Half Guard Revolution: Complete BJJ Guide 2026

By BJJ Sportswear Editorial Team
Reviewed by competitive black belts with combined 20+ years half guard specialization | Last Updated: January 9, 2026

The half guard—known in Portuguese as “meia-guarda”—transformed from a defensive stalling position into one of BJJ’s most dynamic offensive systems, all because of a knee injury suffered by an 18-year-old purple belt in 1989. Roberto “Gordo” Correa couldn’t use his leg fully after the injury, so he started experimenting with half guard when full guard became too painful. What he discovered changed Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu forever.

Today, the half guard serves as one of the most versatile positions in grappling, giving practitioners a strong platform for sweeps, submissions, back takes, and transitions that work against larger, stronger opponents. After coaching hundreds of students through half guard development and competing with it at every belt level, I can confidently say this: mastering half guard fundamentals transforms your entire bottom game from desperate defense into calculated offense.

Whether you’re a white belt trying to prevent guard passes or a brown belt refining competition-level sweeps, understanding half guard evolution and mechanics provides tools that work across all grappling scenarios—gi, no-gi, and MMA.

Half Guard Revolution: Complete BJJ Guide

What Is the Half Guard?

Half guard occurs when the bottom practitioner (back toward the mat) uses both legs to control only one of the opponent’s legs, while the top player attempts to pass and advance to more dominant positions. Your free leg remains available to defend, create frames, and launch attacks while your trapping leg prevents the passer from fully escaping your control.

This creates a partial control position that sits between full guard (controlling both legs) and being fully passed. From the bottom player’s perspective, half guard provides:

Distance control using legs to manage spacing
Offensive opportunities for sweeps and submissions
Defensive structure preventing side control or mount
Transition pathways to better positions or back takes

Understanding what is guard in BJJ provides foundational context for why half guard became such a revolutionary development in guard retention and attack systems.

Historical Origins: From Japan to Brazil

Judo’s Niju Garami

The half guard existed in early Judo as “niju garami,” practiced by old Kodokan Institute practitioners including Tsunetane Oda (creator of the triangle choke) who was filmed using the position in 1940s video clips.

However, in early Judo, niju garami served primarily as a holding position designed to prevent opponents from obtaining side control while waiting for time to expire or attempting to regain full guard. It was purely defensive—a last-ditch effort to avoid losing position rather than an offensive platform.

As Judo evolved into its current sporting format with specific rules, the half guard fell out of practice because it didn’t align with throwing-focused competition. The position traveled from Japan to Brazil in the early 20th century carrying this defensive reputation.

Early BJJ: The Forgotten Position

For decades in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, half guard remained dormant and underutilized. BJJ’s submission-oriented format didn’t see value in a “stalling position” when practitioners could fight for full guard, which offered far more attacking options.

Most competitors viewed half guard as a failed position—something that happened when your guard was being passed, not somewhere you wanted to be intentionally. White belts ended up there accidentally. Higher belts fought desperately to prevent it or escape it immediately.

Then everything changed in 1989.

Roberto “Gordo” Correa: The Half Guard Revolution

Roberto Correa, an 18-year-old purple belt under Carlos Gracie Jr., suffered a serious knee injury in 1989 that prevented him from using his leg to its full extent for an extended period. Unable to play the dynamic full guard game that defined elite BJJ, Gordo was forced to experiment with positions that accommodated his injury.

He started working extensively from half guard—a position others abandoned—and made a revolutionary discovery: the underhook.

By getting on his side, securing an underhook on the opponent’s torso, and connecting a series of sweeps, Gordo discovered he could keep opponents on the defensive rather than just surviving. The underhook revolutionized half guard by creating a bridge between defense and offense that hadn’t existed before.

Gordo’s Innovations:

Underhook control as primary offensive structure
Back takes from half guard (his trademark move)
Deep half guard variation (became huge in no-gi and MMA)
Systematic sweep combinations
Offensive mindset rather than defensive stalling

His immediate competition success gave him notoriety, and soon other competitors started studying his system. According to BJJ Heroes’ half guard documentation, Gordo is widely credited as the practitioner who transformed half guard from forgotten position to essential offensive system.

There’s debate about whether Gordo “invented” half guard—clearly the position existed before him. But there’s no debate about this: he made it work offensively at the highest levels when everyone else saw it as a losing position.

I’ve met practitioners who trained with Gordo, and they all say the same thing: watching him work from half guard was like seeing someone discover a cheat code nobody else knew existed.

