Half Guard

What it is

Half guard is the position where you have trapped one of your opponent's legs between yours. Played flat on your back it is just a slow guard pass waiting to happen. Played on your side with an underhook it is a launching pad for sweeps, back takes and recovering full guard.

What you want from here

• On bottom: you have caught a leg during a pass or a mount escape and want to turn it into a sweep or full guard.
• On bottom: get to your side, win the underhook, and either come up to their back or take them over.
• On top: flatten them, win the crossface and the underhook, and free your trapped knee to pass.
• On top: half guard is a pass in progress; settle your weight and work the leg out rather than racing.

Key details

• Get on your side. Flat on your back you are being passed; on your side you are playing guard.
• Fight for the underhook on the side of the trapped leg. Whoever has it controls the position.
• Keep a frame on their shoulder or neck until the underhook is yours, so they cannot crossface you flat.
• Keep their trapped leg tight with your knees, and keep your own top knee between you if they start to smash.
• On top, crossface with your head low, hips low, and walk the trapped knee free a little at a time.

Common mistakes

• Mistake: lying flat and holding the leg. They crossface you, flatten you, and the pass is only a matter of time.
• Mistake: giving up the underhook. They have the crossface and the underhook, and you cannot move.
• Mistake: on top, sitting up tall to free the leg. They get the underhook and come up for the sweep.

How it is escaped or passed

• Crossface and underhook, then the knee cut (knee slide) to free the leg.
• Flattening the bottom player, then freeing the trapped foot with the free leg or backstepping to the other side.
• Switching to the other side with a hip switch when the underhook is lost.