half guard

Half guard is a great sweeping position. It’s my preferred sweeping position. Not only will the sweeps put you on top, but they typically come with a guard pass included. It’s often easier for me to get to top side control by sweeping someone from half guard than it is to start in their guard and pass.

I’ve seen many variations of this basic sweep. Leg configurations and underhook positioning change, but the general pattern is the same: underhook -> come up -> drive into the top guy -> grab the far knee -> land in side control. I see the argument for peeling the lower leg of the top guy with your outside leg, but in rolling I rarely execute it that way. I might avoid some wrestling challenges in Dogfight by pulling their leg out more, but if this first attack fails, the plan B roll-under sweep usually works.

The next move is the logical response to counter pressure defending against the previous sweep. In the video below, Leite makes a point to keep the leg hooked during the roll but he doesn’t really justify it. I don’t normally do that. I’m sure he has a valid reason for pointing out the maintenance of that hook, but I don’t immediately understand the benefit.

I don’t have videos to share for them, but Danaher’s half guard fundamentals videos actually work in the opposite order. Danaher presents a variation of the roll-under sweep as the first option and an attack resembling the first sweep as the counter response when the roll-under is avoided by the top player. That’s interesting to me. I’m pretty attached to the order presented here.