Half Guard

Half Guard is a position in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu where the bottom player has one of the opponent’s legs trapped between their own legs. It serves as both an offensive and defensive guard position, bridging the gap between Closed Guard and more open positions. The Half Guard offers significant opportunities for sweeps, submissions, and transitions while also being a position to defend against passes from the top player.

Key Features of Half Guard

Leg Position

  • One of the opponent’s legs is trapped between your own legs, securing control over their lower body.
  • The bottom leg usually hooks their trapped leg, while the top leg acts as a shield or frame.

Upper Body Control

  • Use an Underhook or Overhooks to control their upper body and limit their ability to posture up or pass.
  • Your free arm often frames against their shoulders or hips to create distance or control.

Base and Posture

  • Maintain a strong base by staying on your side, with your bottom elbow and shoulder supporting your posture.
  • Avoid being flattened, as this reduces your mobility and increases the top player's ability to attack or pass.

Objectives of Half Guard

Sweeps

  • Use the Half Guard to unbalance your opponent and reverse them to a dominant top position.

Submissions

Transitions

Variations of Half Guard

Traditional Half Guard

  • Basic form with the opponent’s leg trapped between your legs and an emphasis on upper body control.

Z Guard

  • Incorporates a knee shield to maintain distance and control their posture.

Deep Half Guard

  • Positions you underneath the opponent, controlling their hips for sweeps.

Half Butterfly

Common Techniques from Half Guard

Sweeps

Old School Sweep

  • Secure an Underhook, trap their foot, and roll them over.

Knee Tap Sweep

  • Drive them over by controlling their knee and rolling to the side.

Electric Chair Sweep

  • Stretch their trapped leg while using your Underhook to off-balance them.

Submissions

Kimura

  • Attack their arm from the Half Guard when they post or attempt to control your head.

Guillotine

  • Secure a Front Headlock grip when they lean forward, transitioning to a choke.

Triangle Choke

  • Use your legs and grips to isolate their arm and lock your legs around their neck.

Transitions

Defending Half Guard from Top

Pressure Passing

  • Use heavy hips and a Crossface to flatten the opponent and pass their guard.

Guard Passes/Knee Cut Pass

  • Slide your knee across their thigh, using grips to control their upper body.

Backstep Pass

Tips for Effective Half Guard

  • Always fight to maintain an Underhook or strong frames to prevent them from flattening you.
  • Use your hips actively to create angles for sweeps or escapes.
  • Avoid relying solely on holding their leg; focus on disrupting their base and posture.

Half Guard is a highly strategic position that blends offensive and defensive elements, making it a critical skill set for all levels of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners.

Advancing Half Guard

Transitions from Half Guard

To Closed Guard

  • Use your frames and leg positioning to pull the opponent forward while retracting your trapped leg, closing your guard around them.

To Deep Half Guard

  • Dive under their hips, trapping their leg deeply and positioning your body beneath them for control.

To Z Guard

  • Insert a knee shield across their chest, creating space and distance to maintain control.

To Butterfly Guard

  • Place one hook under their thigh while transitioning your hips to a more upright posture.

To Single-Leg X Guard

  • Elevate their trapped leg, creating space to insert your other leg under their thigh.

Submissions from Half Guard

Kimura

  • Secure a Figure-Four Grip on their arm when they post or reach across your body, applying pressure to finish.

Guillotine

  • Catch their neck with a front headlock grip when they drop their head too low, then finish the choke.

Triangle Choke

  • Use your legs to isolate one arm and lock your legs around their neck as you transition to Triangle Choke.

Straight Ankle Lock

Armbar

  • Control their posture, isolate the arm, and pivot your hips for the Armbar.

Sweeps from Half Guard

Old School Sweep

  • Use an Underhook to secure their far leg, then roll them over by driving into their trapped leg.

Electric Chair Sweep

  • Stretch their trapped leg with your legs while pulling their upper body forward using an Underhook.

Knee Tap Sweep

  • Grab their knee and roll them toward the side where their balance is weakest.

Coyote Sweep Underhook their leg, control their far arm, and roll under them to take top position.

Shaolin Sweep

  • Elevate their leg and tip their weight forward, using your legs and grips to destabilize them.

Passes from Top Half Guard

Guard Passes/Knee Cut Pass

  • Pin their legs with your knee, control their upper body with grips, and slice your knee across their thigh.

Smash Pass

  • Flatten them with heavy hips, control their upper body with a Crossface, and move around their guard.

Backstep Pass

Leg Weave Pass

  • Pin their legs together with your arm and drive forward to pass into Side Control.

Over-Under Pass

  • Scoop one leg under your arm while controlling the other, driving your weight through their hips.

Escapes from Bottom Half Guard

Underhook Escape

  • Secure an Underhook and use it to rotate to your knees or sweep.

Knee Shield Escape

Bridge and Roll Escape

  • Use a strong bridge to disrupt their balance and roll them over.

Elbow Escape Shrimp your hips out while using your frames to create enough space to recover guard.

Backdoor Escape

  • Slip under their hips using your frames and hooks, escaping to their back or Closed Guard.

Takedowns from Half Guard

Single-Leg Takedown

  • Transition to a Single-Leg Grip from bottom and drive forward to complete the takedown.

Sweep to Stand-Up

  • Use a sweep to destabilize them, then rise to your feet with grips to transition into a takedown.

Trip from Guard Pull

  • Use their momentum against them when pulling guard, tripping them as they drive forward.

Half Guard is a dynamic position that combines defensive and offensive possibilities, offering sweeps, submissions, and smooth transitions to more dominant positions or guard variations. It is essential for both top and bottom players to master the key techniques and concepts.

YouTube Videos

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