Half Guard Passing

Half Guard Passing refers to techniques used to advance from your opponent’s Half Guard position into a dominant position like Side Control, Mount, or Knee on Belly. Passing the half guard can be challenging because the opponent controls one of your legs, which they can use to off-balance you, recover Guard, or attack sweeps and submissions. Effective passing requires a combination of Pressure, Angles, and strategic use of Frames.

Goals of Half Guard Passing

Control the Opponent’s Hips

Neutralize the Underhook

  • Deny the opponent the Underhooks they need to off-balance or sweep you.

Break Their Half Guard Grip

  • Free your trapped leg by smashing their legs, breaking their Frames, or using mobility.

Transition to a Dominant Position

  • Secure a tight pin (e.g., Side Control) to consolidate your pass.

Key Concepts for Half Guard Passing

Top Position Control

  • Stay heavy by distributing your weight through your hips and chest.
  • Use a Crossface or head positioning to flatten the opponent.
  • Control their far-side arm and head to neutralize movement.

Neutralizing Their Underhook

If They Have the Underhook

  • Counter by using a Whizzer (overhook) or transitioning to a Crossface.
  • Adjust your angle to reclaim dominant Frames.

If You Have the Underhook

  • Use it to pin their upper body, making it harder for them to recover or sweep.

Breaking the Leg Connection

  • Use pressure and Hip Movement to free your trapped leg. Common techniques include:

Smashing the Guard

  • Pin their legs and hips to one side using shoulder pressure.

Backstep Motion

  • Pivot your hips out to break their leg entanglement.

Knee Cut

  • Slide your trapped knee past their legs while controlling their hips.

Maintaining Base

  • Keep your Base low and wide to avoid sweeps.
  • Use your free leg and hand to post when needed.

Common Half Guard Passing Techniques

Smash Pass

  • Flatten your opponent with a Crossface and heavy hips.
  • Drive your knee forward or around to clear their legs.

Knee Cut Pass

  • Control their upper body with a Crossface and an Underhook.
  • Slide your knee through their guard, clearing their legs while maintaining pressure.

Backstep Pass

  • Step your free leg backward over their legs, freeing your trapped leg and transitioning into Side Control or Back Control.

Twisting Half Guard Pass

  • Drop your hips low and twist your upper body in the opposite direction, smashing their legs to one side and freeing your leg.

Over-Under Pass

  • Thread one arm under their leg and the other over their hip, creating tight control and pressure to pass.

Common Mistakes

Failing to Control the Upper Body

  • If you don't control the opponent’s head or shoulders, they can create space and recover guard.

Poor Base

  • Leaning too far forward or back makes you vulnerable to sweeps or submissions.

Rushing the Pass

  • Forcing a pass without clearing the legs or establishing control can lead to counters.

Strategy

  • Combine Pressure passes (like Smash Pass) with Angles to break their defenses.
  • Deny the opponent time to establish Frames or grips.
  • Adjust based on their defense—if they block one pass, transition to another.
Tip

A solid Half Guard passing game is about patient pressure and strategic adjustments. Blend multiple techniques to keep your opponent defensive and unable to recover Guard.

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