The berimbolo sweep is a complicated sweep that provides a way to take an opponent’s back from a relatively neutral position of an open guard, a position many BJJ practitioners find themselves in without many options beyond playing a guard game that they are skilled at. This video breaks down the berimbolo sweep, which is a powerful option to take the back from an open guard in BJJ.
Plus you get to go inverted and look like a ninja, which is awesome.
Stephan Kesting from GrappleArts also shows two great drills to train your body to do the berimbolo sweep. Even if you aren’t dead set on learning the berimbolo, these drills are a worthwhile addition to your drilling for BJJ (and as we all know, you have to drill to win!)
Start: Seated, facing a seated opponent (after guard pull or during scramble)
Step 1: Get De La Riva hook (wind foot around outside of opponent’s shin and inside their thigh) with one leg
Step 2: Grip opponent’s trapped ankle or pant leg with the same-side hand as your hook
Step 3: Grip their belt with your other-side hand at the hip with the De La Riva hook
Step 4: Pull your head towards opponent’s hip on side of hook, inverting and rolling onto your shoulders
Step 5: Step your free foot onto opponent’s belly
Step 6: Switch ankle grip to opponent’s free leg
Step 7: Use ankle grip and De La Riva to spin opponent over, completing your roll and sweeping them onto their side with their back to you
Step 8: Drive knee into opponent’s trapped knee to prevent them from turning into you
Step 9: Climb or scramble onto opponent’s back
Finish: Back control