[John O'Brien]

Normally, I apply shoulder pressure when passing half guard, but I'm pretty short and sometimes can't reach high enough to apply shoulder pressure which allows them space to try and sweep me.. Is there alternative places of pressure or positioning I should look at while passing half guard?

[Apolar]

If you are having problems cross facing from the top due to your height, wouldn't it be better to just go for the hip-hug pass? (Wrap your arms around your partner where the glutes and hamstrings meet and sprawl to unlock the legs, walk around to pass.) This way you wouldn't have to worry about being swept as much.

[Clifford]

Marcelo Garcia pass.

[Jiu-Jitsu Cop]

Personally I like being in my opponents half guard. I find hte person on the bottom to be at a great dis-advantage and I work leg locks on many opponents. If I just want to pass the ahlf guard I use a simple theory. I get a underhook on my opponent on one side and my knee by his arm pit on the closes side in order to take his hands out of the fight. I stay tight against him ansd straighten my trapped leg. I then work my leg until I feel his legs go below my knee where I can bend my leg and bring it past his guard.

This has always worked well for me but the whole trick to it is I control his upper body and use my legs against his.

[Yojimbo.]

Am I too noobish to understand how you're passing the half-guard? Here is how I usually pass:

1.) Underhook the arm opposite the side of your trapped leg.
2.) Put your head down on the mat, next to opponents head, same side as the trapped leg. Now you have good base and a free hand.
3.) Turn enough towards your trapped leg side to get your hips up a bit.
4.) Put your hand on your opponents far leg and start pulling the leg out. You don't even have to push with your hand, really. Just start working the leg out until you have enough to get your knee to the mat.
5.) Break 'em off somethin'

[zfolwick]

if I'm on top I will slide down and rest my head on their hip opposite trapped leg, get my ankles under theirs, underhook the opposite leg-- then extend!!!!!! like crazy. kneebar.

or

start the same move (or something else) as a fient, then whip around to the leg opposite the trapped leg and wrap your body around it. kneebar.