What comes next from knee shield half guard
Knee shield half guard (also called Z guard): the bottom player traps one leg and puts a knee across the top player's hips. Neither player is ahead. The knee keeps the top player off the chest, and the top player wants to flatten it.
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Learn the position itself: Half Guard in the library ›
If you are the top
Good Works well with the right setup.
- Smash the shield down and crossface
Push their knee down to the mat with your hip, then get the crossface. They are flat again in half guard.
Leads to half guard, smashed › - Knee slice through the shield
Slide your knee past their knee shield and grip the far collar or get an underhook. This starts a knee cut pass.
Leads to knee slice in progress › - Back step
Step over to their other side, where there is no knee. Their shield now blocks nothing, and you pass for 3 points.
Leads to side control › - Posture and hold
Do not push straight into the knee. Hold your position and wait for their leg to move.
You stay in this position.
Mistake Avoid this: it usually makes things worse.
- Lean in with arms extended
Reaching in with straight arms lets them push, pull and sweep you. Keep your elbows close.
Usually goes wrong. Choose a better option above.
If you are the half guard
Good Works well with the right setup.
- Underhook and come up
Keep the knee shield, get an underhook (an arm under their armpit), then sit up into them. You reach half guard with the underhook.
Leads to half guard with underhook › - Kick through to butterfly
Push with your knee, free your trapped leg and sit up with both feet inside their thighs. You are now in butterfly guard.
Leads to butterfly guard › - Recover full guard
Use the knee as a frame, move your hips out and lock your ankles around them. You are back in closed guard.
Leads to closed guard › - Shield high, frame on the neck
Keep your knee high and a forearm frame on their neck. With good frames you can rest here.
You stay in this position.
Mistake Avoid this: it usually makes things worse.
- Reach up for the collar with both hands
Reaching up with both hands leaves you with no frames. Your knee shield falls and they flatten you.
Usually goes wrong. Choose a better option above.
Train it on the Path
The Half guard unit turns this into short lessons: you see a position and pick the best move.
Half guard is part of the Purple belt, included in Rolla Plus. Start free with Foundations and the white belt.