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Half Guard Passing

Quick Introduction​

Half guard passing is the specialized skill of advancing to dominant position when one of your legs is trapped between your opponent's legs. Unlike open or closed guard passing where both legs are free, half guard requires you to simultaneously free your trapped leg while preventing guard recovery. This unique challenge makes half guard passing a distinct discipline combining elements of both pressure and speed passing strategies.

Technique Overview​

Style: Guard Passing - Specialized passing for entangled positions

Best against: Half guard bottom players, deep half guard, lockdown variations, knee shield defenses

Leads to: Side control, mount, knee on belly

Half Guard Passing Main Variations​

🎯 Knee Slice Pass (Most Essential)​

Objective

Slice your trapped knee across opponent's bottom leg while controlling their top leg; create separation and advance to side control

Main Characteristic

Inside knee cuts diagonally across their bottom leg while hands control their frames; combines speed and pressure in single motion

Execution (Step by Step)

  1. Establish position in opponent's half guard (one leg trapped)
  2. Achieve inside position - your chest toward their chest
  3. Control their top knee with inside hand (same side as trapped leg)
  4. Establish underhook on far side with outside arm
  5. Drive opponent flat to their back (remove knee shield if present)
  6. Step your outside leg back and around their head
  7. Explosively slice trapped knee across their bottom thigh
  8. Drive that knee to mat on far side of their leg
  9. Pull your shin through completely
  10. Establish crossface with underhook arm
  11. Complete to side control with chest pressure
  12. Secure position for 3+ seconds

Critical Details

  • Inside hand controls their knee to prevent recovery
  • Underhook is critical - prevents them turning away for back
  • Knee slice must be explosive and low (slice, don't lift)
  • Your outside leg steps far back (creates angle for slice)
  • Head stays low during slice (prevent guillotine)
  • Chest drives toward their upper body throughout
  • Don't slice too early - flatten them first

Tactical Advantage

Highest-percentage half guard pass in modern BJJ; works in gi and no-gi; fast execution prevents lockdown; natural to side control or knee on belly; fundamental technique all levels must master; combines pressure and speed perfectly

🔒 Hip Switch Pass (Classic Pressure Pass)​

Objective

Switch your hips from one side to other while trapped; create angle that frees leg and establishes dominant position

Main Characteristic

Dramatic hip rotation from trapped side to free side; uses hip switch to escape leg entanglement while maintaining top position

Execution (Step by Step)

  1. Trapped in opponent's half guard
  2. Establish crossface (near-side arm across their face)
  3. Control their far hip or pants with other hand
  4. Drive weight into crossface to flatten them
  5. Begin switching your hips toward head-side
  6. Lift trapped knee and rotate it over their legs
  7. Complete hip rotation landing on opposite side
  8. Trapped leg naturally extracts during rotation
  9. Drive chest onto their chest in side control
  10. Establish underhook or maintain crossface
  11. Complete pressure into side control
  12. Secure position with full weight

Critical Details

  • Crossface pressure is fundamental - keeps them flat
  • Hip rotation must be committed and complete
  • Don't try to pull leg free - rotation frees it naturally
  • Weight distribution shifts during switch
  • Works best when they're flat on back
  • Timing when they're not actively locking your leg

Tactical Advantage

Excellent when knee slice is blocked; teaches hip mobility and rotation; old-school fundamental technique; builds pressure passing concepts; works when opponent is defensive; no speed required

🌀 Underhook Pass (Back Take Setup)​

Objective

Use underhook control to flatten opponent and either pass to side control or take their back if they turn

Main Characteristic

Deep underhook on trapped side combined with crossface; opponent's reaction dictates finish (side control or back mount)

Execution (Step by Step)

  1. Trapped in half guard with underhook established
  2. Achieve deep underhook (your hand reaches their far shoulder)
  3. Other hand establishes crossface
  4. Drive crossface to force them flat
  5. Step your free leg back for base
  6. Use underhook to lift their shoulder slightly
  7. Drive trapped knee toward their hip
  8. Watch their reaction:
    • If they stay flat → extract leg to side control
    • If they turn away → take their back
  9. For side control: free leg, establish chest-to-chest
  10. For back take: insert hooks as they turn
  11. Complete position based on their choice
  12. Secure with proper controls

