Amazon Sweep

Student Objectives:

1. The student will apply the Amazon Sweep from the Leg Weave position with good technique on a compliant partner.
2. The student will maintain a good pinch of their knees and thighs while turning to the Turtle position during the execution of the Amazon Sweep.
3. The student will avoid the Crossface during execution of the Amazon Sweep by maintaining the sleeve grip until it is time to turn away.

Teaching Cues:

• Sleeves  
• Scissor  
• Open the Knees
• Shrimp and Weave
• Back Flat
• Spider and Chop
• Booty into the Chest
• Elevate

Lesson: Amazon Leg Weave Sweep

The Leg Weave Entry

The assisting student will start in the Triangle Sit with their knees on the ground and their buttocks on top of their heels. The practicing student will start in the Closed Guard position with their legs wrapped around the waist of the assisting student. Next, the practicing student will then take two same side sleeve grips.  

Once in the starting position the practicing student will maintain their sleeve grips and enter into a scissor sweep with their legs.  This can be accomplished with a partial Shrimp to make space and then sliding the knee across the beltline.  Once the knee is across the assisting student’s centerline the knee can be opened and framed against the assisting student’s same side shoulder.  The practicing student should then place both feet on the assisting students hips and gently squeeze with the outside knee.  The resulting position should be, one knee in between the assisting student’s shoulders and one on the outside with both feet resting on the hips.  Once the legs are aligned correctly the practicing student should gently stretch the assisting student by pulling with the arms and pushing with the feet.  The goal is to take all of the slack out of hte assisting student’s sleeves and create a counter pressure.  

Next the practicing student will make a dramatic lateral Shrimp in the direction of the knee that is on the outside.  The hip movement should place the practicing student completely on their side with their chest angled towards the assisting student.  What is now the furthest foot should have a strong foot placement that makes stretching/pushing very easy.  This bottom leg will stretch as the arms pull to create a very powerful kuzushi.  

After stretching the assisting student by pulling and pushing the practicing student will weave their top leg over the assisting student’s head and then back into the space by the near armpit.  The foot should pass through the armpit with the toes actively flexed.  The practicing student will then draw the knee of the woven leg back towards their chest until the top of their foot locks against the back of the assisting student’s shoulder.  When the foot makes contact, the assisting student should gently open the knee of the woven leg away from the assisting student's body.  This should effectively trap the assisting student’s arm  

The Sweep

To execute the sweep, the practicing student will maintain the Leg Weave and return to the back flat position directly in front of the assisting student.  This can be accomplished by using the feet on the assisting student’s hips and slightly bridging the hips off of the floor to reduce friction, and then sliding the lower back into position.  The hands will also support the transition by pulling on the sleeves.  It will be important to keep a strong push/pull pressure on the sleeves while making this transition.  

Once in front of the assisting student, the practicing student will make enough space to put the foot of the non-woven leg on the assisting student’s bicep.  If the practicing student needs more space they can always increase the stretching pressure by pulling with the arms and pushing with the non-woven foot on the hip.    

After placing the foot on the bicep, the practicing student will stretch the arm away. After achieving full extension of their own leg, the practicing student will allow their foot to slide off of the bicep and swing the leg over the assistings student’s head, continuing in the direction of the woven arm, until it can reinforce the woven leg’s control by pinching in with the calf on the assisting student’s tricep.  This is an underrated domination of the arm that should prevent the assisting student from pulling the arm out.    

With the legs trapping the assisting student’s arm, the practicing student can execute the sweep by turning away and elevating to Turtle position.  During the elevation, the practicing student should base on their arms and push back into the assisting student’s shoulder and chest.  It will be very important to maintain a squeeze of the thighs together during this rotation.  If the arm is lost during the transition the practicing student will be vulnerable to having their back taken and various other attacks.  

Upon elevating to the top position some student’s will find that the woven leg is still trapping the arm.  This is one of the best aspects of the sweep as there will still be total domination of the arm and shoulder preventing the assisting student from transitioning out of the Side Control position.  However, unraveling the arm requires a purposeful elevation of the body. This can be accomplished by placing one hand on the floor next to the hips and the second hand on the near side of the head (this can lead to an easy crossface after unraveling the legs) and then elevating the hips to allow the assisting student to pull their arm out.  

Possible Extensions:

• In the above lesson plan, the practicing student sets up the sweep by transitioning to the foot on the bicep and stretching out the assisting student.   However, this can be a great option when the assisting student controls the ankle on the hip and tries to throw it over their shoulder like a dynamic and wide space stacking pass.  This will put the leg in the proper position and get the body momentum moving in the right direction for the Amazon Sweep.  As with all of the other moves, it is easier to learn a movement when the timing is controlled by the practicing student, however it becomes extremely powerful when used in conjunction with the effort and force of the assisting student.
• Learning how to bail out of a failed Amazon Sweep will be very important. If the assisting student’s pressure is too strong and the practicing student can’t make the transition to Turtle after the arm is controlled, then the Running Man Escape can be a great option (as long as the Crossface was successfully avoided).  
• To execute the running man, the practicing student will allow the assisting student to pull their arm out from between the legs and then immediately start walking their feet away from the assisting student while laying on their side with their back towards the assisting student.  The practicing student will take 3-5 steps in this manner before turning to the Turtle Position and immediately attacking or shoulder rolling.

Possible Refinements:

• Pinching the knees and pulling in with the calf on the tricep requires practice to understand.  Both aspects of this control are important in maintaining the position.  To check the grip with the legs and make sure it is tight, let go with your hands and allow the assisting student the opportunity to try and pull the arm out without attempting the sweep.  If the arm can be pulled back then there is too much space and the trapping of the arm should be recreated.
• It is essential that the practicing student prevent the crossface by maintaining the grip on the far sleeve.  If the assisting student obtains a crossface it will prevent the sweep and result in a very easy Guard pass.
• The sweep is a result of the arm being trapped and the buttocks pushing into the assisting student’s chest.  While the rotational force of turning to Turtle does aid in the sweep, it should not be the focus on the movement.  Make sure to emphasize the pushing with the buttocks into the chest.
• Some student’s will express that they feel like there is a bicep slicer being applied to the trapped arm after completing the sweep.  It will be important to stress elevation of the body to both relieve pressure and to exit the ending position.

Reference materials:

Teaching Reflections:

• How did I do teaching?
• What could I do better next time?
• Did the student gain proficiency in lesson material?

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