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BJJ Fundamentals

Lesson 18 – Half Guard – Passing

Warm Up (5min)

Partner Drill

  • Forcing Half Guard

Lesson (25min)

Half Guard Control – Gripping Stance

  1. Start in half guard top
  2. Uke tries to recover by attempting elbow-escapes and reversals
  3. Make a strong base with your knees (“L” shape – knees pointing away from each other at 90 degrees) so that uke cannot off-balance you
  4. Stick your near side knee tightly to the space below uke’s armpit to make it difficult for them to elbow escape
  5. Now that you’ve established a secure base, dominate the upper body by getting to a crossface and underhook

Half Guard Control – Passing Stance

  1. Continue from half guard top, in the gripping stance with a crossface and underhook
  2. Turn your body so that your near side knee points into uke’s hips, blocking the elbow escape
    • Avoid putting your hip on the mat, as this will let uke off-balance you; use your foot as a base of support instead
  3. Take your far side knee off the mat so that uke cannot reverse the position with a knee lever

Half Guard Pass – Crossface & Underhook

  1. Continue from half guard top, in the passing stance with a crossface and underhook
  2. Walk your feet up to uke’s body, bringing your hips high into a tripod
    • Realistically, uke should be trying to keep the lock of their half guard above the level of your knee
  3. Use your shin to pressure against uke’s leg trap, sliding their lock below the level of your knee
  4. Place your knee on the mat, leaving uke with only a lock around your ankle
  5. Use the sole of your foot to push against uke’s lock, freeing your ankle and passing to side control
    • Don’t rush the pass and create space for uke to reguard; carefully walk into their hips so that their legs are shut out of position

Half Guard Pass – Head Block & Underhook

  1. Continue from half guard top
  2. Uke get to a frame inside your bicep, preventing the crossface
  3. Place your head ear-to-ear next to uke’s head, replacing your blocked crossface
  4. As before, walk up to a tripod and free your knee from uke’s lock
    • Note that you now have a “free hand” to assist by either pushing on uke’s legs, or controlling their arm
  5. As before, use the sole of your foot to free your ankle
    • Note that your free hand gives you the option of wedging your leg under uke’s elbow