Why Half Guard Works: The Mechanical Advantages

Partial Control With Full Leverage

Half guard provides surprising leverage advantages despite controlling only one leg:

Structural Benefits:

Your two legs controlling their one leg creates 2-to-1 numerical advantage
Hip positioning allows you to off-balance opponents despite being underneath
Underhook creates powerful sweeping leverage
Frame structures prevent advancement while creating attack angles
You control distance and can close or create space as needed

Defensive Security:

Prevents full guard pass completion
Buys time to recover and reorganize defenses
Works against significantly larger, stronger opponents
Allows you to weather intense top pressure
Provides recovery position when other guards fail

Versatility Across All Scenarios

Modern half guard works in every grappling context:

Competition Applications:

Gi competition with collar and sleeve grips
No-gi grappling with underhooks and frames
MMA with striking threats present
Submission-only formats
Points-based tournaments

Skill Level Accessibility:

White belts can use basic half guard defensively
Blue belts develop sweeping systems
Purple belts chain attacks and transitions
Brown and black belts use specialized variations

This universal applicability explains why half guard became fundamental to modern BJJ—it works for everyone, everywhere, in every ruleset.

The Gateway to Better Positions

Half guard serves as a transitional hub connecting multiple dominant positions:

Common Transitions:

Back control (Gordo’s specialty)
Full guard recovery
Deep half guard entries
Leg entanglements
Standing up to wrestling
Sweeps to top position

Elite practitioners view half guard not as a destination but as a stopping point between positions—a momentary control position used to access something better.

Core Half Guard Positions and Variations

Traditional Half Guard

The classical version with one leg trapped, bottom leg hooking, fighting for underhook:

Key Elements

Bottom leg hooks inside opponent’s trapped leg
Top leg positioned to prevent crossface
Fighting for underhook on near side
Frame with far arm to prevent chest-to-chest pressure
Hip mobility to create angles

Knee Shield Half Guard

Using your top knee as a frame against opponent’s chest or shoulder:

Strategic Advantages

Creates distance preventing heavy pressure
Provides strong defensive structure
Sets up sweeps when opponent pressures into shield
Transitions easily to butterfly or other guards
Particularly effective in no-gi against wrestlers

From personal experience, knee shield became my primary half guard after getting smashed repeatedly by heavy pressure passers. The frame changes everything.

Deep Half Guard

Gordo’s innovation where you position underneath the opponent’s hips:

Mechanics and Purpose

Wedge yourself beneath opponent’s center of gravity
Control their trapped leg and far leg
Create extreme leverage for sweeps
Opponent’s weight works against them
Opens numerous sweep variations

Modern Caveat: Deep half guard became riskier after the leg lock revolution. Savvy opponents can transition to saddle/ashi garami positions with both your legs controlled—approximately 70% submission rate at high levels when this happens.

I still use deep half, but now I treat it as a transitional position rather than a place to camp. Get there, execute the sweep immediately, and don’t hang out.

Lockdown Half Guard

Eddie Bravo’s 10th Planet system popularized this variation:

Lockdown Mechanics

Triangle your legs around opponent’s trapped leg
Stretch and control their leg completely
Prevents their mobility and base
Sets up knee lever sweeps
Transitions to electric chair submissions (no-gi)

Coyote Half Guard

Facing toward opponent’s legs rather than their torso:

Application

Bottom leg hooks opponent’s far leg
Face toward their legs/hips
Creates unique sweeping angles
Transitions easily to deep half or back takes
Particularly effective when opponent straightens trapped leg

Understanding how positions like the crab ride and the truck connect to half guard transitions shows the systematic nature of modern back attack systems.

Essential Half Guard Techniques

The Underhook Sweep (Old School Sweep)

The fundamental sweep that makes half guard offensive:

Step-by-Step Execution

Secure underhook on opponent’s near side
Get on your side facing them
Grab their far ankle or pant leg with free hand
Drive forward with underhook while pulling ankle
Roll opponent over their trapped leg
End in top position or mount

This sweep alone made half guard viable. I’ve hit this on opponents 60 pounds heavier—leverage overcomes weight when mechanics are correct.

The Back Take

Gordo’s signature technique:

Back Take Sequence

Establish underhook from half guard
Hip escape to create space
Slide your top leg over their back
Insert hooks as they defend the sweep
Secure back control with seatbelt grip
Attack rear naked choke

Why It Works: Opponents overcommit to stopping your sweep, which opens the door to taking their back. The sweep threat creates the back take opportunity.

Electric Chair Submission (No-Gi)

From lockdown position:

Submission Mechanics

Secure lockdown on trapped leg
Grab their far leg with both arms
Whip your legs to twist their knee
Crank their knee while controlling their far leg
Forces tap from knee torque

Note: This is controversial and potentially dangerous. Many gyms restrict or prohibit it due to injury risk.

