Old School Sweep

Also known as: Underhook Half Guard Sweep · Ankle Grab Sweep (half) · Plan A (10th Planet)

The foundational half guard sweep: get to your side with an underhook, come up to your elbow, grab their far ankle, and drive them over their own trapped foot.

Sweep · Gi & No-gi · Difficulty 2/5 · Usually learned at White belt

Starts from Half Guard as the half guard player → lands in Side Control.

The details that make it work

1. Never flat: shoulder off the mat, underhook in, head tight under their chin to deny the cross-face.
2. Reach under and cup their FAR ankle; your shoulder drives into their thigh as you come up.
3. They fall because both feet are accounted for — one in your half guard, one in your hand.

Where it goes wrong

• Attempting it flat on your back with a cross-face buried on you — the sweep starts with the underhook battle, not the ankle.

How opponents counter it

• Whizzer hard and free the far ankle
• Cross-face early and flatten them before the elbow comes up

Is the Old School Sweep legal in competition?

Legal in all major rulesets at all levels (IBJJF, ADCC, sub-only). Rules change — always confirm against the current official rulebook for your event.

History & naming

The name "old school" comes from Eddie Bravo’s system, but the sweep predates the name everywhere.

Related techniques

• Back Take from Half Guard
• Deep Half Entry
• Knee Shield Entry
• Waiter Sweep

All moves from Half Guard · Back to Grapplepedia