Critical Details

  • Underhook must be deep (not shallow)
  • Crossface prevents them turning into you
  • Their turning away is back take opportunity (4 points vs 3)
  • Don't force direction - let them choose their trap
  • Free leg drives toward their hip, not pulling out
  • Works excellently in gi and no-gi

Tactical Advantage

Creates no-win scenario for opponent; teaches reading reactions; natural back take opportunity; high-value position (back worth more than pass); builds offensive mindset; opponent's defense creates offense

🔄 Smash Pass from Half Guard (Pressure Variation)​

Objective

Stack opponent's weight onto their shoulders while trapped; pressure prevents movement and allows leg extraction

Main Characteristic

Forward drive creates stacking pressure; opponent's legs compress toward their chest allowing trapped leg to slip free

Execution (Step by Step)

  1. Trapped in half guard
  2. Establish grips on their pants/belt or control their legs
  3. Lower your level and drive chest forward
  4. Stack them onto shoulders (knees toward face)
  5. Trap their bottom leg with your free leg
  6. Maintain stacking pressure
  7. Free your trapped leg while they're compressed
  8. Step that leg around to side
  9. Maintain pressure throughout transition
  10. Establish side control with crossface
  11. Complete with chest pressure
  12. Secure position

Critical Details

  • Stacking pressure immobilizes their hips
  • Don't release stack until leg is completely free
  • Free leg steps wide around their guard
  • Immediate crossface prevents guard recovery
  • Similar to general smash pass but from half guard
  • Works best against defensive half guard players

Tactical Advantage

Pure pressure approach; exhausts opponent; excellent when they're stalling; builds pressure passing fundamentals; works when speed passes are blocked; old-school effective technique

Important Observations (General Rules)​

Core Principles​

  1. 🎯 Inside position is key - Chest-to-chest better than chest-to-back; fight for inside position
  2. 💪 Flatten first, pass second - Remove knee shield and flatten them before attempting pass
  3. ⏱️ Underhook awareness - Control underhooks to prevent back takes and sweeps
  4. 🔄 Free leg positioning - Outside leg creates angles; step back and around
  5. 🎮 Read their reaction - Opponent's defense shows which pass to use
  6. 🛡️ Crossface prevents recovery - Immediate crossface after pass critical
  7. 🎯 Don't abandon position - If pass fails, maintain half guard top; reset and try again

Connection to Theories​

Applying core principles:

  • Space Management: Fill space to prevent deep half; create space to slice knee through
  • Weight Distribution: Pressure on chest/shoulder, not on trapped leg itself
  • Table Theory: Remove their support points (flatten them) before advancing
  • Orbital Theory: Knee slice uses circular motion around their leg
  • Block Theory: Your body becomes frame driving them flat

Half Guard Types and Passing Strategies​

Against Standard Half Guard:

  • Knee slice is primary technique
  • Hip switch when knee slice blocked
  • Most versatile passing position

Against Knee Shield/Z-Guard:

  • Must flatten shield before passing
  • Underhook pass works excellently
  • Pressure to remove frame, then knee slice

Against Deep Half Guard:

  • Prevent deep half with proper base
  • If caught, specialized techniques needed
  • Maintain posture and don't get swept

Against Lockdown:

  • Break lockdown before passing
  • Hip switch excellent against locked legs
  • Stay patient and methodical

Against Underhook Half Guard:

  • Fight for underhook control
  • Whizzer (overhook) can counter their underhook
  • Prevent them coming to knees

Common Mistakes​

⚠️ Trying to pull leg free - Forcing leg extraction fails; use technique, not strength

⚠️ Not flattening them first - Passing while they have knee shield or frames fails most times

⚠️ Poor underhook control - Losing underhook battle gives them back take or sweep

⚠️ Head too high - Vulnerable to guillotine and getting swept; keep head low

⚠️ Slicing knee too high - Knee must stay low to mat during slice; lifting it fails the pass

⚠️ No crossface after pass - They recover guard immediately; crossface prevents recovery

⚠️ Abandoning position when stuck - Maintain top position even if pass stalls; reset and retry

⚠️ Telegraphing the pass - Knee slice requires some element of surprise; don't wind up obviously

