No matter how much you know, you’ll never know everything in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. No matter the amount of techniques you can do and no matter the number of details to executing them that you know… There’ll always be something new to learn.
And that couldn’t be more true than when it comes to sweeps! For example, let’s take a look at a technique which you’ve probably never done before – the „Unstoppable Sweep“, as demonstrated by Mike Fowler.
NO SUCH THING AS TRULY „UNSTOPPABLE“
A disclaimer has to be mentioned here, however. Mike Fowler, himself, mentions that this sweep – despite its name – is almost unstoppable.
Or, in other words: there’s no such technique that is truly unstoppable!
Everything in Jiu-Jitsu has a way to defend and a counter. It’s just a matter of how refined your (or your opponent’s) game is, whether or not you can recognize the incoming threat, and if you know how to apply the proper defense.
That’s all there is to it. Even the sweeps and submissions which have the highest percentages of success can be rendered useless.
But this shouldn’t demoralize you. That’s the nature of BJJ and what, simultaneously, makes it so challenging and rewarding.
This is what will always push you to perform better, to learn more, and to try and perfect your techniques. It means that you will always be on the hunt for more, so that you can better solve the puzzle of your training partner’s defense… And so that you can sweep and/or submit them the next time.
Therefore, embrace the unpredictability of Jiu-Jitsu! Come to terms that there isn’t a guarantee that your technique will work every time you apply it, and that there are no unstoppable techniques.
However, some of the techniques are much more efficient and much more high percentage than others are. The Unstoppable Sweep is one such technique – here’s how to do it.
THE UNSTOPPABLE SWEEP
Mike Fowler’s „Unstoppable Sweep“ is set up from a modified Half-Guard position. Your training partner won’t be down on both of his knees; one of his knees will be planted on the mat, whereas the other leg (one on the inside of your Half Guard) will be bent over. Your position will also be different. Instead of turning into your training partner, you’ll be turning away from him.
„But doesn’t this give them an opportunity to take my back?“ Don’t worry, they won’t be able to do that… If you get the next detail right.
The next – and most important detail – is that you’ll trap the training partner’s leg. You’ll do this by placing your top knee underneath the partner’s knee, which will enable you to push against it. Your bottom leg’s knee will go over the partner’s foot, and will then lock over it together with the top leg.
Make sure that the top leg’s foot is the one on top of the lock. Otherwise, this technique won’t be as successful as it could be. Now, pinch them together – and you’ve trapped their leg!
From here, catch the partner’s lapel and sleeve on the same side as their trapped leg, in order to block that side completely. Now, pull your training partner over yourself, so that his chest „lays“ on top of your collar-grab forearm. When you’ve done this, extend your legs (which are still locked together), turn your hips into the mat so that you go belly down… And you have the sweep!
It really is that simple. From here, untangle your legs and proceed to Knee Slice Pass.
Watch Mike demonstrate this sweep in more detail below:
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