Double Ankle Grab Sweep (Guard To Mount)
Doing The Double Ankle Sweep The Right Way
Transitioning from guard to mount is never easy. There may be different techniques that can help you do so, but none of which is easy to do, especially the double ankle sweep. As fundamental and as common of a technique as it may be, it’s not easy to pick up for a novice JiuJitsu practitioner. But, it’s necessary.
Why? Because, anytime someone tries to stand up in your closed guard, this is the sweep that you’ll want to go to. In fact, this sweep should be muscle memory in such cases.
If you’re a struggling novice, or simply a novice who wants to learn in advanced a technique that you could certainly use, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do this technique.
- Make sure that you have your opponent in a closed guard.
- Chances are, your opponent will try to escape your guard by trying to stand up and causing pressure on your crossed feet.
- Now, instead of applying even more pressure, just uncross your feet and pull your knees down. Then, move both of your knees in front of the stomach, applying pressure to it. All the while, make sure that you have your hands wrapped around your opponent’s ankles as if you were going to cup them.
- Using your knees for leverage and your hands as a lever, all you have to do is thrust your knees upwards to make your opponent lose their stability. Make sure that you from cupping their ankles, to pulling them towards you as well.
NOTE: Your opponent should now be lying flat on his back and your first instinct may be to go straight back up to move to a mounted position. While moving to a mounted position is certainly the main objective, doing so that way is NOT. Going straight up will leave you open for a straight punch, or even a slight push from your opponent, either of which is not going to do you good.
- Now that your opponent is lying on the floor, try to come up on your right hand as you put your weight on your opponent’s leg. You may have to twist your body sideways and it’ll leave you open, but you’ll be far from the reach of your opponent. Even if your opponent does manage to reach you, much of your weight will be on their leg, so there won’t be much force behind their push.
- As you go back up, put your hands on the floor and follow it around your opponent. That way, you continue to apply pressure and still end up in the mounted position.
As you can see, the double ankle sweep is an effective technique that, when applied the right way, is the best counter for someone who thinks they can muscle their way out of your closed guard.
As always, be sure to practice this slowly and at half-speed. Or, if possible, practice this technique with your coach so you receive a few valuable pointers as well on how to do it successfully.
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