Flower Sweep
- BJJ
- Sweeps
- intermediate
- Closed guard
- 3 steps
Control a sleeve and a leg and swing your legs like a pendulum to sweep them over and come up on top. Also known as the Pendulum sweep or the Balloon sweep. Here is the exact breakdown from the DARCE app: 3 steps, the details that make it work, and the mistakes to avoid.
When to use it
Use the flower sweep from closed guard when the opponent sits back or shifts their weight to one side. Control the sleeve on the side you sweep toward and reach under the far leg. It pairs with the armbar, because they post the trapped arm to stop the sweep.
Step by step
- 01
Control sleeve & leg
Grip the same-side sleeve and reach under to control the far leg, breaking their base.
- 02
Swing the legs up
Open your guard and swing your legs upward like a pendulum to load their weight toward their head.
- 03
Sweep over to mount
Drive your legs over and roll them to the side, following the momentum up into mount.
Key details
- Control both the sleeve and a leg so they cannot post out.
- Use a big pendulum swing of the legs, not just arm strength.
- Follow the roll all the way up into the top position.
Common mistakes
- Sweeping without trapping the posting arm or leg.
- Using only the upper body instead of the leg swing.
- Not following them up and staying on the bottom.
Common counters
Opponents post their free hand or widen their knee on the sweeping side. Some pull the controlled arm free and base on it. Trap the arm and the leg together so they cannot post out.
How to drill it
From closed guard, flower sweep your partner and follow them up into mount, ten reps on each side. Then work three rounds of one minute against light resistance, chaining to the scissor sweep when they base the other way.
Related techniques
- Scissor SweepBJJLoad a shin across the body and scissor the legs to sweep the opponent and come up on top.
- Hip Bump SweepBJJSit up, reach over the shoulder and bump your hips to roll the opponent over into mount.
- Butterfly SweepBJJFrom seated butterfly guard, underhook and use a hook to elevate the opponent over to the side.
- Triangle ChokeBJJTrap the head and one arm and strangle with your legs in a figure-four around the neck.
- Armbar from GuardBJJIsolate an arm, swing a leg over the head and extend the hips to attack the elbow.
- Cross-Collar ChokeBJJFeed both hands deep into the collars and flare the elbows to strangle from guard.
Train it with the AI coach