### Butterfly Guard Butterfly guard is a versatile and dynamic guard position in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, often used as both a defensive and offensive tool. It enables practitioners to create sweeping opportunities, elevate their opponents, and set up submissions. ### Step-by-Step Instructions to Use Butterfly Guard 1. **Establishing the Guard** - Sit on the mat with your legs bent, feet planted against the opponent's inner thighs or hips. - Lean backward slightly to engage your core and maintain balance. - Control the opponent's arms or collars, using grips for better leverage and to prevent their advancement. 2. **Creating Hooks** - Position your shins inward, creating hooks by placing your insteps against the opponent's thighs. This allows you to control their posture and movement. - Use these hooks to elevate the opponent when needed, exploiting their loss of balance. 3. **Maintaining Distance and Control** - Constantly adjust the distance between you and the opponent using your hooks. - Avoid letting the opponent flatten you; always keep your back slightly curved and use your grips to control their posture. 4. **Sweeping from Butterfly Guard** - Choose a side to sweep towards and establish a strong grip on the same-side sleeve or collar of your opponent. - Simultaneously, control the opponent's far leg with your free hand or arm to prevent blocking of the sweep. - Shift your hips under the opponent's center of gravity while extending your hook on the sweeping side. - Execute the sweep by pulling with your grips while lifting with your hook, directing the opponent over your body to the mat. 5. **Transitioning to Dominant Positions** - As the opponent falls, maintain control of grips to avoid losing connection. - Transition to either a mount or side control, depending on their reaction. - Secure the new position through proper positioning and base. 6. **Setting Up Submissions from Butterfly Guard** - Utilize the posture control to set up arm-drags, guillotines, or triangle chokes. - Leverage your hooks to break opponent grips or manipulate their stance for submission entry. --- Incorporating the Butterfly Guard into your arsenal can be a game changer for controlling the engagement in a match or sparring session. It offers flexibility for both aggressive and defensive strategies, making it an essential skill in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.