/50 guard is the one you can still chain when the next position is contested.

Key concepts

  • Sweep defense becomes back-take entry
  • Invert through the hole
  • 50/50 As a hub for back attacks
  • Invert through, not into
  • Connection between grips and hips drives the technique.
  • Timing the action with the opponent's reaction makes it efficient.

Common mistakes

  • Spinning without the sleeve grip
  • Leaving the trapped leg shallow so the opponent escapes
  • Inverting before the 50/50 is locked
  • Losing the sleeve grip during the inversion
  • Letting the opponent break the primary grip or flatten the hips before the action is complete.