BJJ SWEEPS EXPLAINED
A sweep changes who is on top. Learn the balance, angle and timing behind five common sweeps instead of memorizing a pile of disconnected moves.
BJJ Sweeps for Beginners
A five-sweep fundamentals lesson from DMBrazilianJiuJitsu.
What is a sweep?
A sweep is a reversal from a bottom position that puts you on top. The key is usually off-balancing the opponent rather than trying to lift or muscle them over.
Common beginner sweeps include the scissor sweep, hip bump, pendulum, flower and tripod sweep. The exact details change with the guard and grips, but the underlying ideas repeat.
Five sweeps to know
Scissor sweep: use an angle, grips and your legs to disrupt the opponent’s base.
Hip bump: sit up when the opponent’s posture gives you an opening, then use your hips and upper-body control to reverse them.
Pendulum: use a controlled leg swing and hip movement to generate momentum from closed guard.
Flower: combine upper-body control, leg control and an angle to tip the opponent over their base.
Tripod: attack the supports of the opponent’s base with your legs and grips.
How to drill them
Start with one sweep from the guard you actually use. Drill the setup slowly, then add light resistance. Your goal is to recognize the reaction that makes the sweep available.
A useful progression is movement → clean reps → light resistance → chain a second attack. If the first sweep fails, learn what position you land in and what you can do next.
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