Kimura from Half Guard

Upper body submission opportunity:

Setup

Opponent posts hand on mat near your head
Trap their wrist with near hand
Thread far arm under their elbow
Complete figure-four grip
Roll to back or finish from half guard position

The kimura’s wrestling origins show why it integrates so well with half guard—both positions emphasize controlling one side of opponent’s body.

Homer Simpson Sweep

Sneaky sweep using opponent’s posting hand:

Mechanics

Opponent posts far hand on mat
Grab their posted wrist with your near hand
Bump them with your hips while pulling wrist
They fall over their trapped leg
Sweep to top position

Named because of the “D’oh!” reaction opponents have when it works.

The 5 Best Sweeps From Half Guard

Based on effectiveness across skill levels and competition statistics:

1. Old School Sweep (Underhook Sweep)

Why It Works: Creates immediate leverage with underhook while attacking their base

Best For: All skill levels, especially beginners learning offensive half guard

2. Knee Lever (Lockdown Sweep)

Why It Works: Traps their leg while stretching it, breaking their base completely

Best For: Mid-level practitioners comfortable with lockdown, pressure-oriented half guard players

3. Back Take Sweep

Why It Works: Best sweep doesn’t end on top—it ends on the back

Best For: Grapplers who hunt submissions and prefer back attacks over top position

4. John Wayne Sweep

Why It Works: Uses knee shield to trap posting arm, roll underneath, kick through base

Best For: Intermediate and advanced grapplers who chain unexpected attacks

5. Waiter Sweep (From Deep Half)

Why It Works: Uses deep half positioning to completely unbalance opponent’s base

Best For: Experienced practitioners with solid deep half fundamentals

I’ve personally hit all five of these in competition at different belt levels. The old school sweep was my first successful competition sweep as a blue belt.

Half Guard Defense and Pass Prevention

Frame Management

Your frames determine whether you survive or get smashed:

Essential Frames

Knee shield against chest/shoulder
Forearm frame preventing crossface
Bottom leg hook maintaining distance
Underhook creating offensive structure

Common Mistake: Passive frames that just exist rather than actively pushing opponent away. Frames must be dynamic and pressuring.

Preventing the Crossface

The crossface (opponent’s arm across your face) kills half guard offense:

Crossface Defense

Keep near elbow tight to body
Use whizzer (overhook) to control their crossface arm
Turn into them when they pressure crossface
Transition to deep half if crossface succeeds

Underhook Battle

The fight for underhook determines who controls the position:

Winning Underhook Fights

Get on your side immediately
Drive underhook deep toward their far shoulder
Combine underhook with bottom leg hook
If you lose underhook, immediately fight for whizzer or frame

I tell students: the underhook battle is 80% of half guard success. Win that fight, you control the position. Lose it, you’re getting passed.

Dealing with Knee Slice Pass

One of the most common half guard passes:

Counter Strategy

Keep bottom knee tight to prevent them sliding knee through
Use knee shield to block their path
Transition to deep half when they commit to knee slice
Or recover full guard by sliding bottom leg out

Training Half Guard by Skill Level

For Beginners: Building Foundation

White belts should focus on defensive half guard before offensive systems:

White Belt Priorities

Learn to maintain half guard under pressure
Practice basic underhook sweep until automatic
Understand frame structures preventing passes
Develop comfort being underneath without panicking
Study how to recover full guard from half

Resources about first BJJ class expectations help new students understand half guard’s role in fundamental position hierarchy.

Personal Observation: White belts often make half guard harder than necessary by fighting with maximum effort constantly. Efficiency comes from structure and timing, not desperate strength.

For Intermediate Practitioners: Developing Systems

Blue and purple belts should develop complete half guard attacking systems:

Intermediate Development

Master all major sweep variations (old school, knee lever, back take)
Study deep half guard entries and exits
Learn to chain sweeps when first attempt fails
Develop submission threats from half guard
Practice transitions to other guards when half guard fails

Exploring blue belt development goals helps structure half guard progression during this critical growth phase.

For Advanced Students: Specialization and Competition

Brown and black belts refine details and create personalized systems:

Develop signature half guard style based on body type
Study elite specialists (Lucas Leite, Bernardo Faria, Craig Jones)
Create counter-strategies for modern passing systems
Perfect timing and pressure application
Master transitions between half guard variations
Develop specialized submissions from half guard positions

At this level, your half guard should have distinct personality—my half guard doesn’t look like my training partner’s because we have different body types and strategic preferences.

