Student Objectives:
The student will apply the Flower Sweep using good technique with a compliant training partner.
The Student will explore the value of grips as a prevention of base adjustment while performing the Flower Sweep.
Teaching Cues:
Grab the sleeve
Grab the pants
Post the foot
Lift the Leg
Mount
Lesson: Flower Sweep
The practicing student will start in the Closed Guard with their legs wrapped around the waist of the assisting student. The assisting student will start in the closed guard on their knees with their feet in the “laces down” position. Their hands should take standard grips with one hand on the lapels and one hand on the hip.
The practicing student will take a grip on the sleeve that is controlling their lapels, and a grip on the pants on the same side as the hand is controlling the hip. The grip on the pants should be as close to the cuff of the pants as possible but avoid reaching inside the pants as that would be an illegal grip.
Once the grips have been established the practicing student will post their foot close to the ankle of the assisting student on the same side as the sleeve grip. This post must make contact with the shin/ankle of the assisting student to effectively chalk the leg and prevent any adjustments to their base.
Next the practicing student will lift the non-posted leg towards the ceiling. While swinging the leg up towards the ceiling, the inside of the thigh will make contact with the assisting student’s rib cage and armpit area. The goal of this leg should be to off balance the assisting student to the point where they need to adjust their base by posting their hand on the floor or their foot.
To reinforce the power of the off-balancing, the practicing student should use the grip on the pants to pull the ankle out of alignment with the knee. The arm should slide along the floor with an attempt to pull the ankle up to the practicing student’s own ear. This should transfer all of the assisting students weight to the far knee and overload their base.
This, when done correctly, should lead to an extremely powerful sweep. As the assisting student rolls over, the practicing student should come up into the mount while maintaining grips if possible. If the assisting student does not fall all the way to their back the practicing student may need to let go with their hand to base and elevate. If this is the case, it is important to know that it also gives the assisting student the ability to base and elevate. In reality, it becomes a race to see who can elevate first. If the assisting student has their back angled to the floor, it is a good head start for the practicing student to get to the mount position.
Possible Extensions:
After understanding the dynamics of the grips and foot placement, it is possible to do this sweep by posting the foot on the hip instead of the floor next to the ankle. This variation allows for a very strong control over the assisting student’s ability to stand because you’re literally standing on their hip. Otherwise the sweep operates the same.
As students become more familiar with this sweep, occasionally the assisting student will take their free hand and reach across their own body to post. While this does prevent the sweep, it gives a clear pathway to the Armbar for the practicing student. To complete this Armbar, the practicing student will turn their angle slightly perpendicular, and chop the back of the assisting student with the leg that had lifted towards the ceiling. Then, while supporting their weight with the chopped leg, the foot that was previously posted by the ankle will swing around the head and pinch at the knees. Once the student becomes aware of this armbar it is extremely tight and extremely easy to enter into.
Combining this sweep with any of the take-downs that leave the practicing student in Closed Guard are good options.
Have the practicing student pull Closed Guard before executing the Flower Sweep. If this is the entry that you are using, set the grip on the sleeve before sitting to guard so that the grip is immediately available upon successfully pulling guard.
Possible Refinements:
Make sure the student does not reach inside the pants while making the grip as this can injure the fingers, but is also illegal in most competitions.
Very commonly the practicing student will post their foot but not have contact between their foot and the shin. The contact is very important as any separation will allow the assisting student to adjust their base. Even being able to slide their ankle out 2-3 inches can be the difference between success or failure with this technique (unless you are using the foot on the hip variation of this technique).
Sometimes students will make the grips and during the sweep forget that the goal is to prevent the assisting student from posting their hand on the floor. Remind the practicing student to create a pulling pressure on the sleeve while executing the sweep. That will go a long way in preventing the hand from being posted on the floor.
Reference materials:
Teaching Reflections:
How did I do teaching?
What could I do better next time?
Did the student gain proficiency in lesson material?