BJJ Graph

Deep Half Guard Bottom

Dec 09, 202512 min read

Deep Half Guard Bottom is an advanced guard position where the bottom player wedges underneath the opponent’s hips with deep underhook control of the far leg. This position creates powerful leverage for sweeps and back takes by controlling the opponent’s base from below. The bottom player’s head is positioned near the opponent’s far hip, with their body inverted underneath, creating a stable platform for offensive attacks.

This position is particularly effective against pressure passers who commit their weight forward, as it uses their momentum against them. The deep underhook of the far leg combined with the wedge created by the bottom player’s shoulder and head disrupts the top player’s base completely. From here, the bottom player can execute powerful hip-lift sweeps, waiter sweeps, and transitions to the back.

Deep Half Guard Bottom requires excellent hip mobility, core strength, and timing to enter and maintain. While it appears defensive, it is actually a highly offensive position with multiple pathways to dominant positions. The position is a cornerstone of modern no-gi grappling and has been refined by practitioners like Jeff Glover, Lucas Leite, and Bernardo Faria into a comprehensive attacking system.

Position Definition

  • Bottom player’s head positioned near opponent’s far hip, creating a wedge point with the shoulder pressed against the opponent’s inner thigh
  • Deep underhook of opponent’s far leg with bottom player’s arm wrapped around the thigh, controlling the leg close to the body
  • Bottom player’s body inverted underneath opponent’s hips with shoulders and upper back on the mat, legs positioned to create leverage
  • Opponent’s near leg typically controlled or monitored by bottom player’s free hand or legs to prevent step-over passes
  • Bottom player’s hips mobile and ready to elevate, creating constant pressure on opponent’s base and balance

Prerequisites

  • Opponent’s weight committed forward in top half guard or passing position
  • Bottom player able to create space to slide underneath opponent’s hips
  • Deep underhook established on opponent’s far leg before fully committing to position
  • Bottom player’s head and shoulder creating wedge against opponent’s inner thigh
  • Hip mobility to invert and maneuver underneath opponent’s base

Key Defensive Principles

  • Maintain deep underhook of far leg at all times - this is the primary control mechanism
  • Keep head and shoulder wedged against opponent’s inner thigh to disrupt their base
  • Stay inverted underneath opponent’s hips to maximize leverage for sweeps
  • Control or monitor opponent’s near leg to prevent step-over escapes
  • Use hip elevation and movement to keep opponent off-balance and reactive
  • Create angles with body positioning to set up different sweep variations
  • Transition quickly when opponent’s weight shifts to capitalize on openings

Available Escapes

Waiter Sweep → Mount

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 30%
  • Intermediate: 50%
  • Advanced: 65%

Deep Half Entry → Back Control

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 25%
  • Intermediate: 45%
  • Advanced: 60%

Old School Sweep → Side Control

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 35%
  • Intermediate: 55%
  • Advanced: 70%

Rolling Back Take → Back Control

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 20%
  • Intermediate: 40%
  • Advanced: 60%

Electric Chair Submission → Electric Chair

Success Rates:

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

Underhook Sweep from Half → Side Control

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 30%
  • Intermediate: 50%
  • Advanced: 65%

X-Guard Sweep → Standing Position

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 25%
  • Intermediate: 45%
  • Advanced: 60%

Opponent Counters

Counter-Attacks

Decision Making from This Position

If opponent drives weight forward with heavy crossface pressure:

If opponent tries to step over near leg to escape:

If opponent whizzers far arm to prevent sweeps:

If opponent pulls far leg back to escape underhook:

Common Defensive Mistakes

1. Losing deep underhook of far leg by allowing opponent to pull leg back

  • ❌ Consequence: Loss of primary control mechanism, making sweeps impossible and allowing easy pass
  • ✅ Correction: Maintain tight grip on far leg with arm wrapped deep around thigh, constantly pulling opponent’s leg toward your chest

2. Staying flat on back instead of inverted underneath opponent

  • ❌ Consequence: Reduced leverage for sweeps, easier for opponent to apply crossface pressure and pass
  • ✅ Correction: Keep shoulders and upper back on mat with hips elevated, body inverted underneath opponent’s center of gravity

3. Failing to control or monitor opponent’s near leg

  • ❌ Consequence: Opponent can easily step over near leg and pass to mount or side control
  • ✅ Correction: Use free hand or legs to control opponent’s near leg, preventing step-over escapes

