The Hip Bump Sweep
The hip bump sweep is the closed guard's one-two punch: sit up, bump your opponent over, and take the mount — and when they resist, the kimura and guillotine open up. It is one of the highest-value sweeps in jiu-jitsu because it never comes alone.
The combo: Hip bump, kimura, and guillotine form a classic three-way trap from closed guard — defend one and you give up another. See where those finishes rank in our data study.
What is the hip bump sweep?
From closed guard, you sit up explosively onto a posted hand, reach over your opponent's shoulder, and drive your hip into them to knock them backward — then follow up into the mount. If they post to stop the bump, that same posted arm is there for the kimura; if their head drops, the guillotine is waiting.
See it on The BJJ Project
Our primary video source is The BJJ Project — the channel of Rickson-lineage black belt Chris “Bones” Burns. Here is the sweep, and the counter worth knowing:
▶ “Hip Bump Sweep” — Chris “Bones” Burns · The BJJ Project.
▶ “Counter to the Hip Bump Sweep” — The BJJ Project.
The details that make it work
- Break posture and sit up in one motion — hesitation lets them base out.
- Post behind you on a strong hand so you drive forward, not fall back.
- Overhook the arm and bump the hip into their center, turning as you go.
- Chain it. If the bump stalls, switch to the kimura on the posted arm or the guillotine on the dropped head.
Common mistakes
- Sitting up without breaking posture, so there is nothing to tip.
- A weak post that collapses when you drive.
- Only threatening the sweep instead of chaining to the kimura or guillotine.
Frequently asked questions
What is a hip bump sweep?
A closed-guard sweep where you sit up, post behind you, and drive your hip into your opponent to knock them back and take the mount.
What does the hip bump sweep combo with?
The kimura and the guillotine. When the opponent defends the sweep, the same positions open the lock or the choke — a classic three-way trap.
Learn from the source: the Rickson lineage
Go deeper with Chris “Bones” Burns' The BJJ Project and Henry Akins' Hidden Jiu-Jitsu, and hear the philosophy on our podcast with Rickson-lineage black belts Scott Burr and James Driskill.
Part of the BJJ Encyclopedia. Videos are the property of their creators and are embedded from YouTube with credit — please support these instructors. Catch the podcast on YouTube and Spotify.