BJJ Graph

Half Guard Bottom

Dec 09, 202514 min read

Half Guard Bottom represents a sophisticated defensive position that has evolved into one of the most dynamic offensive platforms in modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. From this position, the bottom practitioner controls one of the top player’s legs between their own legs while lying on their side or back, creating an asymmetric control structure that enables sweeps, submissions, and back takes despite the apparently inferior positioning. The position serves as a critical last line of defense before being passed while simultaneously offering numerous high-percentage offensive opportunities.

The effectiveness of Half Guard Bottom stems from its ability to neutralize size and strength advantages through proper technical application. By using the trapped leg as an anchor point and fulcrum, the bottom player can generate significant leverage for sweeps and positional improvements. Modern Half Guard Bottom play emphasizes constant activity, proactive engagement, and the systematic creation of offensive dilemmas that force the top player into defensive reactions. The position demands understanding of multiple sub-variations including Knee Shield for distance management, Deep Half for superior sweeping angles, Lockdown for posture control, and Z-Guard for maintaining offensive frames.

Success in Half Guard Bottom requires mastering the fundamental battle for upper body control, particularly the underhook on the trapped leg side which provides the primary offensive pathway. The bottom player must maintain constant hip mobility and angle creation to prevent being flattened, while simultaneously threatening sweeps, back takes, and guard recoveries that keep the top player reactive. Distance management through frames, knee shields, or butterfly hooks prevents the top player from achieving crushing chest-to-chest pressure that eliminates offensive options. Rather than a passive defensive position, Half Guard Bottom in modern jiu-jitsu represents an active attacking platform that demands technical sophistication and systematic understanding of positional relationships.

Position Definition

  • Bottom player’s legs trap one of top player’s legs at or below the knee, creating the fundamental half guard entanglement with the trapped leg serving as primary control point
  • Bottom player maintains connection to top player through frames, underhooks, or grips while positioned on their side or back with shoulders angled toward top player
  • Top player’s weight distributed partially on trapped leg with free leg posted for base, attempting to consolidate position and advance toward full pass or mount
  • Bottom player’s inside hip remains mobile and positioned to create angles, with outside leg often forming knee shield or butterfly hook to manage distance and prevent chest-to-chest pressure
  • Space management through frames prevents top player from flattening bottom player completely and establishing dominant cross-face control

Prerequisites

  • One of top player’s legs successfully trapped between bottom player’s legs at knee or thigh level
  • Bottom player on side or back with sufficient mobility to create angles and prevent complete flattening
  • Ability to maintain frames or underhook control to manage distance and prevent chest-to-chest connection
  • Understanding of hip escape mechanics and angle creation fundamentals
  • Recognition of different Half Guard variations and their specific offensive opportunities

Key Defensive Principles

  • Maintain constant frames to prevent opponent’s chest from connecting to your chest - create and preserve distance through knee shield, underhook, or forearm frames
  • Battle aggressively for the underhook on the trapped leg side as it provides primary offensive pathway to sweeps and back takes
  • Keep hips mobile and angled rather than flat on back - being on your side allows hip escape, angle creation, and sweep entries
  • Use the trapped leg as an anchor point for leverage - control opponent’s base and posture by manipulating their trapped leg through lockdown, ankle control, or knee pinch
  • Create constant dilemmas through threatening sweeps, back takes, and guard recoveries - force opponent to react defensively rather than advancing their pass
  • Protect against the cross-face and underhook from top player which lead to flattening and eventual pass to side control or mount
  • Transition between half guard variations based on opponent’s pressure and positioning to maintain offensive options

Available Escapes

Underhook Sweep from Half → Side Control

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 35%
  • Intermediate: 50%
  • Advanced: 65%

Old School Sweep → Mount

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 30%
  • Intermediate: 45%
  • Advanced: 60%

Deep Half Entry → Deep Half Guard

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 40%
  • Intermediate: 60%
  • Advanced: 75%

Lockdown Sweeps → Side Control

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 35%
  • Intermediate: 50%
  • Advanced: 65%

Electric Chair Submission → Electric Chair

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 15%
  • Intermediate: 30%
  • Advanced: 45%

Back Take Generic → Back Control

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 30%
  • Intermediate: 45%
  • Advanced: 60%

Knee Shield Retention → Knee Shield Half Guard

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 50%
  • Intermediate: 65%
  • Advanced: 80%

Waiter Sweep → Side Control

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 30%
  • Intermediate: 45%
  • Advanced: 60%

Opponent Counters

Counter-Attacks

Decision Making from This Position

If opponent has underhook and crossface attempting to flatten you:

If you have underhook on trapped leg side:

If opponent attempts to stand or posture up:

If opponent drives forward with heavy pressure:

If opponent attempts knee slice pass:

Common Defensive Mistakes

1. Remaining flat on back instead of maintaining side angle

  • ❌ Consequence: Allows opponent to establish heavy chest-to-chest pressure and crossface, leading to easy pass to side control or mount
  • ✅ Correction: Constantly maintain position on your side facing opponent - use continuous hip escape motion to prevent flattening and maintain mobility for sweeps