🥋 Half Guard Passing Entries and Situations​

From Guard Pass Attempt (Most Common)​

Setup: Attempting to pass guard, they recover half guard

Execution:

  1. Passing open or closed guard
  2. Opponent recovers half guard on one leg
  3. Immediately establish inside position
  4. Don't allow them to settle in half guard
  5. Execute knee slice or hip switch before they establish frames
  6. Most common entry - half guard is primary recovery position

Key Details: Speed of response is critical; don't let them establish defensive structure

Tactical Use: Most realistic scenario; half guard is most common "in-between" position

From Half Guard Top (Established Position)​

Setup: Already in half guard top position

Execution:

  1. Fighting for position in established half guard
  2. Win inside position battle
  3. Flatten opponent or remove knee shield
  4. Choose appropriate pass based on their structure
  5. Execute pass to completion

Key Details: May take time to establish passing position; be patient

Tactical Use: Positional sparring scenario; builds half guard passing specifically

From Failed Pressure Pass​

Setup: Pressure passing open guard, they trap leg

Execution:

  1. Attempting double-under or over-under pass
  2. They recover half guard on one leg
  3. Maintain pressure and adjust to half guard passing
  4. Smash pass or knee slice most natural continuations
  5. Don't abandon pressure mentality

Key Details: Transition from general passing to specialized half guard passing

Tactical Use: Shows adaptation; don't reset just because they got half guard

From Scramble​

Setup: Dynamic position change leads to half guard

Execution:

  1. Scrambling for position
  2. End up with one leg trapped
  3. Immediately establish inside position and base
  4. Prevent them establishing full half guard structure
  5. Pass quickly before they settle

Key Details: Scrambles often end in half guard; fastest pass wins

Tactical Use: Competition common; teaches fast adaptation

From Mount Escape Defense​

Setup: They escape mount and get half guard

Execution:

  1. You have mount position
  2. They execute mount escape (elbow escape)
  3. They recover half guard during escape
  4. Immediately adjust to half guard passing
  5. Don't let them fully recover; knee slice before they settle

Key Details: Natural flow from mount to half guard; maintain pressure throughout

Tactical Use: Position retention and re-passing; common sequence

🎓 Training Progressions​

Solo Drills​

  1. Knee Slice Movement (10 reps each side)

    • Assume half guard position on ground
    • Practice knee slice motion without partner
    • Focus on low knee, diagonal angle
    • Build muscle memory for movement pattern

  2. Hip Switch Rotation (10 reps each side)

    • Practice hip rotation from one side to other
    • Visualize extracting trapped leg
    • Build hip mobility and coordination
    • Fundamental movement pattern

  3. Half Guard Stance Drill (5 minutes)

    • Assume various half guard top positions
    • Practice grip sequences and base
    • Visualize opponent's reactions
    • Mental rehearsal of passes

Partner Drills​

Level 1: Position Establishment (Cooperative)

  • Partner in half guard, no resistance
  • Practice establishing inside position
  • Focus on proper grips and base
  • 10 reps each side
  • Build foundational positioning

Level 2: Technique Execution (25%)

  • Partner gives light resistance
  • Execute knee slice, hip switch, underhook pass
  • Focus on proper technique steps
  • 5 complete passes each side, each technique
  • Partner helps you learn timing

Level 3: Positional Sparring (50%)

  • Start in half guard top
  • You pass, they defend and sweep
  • Focus on reading reactions
  • 3-minute rounds
  • Switch roles

Level 4: Live Half Guard Passing (100%)

  • Full resistance half guard
  • Include sweep defense
  • Real competition scenario
  • 5-minute rounds
  • Most challenging training

Common Drill Sequences​

Drill 1: Three Pass Flow

  1. Start in half guard top
  2. Execute knee slice → reset
  3. Execute hip switch → reset
  4. Execute underhook pass → reset
  5. 5 complete cycles
  6. Builds familiarity with all techniques

Drill 2: Failed Pass Chain

  1. Attempt knee slice
  2. If blocked, immediately switch to hip switch
  3. If blocked again, use underhook pass
  4. Never stop moving
  5. Complete pass or reset after three attempts
  6. Builds chaining and problem-solving

