Jonathan Satava's Butterfly Guard Concepts

Jonathan Satava (@jtsatava), Marcelo Garcia black belt and No-Gi Pans champion, on butterfly guard: getting under their hips to elevate, reading their posture to pick sweeps or the guillotine, wrestling up, and adjusting when they stand. From the video: https://youtu.be/P0Fz-64lAs4

Flow outline

  1. Butterfly Guard Elevation

    • From butterfly guard, the first idea is to elevate the partner, which requires controlling his weight.
    • From Jonathan Satava (@jtsatava), Marcelo Garcia black belt and No-Gi Pans champion, in the video "Understanding The Butterfly Guard" with Bernardo Faria.
    • Anchor: underhooks are the best control for elevating
    • Weight: scoot hips as close to the partner's hips as possible
    • Grip: wrist control can lift them but is harder; the underhooks are the easiest control to start elevating
    • Checkpoint: the further underneath the partner's base, the better

  2. Read Opponent's Posture

    • What you choose depends on how the partner is reacting - closed up or open.
    • The idea If they're hard to sweep, they're giving you a submission. If they're hard to tap, they're giving you a sweep.
    • Reaction: if he is closed up, his limbs are tight and easier to sweep
    • Reaction: if he is open and defending, his hands come off the ground
    • Reaction: if his hips are far back, it is hard to elevate him

  3. Sweep When Closed

    • When the partner is closed up and tight, take out his posts and go underneath for sweeps.
    • Entry: take out his posts to start going underneath
    • Reaction: if he comes forward, it is easier to take out the post and sweep

  4. Attack When Open

    • When the partner is open and defending the sweep, his hands leave the ground and open up attacks.
    • Reaction: his hands come off the ground to defend the sweep
    • Timing: he is more worried about his base, so attacks become available

  5. Snap Down Or Guillotine

    • When the partner is further back with hips away, use his head to snap him down or go for the guillotine.
    • Entry: use the head to snap them down
    • Finish: as he comes back, go for the guillotine

  6. Wrestle Up When Postured

    • When the partner postures up and you cannot get his hips, switch to a takedown game.
    • Entry: use a two-on-one control on his arm
    • Reaction: they frame on your shoulder with the other hand and push to posture up
    • Checkpoint: no guillotine here because you do not control his hips
    • Finish: wrestle up from the seated guard and take them down

  7. Adjust Base When Standing

    • When the partner stands, change base to a traditional posture with one hip and a knee-elbow frame.
    • Checkpoint: the partner is faster than you when he stands
    • Frame: connect the knee to the elbow to block his advance
    • Anchor: hand on the ground lets you retreat and go forward with hip movement

  8. Clear Head From Side

    • When the partner circles to the side, use your position to clear his head out of the way.
    • Reaction: he circles to the side trying to get on your side
    • Checkpoint: his head needs to go on this side of your body
    • Frame: hand on the ground prevents his head from going to the outside

  9. Arm Drag When Feet Controlled

    • When the partner controls your feet, go to the arm drag, even putting your feet on his hips.
    • Entry: put your feet on his hips to threaten his back
    • Reaction: if he postures up out of the position, you can reconnect
    • Checkpoint: get your hip underneath his hip to go back to your game

Branch conditions