2. Allowing opponent to achieve underhook without fighting for it

  • ❌ Consequence: Opponent controls your upper body and can drive you flat, removing all offensive options and facilitating pass
  • ✅ Correction: Battle aggressively for underhook as primary objective - if opponent gets it first, immediately fight to remove it or transition to alternative guard variation

3. Creating no frames or distance management against opponent’s chest

  • ❌ Consequence: Opponent achieves chest-to-chest connection, eliminating space needed for hip movement and guard recovery
  • ✅ Correction: Maintain active knee shield, butterfly hook, or forearm frames to prevent chest connection - constantly create and manage distance

4. Remaining static in single half guard variation instead of flowing between positions

  • ❌ Consequence: Opponent adapts to single defensive pattern and eventually finds pass, especially if holding position passively
  • ✅ Correction: Transition fluidly between knee shield, deep half, lockdown, and z-guard based on opponent’s pressure and positioning - keep them reacting to your movement

5. Focusing solely on defense without threatening sweeps or submissions

  • ❌ Consequence: Allows opponent to methodically work their pass without fear of consequences or offensive counters
  • ✅ Correction: Maintain constant offensive threats through sweep attempts and back take entries - force opponent into defensive reactions that create sweep opportunities

Training Drills for Defense

Underhook Battle Drill

Start in half guard bottom with neutral grips. Partner attempts to achieve underhook and crossface while you fight to get underhook first. 30-second rounds focusing on hand fighting, grip breaks, and establishing dominant underhook position. Reset when one player achieves clear underhook control.

Duration: 5 minutes (10 rounds of 30 seconds)

Half Guard Sweep Flow

Starting from half guard bottom with underhook secured, flow through sequence: Underhook sweep to Old School sweep to Waiter sweep to Deep half entry to Back take. Partner provides 50% resistance. Focus on smooth transitions between techniques and maintaining underhook control throughout sequence.

Duration: 10 minutes

Positional Sparring - Half Guard Bottom Retention

Start in half guard bottom. Top player’s goal is to pass within 2 minutes. Bottom player scores point for successful sweep, back take, or submission. Bottom player maintains position if time expires without being passed. Emphasizes active defense, constant movement, and offensive threat creation.

Duration: 6 minutes (3 rounds of 2 minutes)

Escape and Survival Paths

Lockdown to Electric Chair Path

Half Guard Bottom → Lockdown → Electric Chair → Electric Chair Submission

Underhook to Back Attack Path

Half Guard Bottom → Back Take Generic → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke

Deep Half to Leg Lock Path

Half Guard Bottom → Deep Half Guard → Ashi Garami → Heel Hook

Sweep to Mount Submission Path

Half Guard Bottom → Old School Sweep → Mount → Armbar from Mount

Success Rates and Statistics

Skill LevelRetention RateAdvancement ProbabilitySubmission Probability
Beginner40%30%10%
Intermediate60%50%20%
Advanced75%65%35%

Average Time in Position: 1-3 minutes depending on skill level and activity

Expert Analysis

John Danaher

Half guard bottom represents the quintessential modern guard position where systematic understanding trumps physical attributes. The position’s effectiveness derives from its inherent asymmetry - the trapped leg serves as a fulcrum around which the bottom player can generate mechanical advantage through proper lever arm creation. The fundamental principle is that the underhook battle determines positional hierarchy: secure the underhook on the trapped leg side and you control the vertical plane, allowing systematic progression to back exposure or sweep completion. Without the underhook, you must employ distance management through knee shield or transition to deep half guard where head position and shoulder angle replace the underhook as primary control mechanism. The position demands constant angle creation - remaining flat is biomechanical death, whereas maintaining side position preserves hip mobility essential for all offensive actions.

Gordon Ryan

In competition, half guard bottom is my go-to position when someone is pressuring my open guard because it offers the best risk-reward ratio of any bottom position. The key is never letting them settle - you have to constantly threaten sweeps, back takes, and leg attacks to prevent them from methodically working their pass. I focus heavily on the underhook battle because once I get that underhook, I’m sweeping 70% of the time at the highest levels. My favorite path is underhook to old school sweep directly to mount, but if they defend well I immediately chain to deep half or back take attempts. The critical mistake I see competitors make is playing half guard passively, trying to just hold position - that’s a guaranteed pass against elite opposition.

Eddie Bravo

Half guard bottom is the foundation of the entire 10th Planet system because it’s the position where you can be most creative while maintaining security. The lockdown completely changes the game - instead of just trapping their leg, you’re controlling their entire base and posture, which opens up the whole electric chair, old school, and plan B sequence. What people don’t understand is that half guard isn’t about waiting for opportunities, it’s about creating dilemmas through constant pressure and unconventional attacks. I want them thinking about the electric chair so they stand up, then I hit the old school. The whip-up from lockdown is crucial - it off-balances them and creates the scramble situations where technical innovation beats traditional pressure passing.