Deep Half Guard
Position
Also known as:
Deep Half
Deep Half Guard is a half guard variation where the bottom player scoots deeply underneath the top player's hips, positioning their body perpendicular beneath them while controlling one leg. It is used to off-balance the top player, create sweeping opportunities, and neutralize heavy pressure passing from the bottom position.
Quick Reference
Key principles
- · Your body must be deeply underneath the opponent's center of gravity, with your head near or past their far hip.
- · Control the trapped leg by hugging it tightly to your chest using a deep underhook grip around the thigh.
- · Keeping your hips mobile and angled underneath the opponent prevents them from flattening you and re-establishing top pressure.
- · The deeper you are under their base, the more unstable they become, making sweeps require minimal effort.
- · Anticipate the crossface and whizzer by maintaining tight connection to their leg and staying on your side rather than flat on your back.
Execution
- 1 From half guard bottom, secure an underhook and begin scooting your hips backward, sliding your body deep underneath the top player.
- 2 Thread your outside arm deep around the opponent's trapped thigh, clasping your hands together to lock onto the leg.
- 3 Position your head past the opponent's far hip so your torso is nearly perpendicular under them, with your shoulder blades off the mat.
- 4 Use your butterfly hook or bottom leg to elevate and manipulate their base while maintaining tight leg control.
- 5 From this destabilized position, initiate sweeps by redirecting their weight over you using hip movement and leg elevation.
Common mistakes
- × Staying flat on your back instead of being on your side deep under the opponent, which allows them to crossface and flatten you for easy passes.
- × Not scooting deep enough underneath, leaving your head exposed in front of their hips where they can apply a guillotine or sprawl to re-smash.
- × Gripping the leg loosely or too low near the ankle instead of hugging the thigh tightly to your chest, which lets the opponent extract their leg and pass.
From the bottom
What the bottom grappler is working toward from Deep Half Guard.
On top
The top grappler's options against Deep Half Guard.
Deep Half Guard Pass
pass
Kimura From Deep Half
submission
How you get here
Techniques that land in Deep Half Guard.
Butterfly Guard To Deep Half
transition
Butterfly Half Guard To Deep Half
transition
Knee Shield To Deep Half
transition
