How to Do the Butterfly in Martial Arts

Jiu jitsu practitioners and mixed martial artists use the butterfly guard to create space when defending against an opponent attacking from above. The butterfly is particularly useful for fending off an opponent who is attacking aggressively at the expense of controlling their own body posture. Butterfly technique uses pressure applied by pushing off with your feet to keep your attacker at bay while you attempt to use your leverage to disrupt their balance and get up off of the mat.

Instructions

    • 1

      Sit or lay back on the ground facing your opponent, with your knees bent. Have your bottom on the ground and legs rotated outward at a 45-degree angle from your body.

    • 2

      Extend your toe muscles, pointing them toward your shin. Maintain this toe position throughout the butterfly guard to exert maximum leverage with your feet.

    • 3

      Scoot your butt across the mat toward your opponent, positioning your shins in front of their abdomen and your feet in between their legs.

    • 4

      Press your feet against the inside of your opponent's upper leg muscles. Align your feet so they are positioned slightly wider and lower than the opponent's inseam.

    • 5

      Extend your legs, pushing your feet against your opponents legs to disrupt his opponent's balance and keep him out of comfortable striking range.

    • 6

      Grab any part of your opponent's upper body that you can and pull them close to your chest. Ideally, you'll grab under both of your opponent's arms with "underhooks." From this position your options are to grab behind your opponent's head or around their waist with both hands.

    • 7

      Push your head tight against the opponent's body as you maintain your grasp, keeping the top of your head underneath their chin.

    • 8

      Pull your opponent toward you, sliding your hips forward underneath their body while also yanking them forward slightly and maintaining pressure against the legs with boot feet.

    • 9

      Kick both legs upward as you pull yourself underneath your opponent. The force of your extending legs will thrust the opponent off of you and up into the air.