Build a reliable butterfly guard with crisp hooks, retention tricks, and high-percentage sweeps that connect to submissions.
The Bottom Line
You will learn how to enter butterfly from common guards and keep your knees inside to blunt pressure. You will not rely on fast inversions or collar-only tricks. The system connects classic hook sweeps to overhook attacks so you always have a plan A and B.
⚡️ Quick facts
Best for: Open guard rebuilders
Skip if: You only play leg entanglements
Tech focus: Butterfly Guard, Hook Sweeps, Overhook Butterfly, Knee Tap Sweep, Collar Push Sweep, Guard Retention, Kimura
Biggest takeaway: Hooks win position and timing.
📋 Jump to a section (Click to expand)
What You'll Learn
Thomas builds a reliable butterfly guard around the quality of your hooks and shoulder position. The instruction covers classic and overhook butterflies, retention against pressure, and attack chains into sweeps and submissions.
Entries from closed, open, and half make it accessible if you are rebuilding your open guard.
Primary Techniques You'll Drill
- Butterfly Guard
- Hook Sweeps
- Overhook Butterfly
- Knee Tap Sweep
- Collar Push Sweep
- Guard Retention
- Kimura
- Loop Choke
Format & Level
- Instructional style: System Based, Conceptual
- Skill level: All Levels
- Format: Both
- Volumes: 4
Should You Buy It?
Wait for daily deal. I learned that the shoulder line and knee-inside rule keep butterfly alive against pressure passers.
Why Thomas Rozdzynski?
Thomas is a 3rd-degree black belt and ROL Academy head coach. His butterfly approach stresses inside position and hook mechanics over speed. He uses simple checkpoints that scale from hobbyists to coaches.
Community feedback
Here’s a summary of common feedback from platforms like Reddit’s r/bjj.
😍 Why People Love It
- People like butterfly for staying safe while creating off-balance without flexibility.
- Overhook options give smaller players strong leverage and control.
- Sticky hook details help retention when passers drive heavy.
🤔 Common Criticisms
- Some prefer shin-to-shin or seated guards that tie into modern leg entries.
- Butterfly can feel stalled if you do not get grips early.
Smart Alternatives
- Butterfly Guard Rediscovered 3.0 (Adam Wardzinski) – If you want a competition-focused butterfly blueprint.
- Around & Under: Guard Retention (Giles/Tabak) – Pair with retention to keep butterfly longer.
Sources & References
Video Breakdowns
Official listing: View Butterfly Hook: The Complete Guide on BJJ Fanatics
Additional References
Your next step
You have the breakdown, community feedback, and my final thoughts. Now it’s your move.
