Versus Deep Half

Addressing the Half Guard, particularly against a Deep Half Guard player, the focus is on preventing the opponent from getting underneath and controlling your hip. If the opponent secures an early underhook, immediately switch your hips to the other side while establishing your own underhook on the near side. This underhook acts as a barrier, making it impossible for the opponent to transition to Deep Half Guard.

1. Anticipate the opponent's attempt to reach under your leg and use your hand or head to block it.
2. Establish a near side underhook to create a wall that the opponent cannot bypass.
3. Roll your hip to the opposite side, taking the opponent's hip with it, and extend your other arm out for base.
4. Depending on the fit, adjust the underhook either high or low, grabbing the shoulder, belt, or middle of the back, and press your shoulder down.
5. With the underhook in place, use your leg to stomp down on the opponent's thigh and secure a hook with your heel.
6. Before establishing the hook, be aware of your vulnerability, but once the hook is in place, you control the opponent's connection to the mat.
7. Stretch your leg away to deal with the opponent's hook on your leg.
8. If the opponent hooks over, you can either transition to mount using the previous technique or maintain the leg ride.
9. From the leg ride, kick your leg back towards the starting side to beat the opponent's toes and keep their leg out of play.
10. Position ankle over ankle and shin over shin, then knee over knee to secure the mount position.

This approach allows you to advance past the joint lines of the opponent's body, effectively countering their Deep Half Guard and setting up a dominant mount position.