08/12/2017 - Teaching | Open Guard | Unstoppable Sweep

Teaching #735
Artemis BJJ (MYGYM Bristol), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 08/12/2017

Short Version:

• Grab their same side collar, also their sleeve on that side
• Bring your same side leg in front of their shin
• Move onto your side, putting your other leg slightly above the back of their knee
• Cross your feet if possible, then pull them towards you by raising your elbows
• Pull your shin-leg in and push with the knee-leg, rolling through to a knee cut pass position

Full Version: Tonight I covered what's commonly known as the 'unstoppable sweep'. I first heard about it over on Seymour's blog, where he described his visit to a Mike Fowler seminar (the guy known for this technique). I've found it can crop up in sitting guard, if your partner tries to drive in close to stop you getting one of the other sweeps, or potentially if you're looking for the tripod sweep. Whatever the situation that sets it up, get on your side in open guard, bringing your lower leg in front of the bottom of their shin. Your other leg goes slightly above the back of their knee, when you also lock your feet together. Grab their same side sleeve with your lower arm and their same side collar with your upper arm.

A post shared by Artemis BJJ (@artemisbjj) on Dec 11, 2017 at 10:12pm PST

You can then tweak their leg outwards by pulling with your lower leg on their shin, pushing with your other leg behind their knee. Maintain your grips and knee position, as this should hopefully put you directly into a knee cut with a deep collar grip, meaning you could also switch right into a choke. Make sure you pull them forwards onto you, as if their weight is based back, it will be tough to land the technique. I've found this sweep works particularly well if you're in sitting guard and your opponent steps in really close to try and pass. From there, it isn't too much of an adjustment to move into a sort of reverse de la Riva, then hit the sweep: you already have the collar grip, so you just need to secure the same side sleeve. That collar grip also gives you another point of control where you can push, combined with your legs.

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Teaching Notes: Mention going on your side. Grips make more sense from sitting guard, as then you have collar grip. Like the sickle sweep, turning to the side important. Positioning of feet on knee cut, a lot of people didn't have that outside foot up, how important? I think it is important for balance, stop you getting knocked, but meh.