Drill 3: Guard Recovery to Pass

  1. Partner passes your open guard
  2. You recover half guard
  3. Switch: now you pass their half guard
  4. Complete pass to side control
  5. Realistic flow, 10-minute rounds

Drill 4: Knee Slice to Submission

  1. Start in half guard top
  2. Execute knee slice pass
  3. Establish side control
  4. Transition to mount or attack submission
  5. Complete sequence 5 times
  6. Builds complete offensive sequence

See half guard concepts in guard system

Progression Timeline​

Following training methods:

  • Week 1-2: Knee slice fundamentals, inside position
  • Week 3-4: Hip switch, flattening opponent
  • Week 5-8: Underhook pass, reading reactions, chaining passes
  • Month 3-6: Half guard passing becomes automatic
  • Month 6+: Advanced timing, competition specialization

🔧 Troubleshooting Guide​

Problem: Can't get inside position​

Solution:

  1. Fight harder for initial positioning battle
  2. Use crossface to force them flat
  3. Pressure their knee shield down
  4. May need to reset and restart position fight
  5. Inside position is first battle - must win it

Problem: They keep getting deep half guard​

Solution:

  1. Maintain wider base with free leg
  2. Keep hips low and heavy
  3. Don't let them get under your center of gravity
  4. Immediate reaction when they start going deep
  5. Posture and base prevent deep half

Problem: Knee slice keeps getting blocked​

Solution:

  1. Check if you're flattening them first
  2. Ensure outside leg steps far enough back
  3. Slice knee lower to mat (don't lift it)
  4. Inside hand must control their top knee
  5. May need to fake slice and switch to hip switch

Problem: I get swept during pass attempt​

Solution:

  1. Maintain wide base with free leg
  2. Don't overcommit weight forward too early
  3. Control their underhook battle
  4. Keep head low but not reaching
  5. Immediate crossface if you feel sweep coming

Problem: They keep recovering guard after my pass​

Solution:

  1. Not securing crossface immediately after pass
  2. Not maintaining pressure for full 3 seconds
  3. Moving too quickly to next position
  4. Ensure complete leg extraction before considering pass complete
  5. Side control pressure must be immediate

Problem: Can't free my trapped leg​

Solution:

  1. Stop trying to pull it free with strength
  2. Use technique - knee slice or hip switch
  3. Flatten them first (hips on mat)
  4. Outside leg creates proper angle
  5. Timing when they're not actively locking

Problem: They get lockdown and I'm stuck​

Solution:

  1. Don't panic - lockdown is control, not submission
  2. Break lockdown with proper technique (various methods exist)
  3. Hip switch works well against lockdown
  4. Stay patient and maintain top position
  5. See specialized lockdown escape techniques

Problem: Vulnerable to guillotine during pass​

Solution:

  1. Keep head low but not diving
  2. Chin tucked, looking toward their hips
  3. Don't reach across their body carelessly
  4. Posture awareness during knee slice
  5. If they attack guillotine, may need to abandon pass temporarily

🎯 Belt-Level Expectations​

White Belt Goals​

Referenced in Beginner's Journey:

  • Understand half guard position (Month 6+)
  • Basic knee slice pass mechanics
  • Recognize inside vs outside position
  • Understand why half guard is important
  • Basic crossface and pressure

Blue Belt Development​

Referenced in Skill Progression:

  • All main half guard passes functional
  • Consistent passing against white belts
  • Chain passes together
  • Read opponent's defensive structure
  • Underhook battle proficiency
  • Teaching knee slice to beginners

Purple Belt Mastery​

  • Half guard passing against blue/purple resistance
  • Advanced timing and reading
  • Competition-level half guard game
  • Teaching all variations
  • Specialized techniques for deep half, lockdown
  • Seamless integration with overall passing game
  • Back take recognition from half guard

🎯 Next Steps​

After mastering half guard passing:

  1. Study half guard retention → Half Guard to understand defense
  2. Learn general passing → Pressure Passing and Speed Passing
  3. Perfect side control → Side Control after successful pass
  4. Develop back takes → Back Mount from underhook pass
  5. Competition strategy → Half guard passing is competition essential
  6. Add submissions → Attack from achieved positions

🔗 Related Resources​

Guard Passing System​

Half Guard System​

Positions After Passing​

Theoretical Foundation​

Grips and Control​

Progress Tracking​