We’ve recently gotten hands on practice with the Shaolin and Tornado Sweep variations. The 2 are notably effective from the 1/2 guard position and are dependant on the side which the opponents near side arm is placed. If you’re able to deflect your opponents arm passed your body, you have a Shaolin Sweep; if your opponents arm is attempting to cross-face, you must first trap the arm, ensure you can rotate 180 degree’s, and become fully inverted, in order to apply the Tornado Sweep.
The Shaolin is somewhat like a reversal, while the Tornado really gets under your opponents base and requires inversion; in fact, both the Shaolin/Tornado mimic similar concepts in theory: getting underneath your opponents base, and applying the sweep via hip and leg movement.
It’s worth noting, both techniques are highly touted by upper echelon practitioners, such as Shaolin, and Cyborg Abreu who have adapted new variations if *shit* hits the fan. These moves could most definitely work in MMA/no-gi situations and are applied often, at high-level tournaments.
TORNADO GUARD/SWEEP
A break-down, as well as [more] video’s to come. For now, here’s Cyborg Abreu demonstrating his enhancements to the “New School, Tornado Guard/Sweep”; remember to hide the swining leg behind the back of your opponents head as you sweep to top position:
TORNADO – MORE VIDEOS:
- Tornado Guard: Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu – ‘Old School’ – Tornado
- Tornado Guard: Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu – In Depth/Variations
- Tornado Sweep From Side Control – Master Cavalcanti Variation
BJJ Master Ricardo Cavalcanti shows us a Tornado variation from side-control (bottom). While it is a difficult variation to say the least, it would be best applied as your opponent attempts to smash pass. Sneak your leg in using a modified lock-down, then proceed to apply the sweep, as you would.
I’ll highlight a key point once more, after inverting, once the sweep is executed, the swinging (or pendullum’d) leg needs to then hide under your opponents head/upper back. This ensures you can come up into a stable base position, ready to apply various submissions:
1. With proper base, the kimura is free to be taken.
2. You may also switch your angle, and apply an arm-bar finish.
3. If the 1/2 guarded leg can weave out, a calf-crush can be applied on the near arm, or simply a pass to side-control altogether.
4. If you’re unable to apply the sweep, but are inverted (on bottom), attempt to incrementally, or explosively, utilize feet on hips, to spin back around into a triangle finish. An arm bar may also be opted for.
SHAOLIN SWEEP
… and the man himself, Shaolin Ribeiro, displaying his take on the self-named sweep (the ‘Shaolin’):
UPDATES
There are some great variations and transitions that can occur weather you are in the top or bottom position [applying Shaolin/Tornado]. They are noted below:
- SMASH PASS: When in a top position, as your opponent inverts, grab the far leg with a 2 hand grip (knee + ankle), and dive to the back, and solidify a smash pass.
- TOE HOLD: When in a top position, as your opponent inverts, hop to the far leg, trap the far leg with your near leg [like a calf crush position], and take the leg into a toe hold.
- SHAOLIN/TORNADO COMBINED: Our good friend, Matt, showed that when on bottom, as you are getting cross-faced in 1/2 guard, use your near arm to grab the far ankle of your opponent, then invert into a [half] Tornado, and hip through into a Shaolin. Timing is important here.
Razi BJJ Blog: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Health & Fitness 