Competition Strategy and Applications

IBJJF Gi Competition

Point-based gi competition changes half guard strategic approach:

Gi Strategy Considerations

Preventing guard pass scores 3 points for opponent (major motivation to hold position)
Sweeps from half guard score 2 points
Back takes score 4 points (making back take sweeps highly valuable)
Can work patiently with collar and sleeve grips
Defensive half guard viable when protecting a lead

No-Gi and Submission-Only

No-gi formats shift tactical emphasis:

No-Gi Adaptations

Faster pace due to reduced friction
More emphasis on underhooks and frames
Deep half becomes riskier due to leg lock threats
Wrestling up from half guard more common
Body triangle and lockdown variations more prominent

MMA Applications

Half guard serves crucial defensive and offensive roles in MMA:

MMA-Specific Factors

Protects you from ground-and-pound
Allows you to create space for striking or standing
Sweeps often lead directly to ground-and-pound opportunities
Works well in cage positions with limited space
Underhook helps prevent opponent’s strikes

I’ve watched countless MMA fights where the bottom fighter survived brutal ground-and-pound pressure using solid half guard structure, then swept to win the round.

Common Half Guard Mistakes

Staying Flat on Back

Remaining flat instead of getting on your side:

The Problem

Eliminates underhook opportunities
Makes you vulnerable to heavy crossface pressure
Prevents effective sweep mechanics
Allows opponent to consolidate top position

The Solution

Immediately get on your side when entering half guard
Face opponent with shoulder down on mat
Create angle for underhook insertion

This is the #1 white belt mistake I see. Flat half guard is death.

Passive Bottom Leg Hook

Hook that just exists without actively controlling:

Issue

Opponent easily clears your hook
No distance control or off-balancing
Makes guard pass simple for top player

Correction

Actively pull with bottom leg hook
Keep opponent’s trapped leg extended
Use hook to create angles and movement

Neglecting Grip Fights

Allowing opponent to establish their preferred grips unchallenged:

Result

They control pace and positioning
Your offensive options disappear
Defensive frames become ineffective

Fix

Fight immediately for underhook
Strip their grips constantly
Establish your grips before they establish theirs

Overcommitting to Failed Sweeps

Continuing to push a sweep that’s already been defended:

Problem

Exhausts your energy
Opponent consolidates position during your struggle
Creates opportunities for them to pass

Better Approach

Recognize failed sweep within 2-3 seconds
Immediately transition to alternative sweep or position
Chain techniques rather than forcing single attacks

Half Guard for Self-Defense

Half guard provides practical self-defense applications:

Defensive Value

Protection From Strikes:

Frame structures limit opponent’s ability to generate power
Distance control prevents clean striking angles
Underhook controls their posture and balance

Recovery Position:

Works when knocked down or taken down
Allows you to prevent full mount or side control
Buys time to recover composure and create escape

Offensive Opportunities

Sweeping to Dominance:

Reverses position allowing you to escape or control
Works against larger attackers using leverage
Creates space to disengage if that’s your goal

For those wondering is BJJ good for self-defense, half guard exemplifies why positional knowledge matters in real confrontations—it’s often where street fights end up.

The Half Guard’s Enduring Legacy

From Judo’s forgotten niju garami to Roberto Gordo Correa’s revolutionary innovations to today’s specialized systems, half guard evolved from desperation position into one of BJJ’s most sophisticated attacking platforms.

The position that existed for decades as a defensive stalling tactic became an offensive weapon because one injured purple belt refused to accept conventional wisdom about what worked and what didn’t. Gordo’s discovery of the underhook’s potential transformed not just his game but the entire sport.

Today, you cannot compete at high levels without encountering world-class half guard players. Lucas Leite built his game around it. Bernardo Faria used it to win multiple world championships. Craig Jones terrorizes opponents with deep half variations. The position Gordo revolutionized in the 1990s continues evolving with each generation.

Whether you’re a white belt learning to survive bottom half guard or a black belt refining competition-level systems, understanding half guard mechanics and history provides tools that work across all scenarios—from fundamental defensive structures to advanced offensive combinations.

Mastering half guard fundamentals creates the foundation for exploring all modern guard retention systems, from basic closed guard to advanced positions that define contemporary high-level grappling.

How We Reviewed This Article

Editorial Standards: All historical information verified against BJJ Heroes archives and documented interviews with Roberto Gordo Correa. Technical descriptions reviewed by black belt competitors who specialize in half guard systems. Competition strategies based on analysis of IBJJF and ADCC tournament footage.

Sources Referenced:

BJJ Heroes official technique and biography database
Roberto “Gordo” Correa documented innovations and competition record
Grapplearts half guard evolution analysis
Contemporary competition footage and analysis
Practitioner interviews and firsthand accounts

Last Updated: January 9, 2026

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