BJJ Graph

Deep Half Guard Top | BJJ Position Guide | BJJ Graph

Oct 25, 202516 min read

Deep Half Guard Top

bjjstateguardhalf-guardtop

State Properties

  • State ID: S226
  • Point Value: 0 (Neutral - no points for top position in half guard)
  • Position Type: Defensive with passing opportunities
  • Risk Level: Medium-High
  • Energy Cost: Medium
  • Time Sustainability: Medium

State Description

Deep Half Guard Top is a challenging defensive position where you find yourself on top but with your opponent underneath in deep half guard, meaning they have wedged themselves deep under your hips with their arms around your far leg and their head/shoulders positioned under your near hip. While you are technically “on top,” this position presents significant sweep dangers and requires careful defensive strategy to maintain position and create passing opportunities.

The position is deceptive because the top player appears to be winning, but deep half guard is actually a highly effective sweeping position for the bottom player. Your opponent’s deep positioning under your hips creates powerful leverage for sweeps, particularly the “Homer Simpson” sweep and waiter sweep, which can easily result in mount or back control for them if you don’t defend correctly.

Success from top position requires understanding the sweep mechanics your opponent is attempting, maintaining proper weight distribution to counter these sweeps, and systematically working to extract your trapped leg and establish dominant passing pressure. Patience is essential, as rushing to pass without proper defensive positioning often results in sweeps or, worse, back exposure.

Visual Description

You are on top but in an awkward position with your opponent wedged deeply underneath your hips. Their head and shoulders are positioned under your near hip, with their body perpendicular or nearly perpendicular to yours. One of your legs (the near leg) is controlled by their arms in an overhook or underhook grip around your thigh, while their legs may be hooked around your other leg or establishing frames to manage your weight distribution. Your trapped leg is bent and controlled, limiting your mobility on that side. Your free leg may be posting out to create base and prevent being swept, or you may be down on your knee trying to establish pressure. Your hands work to control their gi, prevent them from establishing grips that facilitate sweeps, and gradually work toward extracting your trapped leg. Your weight distribution is critical—too much weight forward and they can waiter sweep you; too much weight back and they can Homer Simpson you. You must balance precariously while working methodically to improve your position. The sensation is uncomfortable and unstable, like being suspended on a fulcrum where any wrong move tips you over in a sweep.

Key Principles

  • Weight Distribution Management: Maintain balanced weight—neither too far forward nor too far back—to prevent both types of deep half sweeps
  • Trapped Leg Extraction Priority: Systematically work to free your trapped leg as it’s the key to escaping and establishing passing pressure
  • Crossface Control: Establish crossface or head control to limit opponent’s ability to look up and execute sweep mechanics properly
  • Posture Maintenance: Keep good posture and avoid being flattened or broken down, which facilitates their sweeps
  • Base Widening: Use free leg to establish wide base that makes you difficult to off-balance
  • Grip Fighting: Prevent opponent from establishing waiter sweep grips (belt, pants) or underhook deep on your trapped leg
  • Patience Under Pressure: Recognize this is dangerous position requiring methodical escape rather than explosive attempts

Offensive Transitions

From this position, you can execute:

Passes and Escapes

Position Improvements

Defensive Responses (Against Sweeps)

  • Waiter Sweep Defense → Maintain Top (Success Rate: Beginner 45%, Intermediate 60%, Advanced 75%)

    • Counter waiter sweep attempt by adjusting weight back

  • Homer Simpson Defense → Maintain Top (Success Rate: Beginner 40%, Intermediate 58%, Advanced 72%)

    • Counter Homer Simpson sweep by adjusting weight forward and crossface

  • Back Take Prevention → Maintain Top (Success Rate: Beginner 35%, Intermediate 50%, Advanced 65%)

    • Prevent opponent from transitioning to back attack from deep half

Defensive Responses

When opponent has this position on you (you’re on bottom), available attacks:

Decision Tree

If opponent is attempting waiter sweep (pulling your weight forward):

Else if opponent is attempting Homer Simpson sweep (driving you backward):

Else if opponent is transitioning to back attack:

Else if opponent has strong deep half control but not actively sweeping:

Else (defensive stalemate):

Expert Insights

John Danaher: “Deep half guard top is a position that requires patience and technical understanding rather than explosive movement. The fundamental error most people make is panicking when they find themselves there and attempting to forcefully extract their leg, which plays directly into the bottom player’s sweep mechanics. The key is understanding the sweep angles—waiter sweep works when your weight is too far forward, Homer Simpson works when it’s too far back. By maintaining balanced weight distribution and systematically working to crossface and extract your leg, you can neutralize the position. Think of it as defusing a bomb—slow, methodical movements with proper weight distribution, not explosive yanking that might trigger the explosion.”

