Greatest Half Guard Thread Ever

[Solidus Snake]

Thank you so much Oliver! A lot of good stuff to work on. Can't wait to try out something of this in class!!

[Ninjamurf]

Originally Posted by Oliver Geddes

YouTube - World Championships - Round 1 - Starts from about 2:45 onwards.

YouTube - Celtic Open - Absolute - Final **ANNOTATED** - Starts at about 0:30.

Hope that's clear!

Take care,

Oli

Heh, the ref for your Mundial fight was Alex Brandao, my instructors second in command. I always get a kick out of seeing him in the black shirt and pants...instead of handing me my ass!

Love the vids by the way.

[Galahad]

Hey guys - quick question.

Lately in half-guard I've noticed I've been using a technique that no one has taught me but has been working great for me. Basically when I have the underhook and want to get in deeper to start working for sweeps I bump them up w/ my knee. This has worked a lot better in getting me underneath someone than anything else.

I'm wondering if this is a valid technique. I've never been taught it or seen it on any instuctionals so it makes me wonder if this is something that people will easily be able to stop once they wise up to it. Thanks.

[sanchezero]

props to werdum for representin' deep half in MMA.

[esila]

Originally Posted by Galahad

Basically when I have the underhook and want to get in deeper to start working for sweeps I bump them up w/ my knee. This has worked a lot better in getting me underneath someone than anything else.

This is something my instructor has taught as a core principle of half guard, especially when establishing that underhook. That "bump" can serve multiple purposes - they attempt to cut through while you have that underhook, getting deeper as you do, getting to their back, etc. Also, that bump has bailed me out of sticky situations against all levels. Underhook FTW

[Ninjamurf]

Originally Posted by sanchezero

props to werdum for representin' deep half in MMA.

I noticed that too! That was awesome!! He didn't play the normal, "uh oh, I'm in half, I have to get back to guard, work from there" thing. He got DEEP half, took some punches while doing it, but then worked that game!!! Loved watching him try to sweep from there, transitioning to knee bar attempts, using THAT to then sweep. Nicely done for such a big man as well!

[tylerL]

Thanks for those videos Oliver, lots of cool things in there.

[mike4wsop]

Interesting to read so many different takes on the deep half guard. This has become the trend of bjj through the last year in a half or so. Should be interesting to see what the next big trend is

[MUFC]

After all the Leite talk, I've been doing purely traditional half guard with the underhook the last 2-3 weeks. Some of the sweeps work so easily. Stuff like leg switches to singles and leg switch to knee tap.

Really enjoy playing half guard now that I know how to do stuff from there. To be honest, I used to read the forums when I first started and a bunch of people would say they loved playing half guard. I never understood why. I thought it was a horrible position to be in. Now, I'm starting to understand why it is so awesome.