Half Guard Techniques

Sweep 1:
Both sweeps start from lockdown position. I'm not sure how I feel about it because lockdown kills my hips and I don't like the lack of mobility.. Either way here goes. After getting lock down, put your hands in T's armpits and using your legs and arms push T up and over your head. This should create a bit of space. Let go of lockdown and simultaneously take whichever arm is on the outside (obviously differs depending what side of half guard you're in) and wrap it around T's leg, grabbing the inside of the thigh. Your head should be as deep and low as possible (inverted deep half guard?). Your other free hand grabs T's free leg (or outside leg.. whichever leg your outside arm isn't wrapped around) while you get to your knees. You should end up in a position where you're on both knees with shins touching the mat and T's leg in between your legs. Using the grip on T's outside leg, pull in while driving with the shoulder to sweep T to bottom position. It's important to finish the move fast because if T sees what's happening, they can just base out their outside leg leaving you with nothing. Also, get deep as possible.

Notes: I practiced this sweep at Barra Brothers before and I think I started from Z guard (shin shield). Although I can't really remember how I created all the space and all that.. I doubt I blogged about it too. Either way it's an effective sweep, I just have to get around the lack of hip mobility and using my arm strength. >.<

Sweep 2:
This sweep is based off the previous sweep when T goes for an overhook on your underhooking arm (confusing?). Assuming I have already gotten T in lockdown and pushed him farther up my body (remember the armpits?), T goes for an overhook and grabs my lapel. I then abandon my underhook and secure a firm grip on T's sleeve to keep his overhook close to my body (clamping the elbow down on T's arm will also help to keep it secure). I then take my free hand to grip the inside of T's free leg (outside leg) and in one motion (still in lockdown) roll towards the side of T's trapped arm while punching the air with my inner knee grip.

Sweep 3:
The sweep is from knee shield/Z guard. The sweep is only for the situation when T snakes their arm around the outside of my top leg to grab the inside of the pants on my bottom leg (usually to put shoulder pressure and pass). I use my top hand (whichever side hand opposite of the hip on the ground.. in this case I'm on my right hip so I will reach with my left hand also in this case my hand that is closest to the mat should be grabbing the gi on the inside of T's knee) to reach over T's palm down hand and bend it backwards towards me. It is a pseudo wrist lock/elbow lock kind of position. From there I just open my knee (kind of turns into a spider guard sweep) and punch with my hand on the knee to turn T over. A key point is that when I sweep T to take top position I get my leg out of half guard so I land in side control. Also, it's not only my knee that is getting T to go over, but the pressure I'm putting on his wrist/elbow by bending it backwards. Note: when sweeping, keep the grip on the pant leg and punch it to the ground when going to side control. This helps to kill T's scramble.

Sweep 4:
Position starts with top person having head control and an underhook on my left arm. My right leg is blocking Top's left leg and my left leg is hooking onto my right with a triangle grip. My left arm comes around over the top in front of T's face and using my forearm to push against his throat to create space. Once I create space I use my left arm to get an underhook on T's right arm. While reaching for the underhook with my left arm, I use my right arm to untuck T's lapel and pass it around their back to my underhooked left arm. Keeping the lapel grip tight with my left hand, I use my left leg to come around and drag T's left leg towards the outside. This opens up space for me to come up onto my knees. Once on my knees I use my right hand to grab T's far knee and push with my shoulder to get the sweep landing in side control.

Sweep 5:
I'm on bottom half guard with T's right leg trapped. T has head control with their left arm and an underhook with their right.

Step 1: With my overhook (left arm) I grab T's pants/belt and use my elbow to pinch down on T's underhook
Step 1.5 : Using my right arm I alleviate the pressure from the head control so that I can scoot my hips out
Step 2: Using my outside leg (left leg) I put my foot on the thigh of T's trapped leg with a butterfly hook
Step 3: With my butterfly hook, I elevate T to the right of my body
If T doesn't base out their left leg, complete the sweep. If they do base out their left leg I use my right foot to push out their basing leg to get them over. If pushing the the foot away doesn't work, continue to step 4.
Step 4: Now that I have T elevated with my left leg's butterfly hook, I switch to my right side
Step 4.5: At the same time as switching my hips, I use my right leg to place a butterfly hook on T's remaining leg.
Step 5: I sweep to the overhook side and land in mount
Note** When scooting the hips to the right in step 4, it's important to remember it's all one move. I don't go flat to my back to place in the second hook. I try to get my hips out all in one move.

Sweep 6:
Half Guard -> Back
This half guard sweep starts with me on the bottom with T having a deep overhook with lapel. Assume I'm blocking head control, and my left arm has the underhook.

Step 1: Grip T's overhook sleeve with my right hand
Step 2: Robot arm my underhook arm. **Bend at 90 degrees towards the hip
Step 3: While escaping my underhook, push with the sleeve grip
Step 4: Escape my head and using my right arm get a lapel grip around T's back
Step 5: Pull T onto their side and place in my hooks, getting back control


Half Guard Attacks
HG Choke 1:
The choke is for when T has B's top leg over their shoulder in a smash pass type position. B's bottom leg is still over T's leg in half guard. While T has my top leg over their shoulder and is putting pressure into my leg to pass, I get a 4 finger in grip (thumb down/same side leg that is on the shoulder grabs same side lapel) near the collar bone. I then straighten my underhooked leg and push down, forcing T's posture to break. Then I take my arm and spin it in a counter clockwise motion (reverse loop choke) to bring my forearm across the opposite side of T's neck. At the same time, I put my underhooked leg at a 45 degree angle and push it into the free side/same side of T's neck. The pressure from the leg only helps to add pressure/keep the posture of T down. It's the forearm against the neck that finishes the choke.