Gordon Ryan: “I view deep half top as a temporary defensive position that I need to escape from as quickly as possible, but ‘quickly’ doesn’t mean frantically. When I end up there, my first priority is preventing the sweep—I widen my base, establish crossface or head control, and make sure my weight distribution doesn’t give them the sweep they want. Then I systematically work to free my leg and pass. The worst thing you can do is rush the pass attempt, because that’s when you get swept or give up your back. If the opponent is really good at deep half, I might even accept spending 30 seconds or a minute methodically escaping rather than risking a sweep by being impatient.”

Eddie Bravo: “Deep half guard is one of those positions that looks terrible for the top guy but can actually be passed if you know what you’re doing. In 10th Planet, we teach specific deep half counters and passes that involve understanding the fulcrum principle—you’re basically sitting on a lever, and any weight shift in the wrong direction activates the sweep. The key defensive strategy is getting your crossface or head control to disrupt their vision and mechanics, then methodically extracting your leg using specific sequences. Also, if you’re getting deep halfed a lot, you need to work on your half guard maintenance from top earlier in the sequence, because preventing deep half is easier than escaping it.”

Common Errors

Error: Panicking and attempting explosive leg extraction

  • Consequence: Rapid, forceful movements to free trapped leg create off-balancing forces that facilitate sweeps. Opponent uses your momentum against you for Homer Simpson or waiter sweep. Often results in being swept to mount or having back taken.
  • Correction: Remain calm and methodical. Work gradual leg extraction while maintaining proper weight distribution and base. Small, controlled movements rather than big explosive ones. Focus on crossface first, then leg extraction.
  • Recognition: If you’re frequently getting swept from deep half when attempting to escape, you’re moving too explosively. Should feel controlled, gradual improvement rather than sudden attempts.

Error: Incorrect weight distribution enabling sweeps

  • Consequence: Placing too much weight forward enables waiter sweep; too much weight back enables Homer Simpson sweep. Poor weight distribution is primary cause of sweeps from deep half top.
  • Correction: Maintain balanced weight distribution—roughly 50/50 or slight preference forward with proper base. Constantly monitor and adjust based on opponent’s sweep attempts. Widen base with free leg to create stability.
  • Recognition: If you’re getting swept repeatedly in same direction, your weight distribution is wrong for that situation. Should develop sensitivity to weight balance throughout.

Error: Failing to establish crossface or head control

  • Consequence: Without controlling opponent’s head, they can look up, see their targets, and execute sweep mechanics with proper vision and technique. Makes all deep half sweeps much more effective.
  • Correction: Priority one is establishing crossface across their face or controlling their head with your chest. This disrupts their ability to look up and execute sweeps properly. Maintain head control throughout escape.
  • Recognition: If opponent can look up freely and execute sweeps with good visibility, you lack proper head control. Their vision should be obstructed by your crossface.

Error: Narrow base with free leg

  • Consequence: Keeping free leg too close to body reduces your base width, making you easy to off-balance and sweep. Narrow base is unstable base.
  • Correction: Post free leg out wide—knee out to side or posting far—to create broad base that’s difficult to tip over. Wide base is foundational defensive principle in deep half top.
  • Recognition: If you feel unstable and easily tipped despite proper weight distribution, your base is too narrow. Should feel stable and hard to move.

Error: Allowing opponent to establish strong grips

  • Consequence: Letting opponent establish belt grips, deep pants grips, or deep underho hooks around your trapped leg gives them excellent control for sweep execution. Strong grips make their sweeps much more effective.
  • Correction: Fight their grips constantly. Strip belt grips, prevent deep pants grips, control their arms before they can establish strong underhooks. Grip fighting is crucial defensive layer.
  • Recognition: If opponent has multiple strong grips and is controlling your movement easily, you lost the grip fight. Should prevent grips before they’re fully established.

Error: Giving up on position and accepting sweep

  • Consequence: Mental defeat leads to poor defensive effort, resulting in sweep when position might have been salvageable. Defeatist attitude becomes self-fulfilling prophecy.
  • Correction: Recognize deep half top is defendable position. Maintain fighting spirit and systematic defensive approach even when uncomfortable. Many sweeps can be prevented with proper technique.
  • Recognition: If you find yourself giving up and accepting sweep before it happens, your mindset needs adjustment. Should fight for position until actually swept.

