A concise half-butterfly system tying sweeps, leg entries, and upper body attacks into one no-gi guard you can actually hold and score from.
The Bottom Line
You learn how to establish half-butterfly, retain it against outside passers, and funnel reactions into sweeps or submissions. The hub is arm saddle and shoulder-crunch mechanics that chain into choi bar, kimura, triangles, and saddle entries. You will not get a move dump; you will get a compact blueprint you can drill and apply immediately.
⚡️ Quick facts
Best for: Leglock-minded half guard
Skip if: You want pure gi
Tech focus: Half Butterfly, Choi Bar, Saddle Entries
Biggest takeaway: Half-butterfly can be sticky.
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What You'll Learn
O'Flanagan maps a complete no-gi half-butterfly guard you can actually hold, with ways to win against outside passers and pressure. You get structured answers for common reactions, then layer in submissions and leg entries.
If you like to threaten both upper and lower body from one hub, this system ties arm saddle, choi bar, and saddle entries together without bloat.
Primary Techniques You'll Drill
- Half Butterfly
- Arm Saddle
- Choi Bar
- Kimura
- Leg Entries
- Saddle
- Triangle
- Back Takes
- Knee Lever
- Arm Drag
Format & Level
- Instructional style: System Based
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Format: No-Gi
- Runtime: 1 hour and 59 minutes
- Volumes: 4
Should You Buy It?
Buy it now. I got the most value by drilling the arm-saddle hand fighting, then adding choi bar and the first saddle entry as a simple two-lane attack.
Why Eoghan O'Flanagan?
Eoghan O'Flanagan is an English no-gi specialist and ADCC 2021 European Trials champion. He placed 4th at ADCC 2022, submitting elite opponents and building a reputation for heel-hooks. His game emphasizes lower-limb submissions from robust guards like half-butterfly and shin-to-shin. He co-founded Submission Grappling Club in London.
Community feedback
Here’s a summary of common feedback from platforms like Reddit’s r/bjj.
😍 Why People Love It
- One of the most overlooked instructionals; it is in my personal top 3.
- Good system with retention and reaction-based answers, not just entries.
- Simpler than Gordon; to the point while covering similar ideas.
- Adds choi bar details I did not find elsewhere.
- Great mix of upper and lower body attacks from half butterfly.
🤔 Common Criticisms
- Disappointing and hard to follow for a newer half-butterfly player.
- Brian Glick felt more actionable for building the position.
- Some say Gordon Ryan over both Glick and O'Flanagan.
Smart Alternatives
- Under Pressure: Half Butterfly Mastery by Brian Glick – Clear fundamentals and sequencing if you want a calmer, step-by-step build.
- Systematically Attacking From Half Guard by Gordon Ryan – Broader half-guard framework that includes butterfly-half but with more hours.
- Butterfly Guard Rediscovered 3.0 by Adam Wardzinski – Excellent butterfly mechanics that transfer well to half-butterfly.
Sources & References
Official listing: View Down Right Sloppy Half Butterfly on BJJ Fanatics
Additional References
Your next step
You have the breakdown, community feedback, and my final thoughts. Now it’s your move.