4. Remaining static without creating movement and angles

  • ❌ Consequence: Opponent can establish stable base and defend sweeps easily
  • ✅ Correction: Constantly shift hips, elevate, and create angles to keep opponent off-balance and reactive

5. Attempting sweeps without proper setup or timing

  • ❌ Consequence: Failed sweep attempts expose back and allow opponent to pass easily
  • ✅ Correction: Wait for opponent to commit weight or react to feints before executing sweeps with proper leverage

Training Drills for Defense

Deep Half Entry Repetitions

Partner starts in top half guard with forward pressure. Practice sliding underneath and establishing deep underhook, head position, and inverted body placement. Focus on smooth entry mechanics and maintaining tight underhook throughout.

Duration: 5 minutes per side

Sweep Chain Drill

From established deep half guard bottom, partner defends one sweep attempt forcing transition to another sweep option. Practice linking Waiter Sweep → Old School Sweep → Rolling Back Take in response to opponent’s defensive reactions.

Duration: 6 minutes continuous flow

Positional Sparring from Deep Half

Start in deep half guard bottom position. Bottom player works to sweep or take back while top player attempts to pass. Reset to deep half after each successful sweep or pass. Emphasize maintaining underhook control and creating angles.

Duration: 3 minute rounds, 4-6 rounds

Escape and Survival Paths

Direct submission path

Deep Half Guard Bottom → Electric Chair Submission

High-percentage back attack path

Deep Half Guard Bottom → Rolling Back Take → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke

Sweep to submission path

Deep Half Guard Bottom → Waiter Sweep → Mount → Armbar from Mount

Success Rates and Statistics

Skill LevelRetention RateAdvancement ProbabilitySubmission Probability
Beginner40%30%15%
Intermediate60%50%25%
Advanced75%65%35%

Average Time in Position: 45-90 seconds before sweep or pass attempt

Expert Analysis

John Danaher

Deep half guard represents a fundamental shift in guard philosophy - rather than controlling from the front, we control from below by removing the opponent’s base entirely. The deep underhook of the far leg is non-negotiable; without it, the position ceases to function. The biomechanical advantage comes from creating a wedge with your shoulder and head against their inner thigh while maintaining an inverted position that allows you to lift their entire weight with your hips and core. Most beginners make the mistake of staying too flat - you must be inverted underneath their center of gravity to generate proper leverage. The position is a complete system with multiple sweep variations, but they all rely on the same fundamental principle: controlling the far leg while using hip elevation to disrupt their base. When entering, timing is critical - you need their weight committed forward before sliding underneath. The transition to back control via the rolling back take is particularly high percentage because it uses their defensive reactions against them.

Gordon Ryan

Deep half guard is one of the most reliable positions in competition, especially in no-gi where it’s harder for opponents to establish grips to defend. I use it constantly when facing heavy pressure passers who want to smash - the harder they drive forward, the easier the sweeps become. The key is not to force the position too early; wait until they commit their weight, then slide underneath and establish the deep underhook. From there, I have four or five different sweeps I can hit depending on how they react. If they whizzer, I go to electric chair. If they post out wide, I hit the old school. If they try to step over, I take the back. The position is basically a trap - every defensive option they have opens up a different attack for me. In competition, I look for deep half especially after failed passing attempts when opponents are off-balance and looking to recover. One mistake I see all the time is people giving up the underhook too easily - you need to fight like hell to keep that far leg controlled because once it’s gone, the position is finished.

Eddie Bravo

Deep half guard is straight-up one of the most powerful positions in jiu-jitsu, period. We’ve built an entire system around it in 10th Planet because it works at the highest levels and it’s nearly impossible to shut down if you know what you’re doing. The beautiful thing is that it’s a position where you can be completely underneath someone and still be attacking - that’s the mind game aspect that freaks people out. They think they’re winning because they’re on top, but really they’re in your trap. The electric chair from deep half is money - when they whizzer to defend the sweep, boom, you’ve got the lockdown locked in and you’re attacking their knee. Jeff Glover really pioneered this position in no-gi and showed everyone how deadly it could be. The key is staying loose and mobile underneath - you can’t be stiff or you’ll get smashed. You need to be able to move your hips, change angles, and create that elevation for the sweep. We drill this constantly because the entry timing is everything. Too early and they’ll defend, too late and they’ll have already passed. But when you time it right and get that deep underhook, you’re in complete control even though you’re underneath.