Error: Rushing the pass without proper setup

  • Consequence: Attempting to pass before properly extracting leg or establishing control leads to sweeps or back exposure. Impatience causes failed passes.
  • Correction: Follow proper sequence: establish head control, adjust weight distribution, extract leg, THEN attempt pass. Don’t skip steps. Patience is essential.
  • Recognition: If you’re repeatedly getting swept during pass attempts, you’re rushing. Should feel solid control before initiating pass.

Training Drills

Drill 1: Weight Distribution and Balance Practice

Partner establishes deep half (start position), you practice finding optimal weight distribution to resist both waiter and Homer Simpson sweeps with partner at 25% sweep pressure. Partner gradually increases to 50%, 75%, calling out which sweep they’re attempting so you can adjust weight appropriately. Focus on developing sensitivity to weight balance and ability to shift quickly between defensive positions. 3 minute rounds, 5 rounds, with feedback on balance quality. Build automatic weight management responses.

Drill 2: Deep Half Escape Sequences

With deep half established (various grip configurations), practice specific escape sequences (crossface establishment → weight adjustment → leg extraction → pass establishment) against progressive resistance (start 25%). Partner maintains deep half control but allows gradual improvement with proper technique. Increase to 50%, 75%, 90% as technique improves. 3 minutes per escape sequence type (backstep, leg weave, tripod smash), 4-5 rounds, drilling multiple pathways. Build mechanical proficiency in escapes.

Drill 3: Sweep Defense Recognition

Partner attempts specific deep half sweeps (waiter, Homer Simpson, Plan B back take) with 50% commitment while you practice recognizing sweep type early and applying appropriate counter. Partner mixes sweep attempts unpredictably, you must read and react correctly. Increase to 75%, then 90% intensity as your recognition improves. 3 minute rounds, 5 rounds, with coaching on recognition cues and defensive reactions. Develop automatic defensive responses to each sweep type.

Drill 4: Grip Fighting in Deep Half Top

Partner establishes deep half and aggressively attempts to establish sweep grips (belt, deep pants, underhooks) while you fight to prevent and strip grips (50% intensity initially). Focus on proactive grip prevention and reactive grip stripping. Partner increases to 75% intensity as your grip fighting improves. Simultaneously work for your own beneficial grips (crossface, head control, opponent’s arm control). 3 minute rounds, 4-5 rounds. Build grip fighting awareness specific to deep half top.

Drill 5: Live Deep Half Escape Sparring

Start every round with partner in deep half guard (realistic grip configuration), then live spar with goal of passing (you) or sweeping/taking back (partner) at full intensity (100%). Reset to deep half after each successful action. Partner uses their full deep half game including all sweeps and transitions. Focus on applying all principles: weight distribution, crossface, base widening, grip fighting, patient extraction, proper passing sequences. 5 minute rounds, 5-6 rounds per session, with brief coaching between rounds on patterns. Build live application against full resistance.

Optimal Submission Paths

Note: From Deep Half Guard Top, the primary goal is passing to dominant position rather than submitting. Submission paths listed are post-pass outcomes.

Fastest escape to pass: Deep Half Guard Top → Deep Half Counter Pass → Side Control Top → Side Control Submissions → Won by Submission Reasoning: Direct systematic pass from deep half to side control, then submit from dominant position. Most straightforward path.

Alternative escape path: Deep Half Guard Top → Backstep Pass from Deep Half → Side Control Top → Mount Transition → Mount Submissions → Won by Submission Reasoning: Backstep pass creates clean pass to side control, advance to mount for highest control submissions.

Pressure-based path: Deep Half Guard Top → Tripod Smash → Half Guard Top → Half Guard Pass → Side Control Top → Submissions → Won by Submission Reasoning: Use pressure to return to standard half guard, then pass systematically. Safer but slower.

Advanced extraction path: Deep Half Guard Top → Leg Weave to Pass → Knee Slice Position Top → Side Control Top → North-South Transition → Submissions → Won by Submission Reasoning: Leg weave creates immediate passing opportunity to knee slice, then advance through positions to submission. Technical approach.

Position Metrics

  • Position Retention Rate: Beginner 55%, Intermediate 70%, Advanced 85%
  • Advancement Probability (successful pass): Beginner 35%, Intermediate 55%, Advanced 70%
  • Submission Probability: Beginner 10%, Intermediate 20%, Advanced 35% (submissions come post-pass)
  • Position Loss Probability (being swept): Beginner 40%, Intermediate 25%, Advanced 12%
  • Average Time in Position: 30 seconds - 2 minutes (should escape relatively quickly)

Graph View

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