Flower Sweep

What it is

The flower sweep, also called the pendulum sweep, is a closed-guard sweep that uses a wide swing of your leg to roll them over the arm you control. You grip the sleeve and the far trouser leg, open the guard and swing like a pendulum. It is the armbar's sister, because when they post to stop it the arm is already in place.

When to use it

• They are in your closed guard with posture broken and one arm you control.
• They post a knee out wide, making their base lean to one side.
• You attack the armbar and they pull back, so the sweep finishes the attack.

How to do it

1. Grip their right sleeve at the wrist with your left hand and pull it across so the arm is pinned to your chest.
2. With your right hand, reach under their left leg and grip the trouser leg behind the knee.
3. Open your guard and swing your right leg up high across their back, like a pendulum.
4. At the same time swing your left leg down toward the mat, turning your hips toward the pinned arm, so your whole body spins.
5. Lift their left knee with the trouser grip so it cannot post and let the swing roll them over their right shoulder.
6. Land in mount with the arm still pinned, ready for an armbar.

Key details

• The swing is wide and the momentum carries them, so commit to it fully.
• The trouser grip lifts the knee off the mat. Without it they base out.
• Keep the sleeve pinned across your body so the arm cannot post.
• The swing and the hip turn happen together, as one movement.

Common mistakes

• Mistake: a small half swing, so their base survives and they stay on top.
• Mistake: no grip on the leg, so they post the knee and you fall back into closed guard.
• Mistake: losing the arm at the end, so you land in mount with nothing to attack.

What they will try

• They post the free hand and step the leg out wide, keeping their base.
• They pull the gripped arm free and stand up as the guard opens.

Gi and no-gi

Without a trouser leg, cup the back of the knee or the thigh with your hand, and grip the wrist instead of the sleeve.