Many Brazilian jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts practitioners will be faced with the half guard almost every time they roll or in an actual fight. There are two types of half guard. Top half guard and bottom half guard. No matter which guard position you are in there are certain techniques that you can use to gain an advantage over your opponent. For example, When you practice jiu-jitsu you learn how to submit from the top position and also the bottom position. And if you defend yourself well on the bottom and preserve your energy well you can maneuver from a defensive position to an offensive position.
What Is A Half Guard In MMA?
In MMA there is a position called the Half-guard. The half guard is the position that is in between a full guard and side control or full mount. The person on top will try to untangle the leg and obtain side control or mount, while the bottom person will try to transition into a full guard or alternatively attempt a sweep or submission.
Why Pass The Guard Position?
The reason why you want to pass the top half guard is to gain more of a dominant position over your opponent. When you’re in top half guard there are two main things you want to do. The first thing is evident to all mixed martial artist practitioners and that is to get into the full mount position. When in full mount you can be in more control over your opponent and it is easier to submit them or throw punches to knock them out (Ground and pound.) The second method is to try to maneuver and submit your opponent in top half-guard position. It’s no easy task but it can be done.
Half-Guard Pass To Full Mount
Submission From Top Half Guard
You have to keep in mind that there’s a number of submissions you can execute from top half-guard to submit your opponent. There are many to choose from and below I have placed a few videos you can have an idea of the different options you can choose from.
Guillotine Submission From Top Half Guard
Arm Triangle From Top Half-Guard
Half Guard Submission – The Darce
Escape Half-Guard From The Bottom
The other half-guard position is when a person is on the bottom. Ideally, you don’t want to be in the bottom half guard or full guard position. No one wants to be on the bottom where someone is on top of them pounding their face with their fists or on top in a more dominant position to submit them. But again, mixed martial arts teaches you how to defend yourself on the bottom. There are three things you can do from the bottom position. You can sweep, escape, or submit your opponent who is on top of you. These are also known as half-guard attacks or MMA ground tactics. Below are some examples of how to escape, sweep or submit from the bottom guard position.
How To Do Half-Guard Sweeps
Butterfly Half Guard Sweep, Shin Sweep, Shaolin Sweep With Gi, No Gi Half-Guard Sweep, Double Under Sweep.
Below are examples of the escape from bottom guard. Remember an escape is different from a sweep in MMA, because a sweep involves overturning your opponent in a sweeping motion to get on top of them and assume a controlling position. Most likely a sweep into a full-mont position. An escape involves you using techniques where you break free from your opponent all together with no sweeping motion. You can escape your opponent and not assume a full mount or half mount position. That is the difference.
When you are on the bottom it is best to defend yourself from the full guard position and not half guard position. This is because the full guard position always gives you more control. Below are some examples of escaping your opponent from the bottom guard position.
Besides escaping and sweeping you can also dominate your opponent by submitting him. This takes a lot of skills and even patience when defending yourself against an opponent that is on top of you. Below are a few examples of submitting your opponent from the bottom position.
Kimura from the bottom half-guard position
Arm Triangle Choke from Bottom Half Guard
Kneebar from half-guard bottom