The lapel drag (aka collar drag) is an incredibly important move from the butterfly guard. It’s a legitimate sweep, but it’s also an amazing setup for many other attacks.
It’s also low risk and doesn’t require an elaborate grip to set it up.
In this Youtube video Rob Biernacki shows some of the black belt details that’ll make this sweep MUCH more effective, even against skilled, larger opponents!
The technique above was a lapel drag performed from the butterfly guard against a kneeling opponent. But you can also do the same move from the feet as a takedown.
This technique is functionally illegal in Judo, but in BJJ it’s a high percentage and fairly safe way get a match to the ground. In the video below my friend Ritchie Yip shows you how to do it.
Whether you’re using the lapel drag on the ground or on the feet you always have to be prepared to follow up with other techniques.
In the first video at the top of this page you saw Rob Biernacki connect the lapel drag sweep with the single leg takedown from wrestling.
This is a very powerful combination, and I’m not the only person who thinks so! Here are a couple of multiple time BJJ world champions showing you their own particular approach for this takedown combo…
Here’s Cobrinha, 6 time world champion, showing you how he likes to do the collar drag to single leg
And here’s my friend Bernardo Faria, 4 time world champion and 3 time Pan American champion, with his variation of the same move:
So there you have it – a powerful, low risk sweep and takedown that doesn’t require a ton of coordination… What are you waiting for? Get out there and start drilling it!!!