I apologize if this is all came out as a cluster of nonsense. Hopefully the videos will make my poor descriptions clearer. These were my own notes, but thought they would be interesting to post and see other people's opinions/experiences and/or if they caught anything in the clips that I didn't.
This movement is essentially the same one that can be seen in the clip Lloyd Irvin put out of JT Torres and Bruno Frazatto defending the double underhook pass (
No Gi Double Underhook Pass Defense). Galvao can also be seen doing this when he plays 93 guard. I like that it's applicable from so many positions and has so many ways out of the position.
I watched this position in Galvao vs Tozi/Galvao vs Humphreys repeatedly at quarter speed in order to catch a few things I may not have seen at first. I was able to find both videos online, hopefully they don't get taken down. In Galvao vs Humphreys (
YouTube - Tarsis Humphreys X Andre Galvao Medium Heavy Weight Finals), start at 6:35 in. Galvao commits to the position and does most of it, but gets stuck because Tarsis grabs Galvao's lower leg. In Galvao vs Tozi (
YouTube - Roberto Tozi X Andre Galvao Open Weight Finals), Galvao is able to take the back after doing the reversal in a picture perfect manner. Start at 5:39. You can tell Galvao is trying to take the back as well against Tarsis, but isn't able. There are many options after the initial movement (as opposed to taking the back - Ex. Remove lower leg to crucifix, roll him over in a belly-down armbar manner, etc. ), but I'm just studying this one for now.
Deep Half Guard Defense/Reversal
First, dig for kimuras and collar chokes as they don't involve giving up position first. If they work, they work. Don't let the opponent establish any sleeve grips. Next, start putting pressure on his lower half using your hand closer to his legs to get him to turn away slightly (at this point, your hand is creating the majority of the pressure from your body). Galvao does this by pushing the far leg down to the mat, but it seems as if pushing the close leg will turn his hips over more. With the arm closest to his head, grab his hand if it is underhooking your high leg (which it should often be in deep half guard). The opportunity for this counter arises whenever you see this. In Galvao vs Tozi and Galvao vs Humphreys, you see him check to see if the hand is there a few times. Put most of your body weight forward and onto his knees to get him to turn away slightly (while also pushing down on his hand and pinning it to your hip - essentially standing on both feet for a second). At this point, there is a bit more pressure on the lower half of his body. Once he is turned away, equalize the pressure on both halves. Make sure his posture is broken. Before you pass your leg and do the sweep/backtake, you essentially want him turned away with equal pressure on his upper and lower halves. This allows the leg closest to his head to pass over and put pressure on the back of his neck. If there is too much pressure on his lower half, you can't pass the leg. If all the pressure is on his upper half, he will simply turn back into you. Once the leg passes, the majority of the pressure goes towards his head. At this point, the reversal can continue as usual.
Examples: Galvao vs Tozi Pan Ams 2008, Galvao vs Humphreys Pan Ams 2008
Finishing Options:
Establishing the Back Position
In order to establish the back position, with your free hand (the one not holding his hand), grab his belt or the gi where the belt should be. Remove the foot over his head and slide it under him past his face and around his body (as if doing an armdrag). Scoot hips out very hard while pulling with the free hand (belt grip hand). He will roll right into the back position. The trapped foot has now become the first hook (as you switch your hips from down to up, the trapped foot shoots through his legs in order to become the hook). The hand that was trapping the arm continues to trap the arm or make way for the choke (and then switches to the opposite lapel when you finally get the choking hand in). The he hand that was on the belt for a while goes from the belt (which you want to be closer to the mat for more leverage) straight to the choke once you get the hooks in (or slightly before if you are quick enough). If he adjusts to stop the back position, just scoot your hips out even further to readjust and create room for the second hook once again.
Example: Galvao vs Tozi Pan Ams 2008
