BJJ Graph

Flattened Half Guard

Dec 09, 20258 min read

Flattened Half Guard represents one of the most challenging defensive scenarios in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Unlike the traditional half guard where the bottom player maintains an active frame and hip mobility, the flattened variation occurs when the top player successfully collapses the bottom player’s structure, driving their chest and weight directly onto the opponent’s torso while controlling the trapped leg. This position eliminates most of the bottom player’s offensive capabilities and transforms half guard from a dynamic attacking position into a pure survival scenario.

The defining characteristic of Flattened Half Guard is the complete loss of the bottom player’s frames and space. The top player has achieved chest-to-chest pressure, often with crossface control or an underhook, while the bottom player’s back is flat against the mat. The trapped leg remains hooked, preventing the top player from completing a full guard pass, but the bottom player lacks the foundational structure needed to create sweeping or submission opportunities. This position frequently occurs after failed sweep attempts, poor frame management, or when facing opponents with superior pressure passing skills.

From the bottom perspective, Flattened Half Guard is a critical position to understand because it represents a common transition point between active half guard retention and being passed to side control. The bottom player’s primary objective shifts from attacking to creating the minimal space necessary to re-establish frames and recover to a more functional half guard variation. This requires specific technical knowledge of hip escapes, elbow positioning, and breath control under heavy pressure. The position demands both physical conditioning to function under sustained pressure and technical precision to exploit the small windows of opportunity that arise.

From the top perspective, Flattened Half Guard represents the culmination of successful pressure passing and the gateway to completing the guard pass. The top player must maintain constant forward pressure while simultaneously working to free the trapped leg. This involves strategic weight distribution, grip control, and the ability to transition between multiple passing techniques. The top player faces the challenge of maintaining control while advancing position, as any loss of pressure allows the bottom player to re-establish their frames and return to a more defensive half guard structure.

The position’s place in the BJJ positional hierarchy reflects its defensive nature. While still technically a guard position, Flattened Half Guard scores no points for either player but represents a significant positional advantage for the top player. In competition, time spent in Flattened Half Guard often leads to passivity penalties for the bottom player if they cannot demonstrate active escape attempts. Understanding this position is essential for complete grappling development, as it teaches critical lessons about pressure management, frame recovery, and defensive patience that apply throughout the ground game.

Key Principles

  • Frame recovery is the immediate priority - creating any space is more important than attempting sweeps

  • Breath control under pressure prevents panic and maintains mental clarity for technical escapes

  • The bottom player must protect the underhook side to prevent back exposure

  • Top player’s pressure is only effective when combined with strategic weight distribution and positioning

  • Small hip movements compound over time - consistent micro-adjustments create escape opportunities

  • The trapped leg provides the final barrier to prevent the pass - maintaining the hook is critical

  • Top player must balance maintaining pressure with advancing position - static control allows recovery

Top vs Bottom

 BottomTop
Position TypeDefensiveOffensive/Controlling
Risk LevelHighLow to Medium
Energy CostHighMedium
TimeShort to MediumMedium to Long

Key Difference: Minimal frames trades mobility for survival

Playing as Bottom

→ Full Bottom Guide

Key Principles

  • Accept temporary discomfort to maintain positional structure - panic leads to defensive errors

  • Create space away from opponent (toward trapped leg side) to avoid back exposure during recovery

  • Stack small gains through micro-adjustments rather than explosive movements that telegraph intentions

  • Protect the underhook side religiously - losing both underhook and crossface eliminates escape paths

  • Use opponent’s forward pressure against them by timing hip escapes with their pressure waves

Primary Techniques

Common Mistakes

  • ❌ Attempting explosive bridge and roll escapes while completely flattened with no frames established

    • Consequence: Burns massive energy without creating meaningful space, exhausting defender while allowing top player to maintain position easily
    • ✅ Correction: Focus on incremental hip escapes and frame recovery - create small space, fill it with elbow/knee, repeat the process systematically

  • ❌ Turning toward opponent during escape attempts to try facing them while recovering guard

    • Consequence: Exposes back to skilled top players who time their transition to back control with your turning motion
    • ✅ Correction: Shrimp away from opponent toward trapped leg side, creating space while keeping chest facing opponent to prevent back exposure

  • ❌ Accepting both crossface and underhook control without fighting for frame positioning

    • Consequence: Eliminates all viable escape paths as top player achieves dominant head and arm control
    • ✅ Correction: Prioritize maintaining your underhook on opponent’s far side even while accepting crossface - this preserves structural foundation for escapes

  • ❌ Holding breath or breathing shallowly due to chest pressure and psychological stress

    • Consequence: Creates oxygen debt that accelerates fatigue and triggers panic responses that compromise technical execution
    • ✅ Correction: Practice tactical breathing - take small, controlled breaths timed with movements rather than trying for full deep breaths under pressure

  • ❌ Releasing trapped leg hook prematurely while attempting to escape or transition

    • Consequence: Removes final barrier preventing pass to side control, allowing top player to complete the guard pass
    • ✅ Correction: Maintain leg hook throughout entire recovery process - only release once frames are re-established or when deliberately transitioning to different position

Playing as Top

→ Full Top Guide

Key Principles

  • Pressure must be dynamic and flowing - static weight allows systematic frame recovery over time

  • Crossface control is the highest priority - losing the crossface opens multiple defensive pathways

  • Advance position when opponent is managing pressure, not when they’re defending leg extraction

  • Hip pressure and chest pressure work together - using only chest pressure allows hip escape opportunities

  • Create angles for leg extraction rather than forcing through direct opposition of trapped leg

Primary Techniques

Common Mistakes

  • ❌ Remaining static with heavy chest pressure without advancing position or creating passing angles

    • Consequence: Allows opponent time to systematically recover frames through incremental hip escapes and space creation
    • ✅ Correction: Maintain dynamic pressure that flows between control and advancement - use pressure to limit movement while creating angles for passing sequences

  • ❌ Posting hands wide or sitting back to adjust position while maintaining flattened half guard control

    • Consequence: Creates space that allows immediate frame recovery and knee shield re-establishment by opponent
    • ✅ Correction: Keep chest pressure constant throughout transitions - adjust position through hip movement and weight shifts while maintaining chest-to-chest contact

  • ❌ Forcing knee slice directly through trapped leg without creating proper angle or timing

    • Consequence: Opponent easily defends with leg hook, wasting energy and telegraphing passing intentions
    • ✅ Correction: Create angle first by driving hips to side, then slice knee through when opponent is managing pressure rather than defending leg

  • ❌ Losing crossface control while attempting to pass or transition to different position

    • Consequence: Opens multiple defensive pathways as opponent can now see action, use near arm for frames, and turn into position
    • ✅ Correction: Maintain crossface throughout entire passing sequence - transition crossface to different control points rather than abandoning it during movement

  • ❌ Applying all pressure through arms and shoulders rather than distributing through chest and hips

    • Consequence: Burns arm and shoulder muscles quickly while creating unstable pressure that’s easily disrupted by hip movements
    • ✅ Correction: Drive pressure through chest and hips with arms used only for positioning and control - let body weight do the work rather than muscular effort

  • Half Guard Bottom - The active parent position that Flattened Half Guard degrades from

  • Deep Half Guard - Alternative recovery position accessible through specific hip movement sequences

  • Knee Shield Half Guard - Target position for frame recovery - re-establishing the knee shield escapes flattening

  • Side Control - The position top player advances to if bottom player loses the leg hook

  • Turtle - Emergency escape option when frame recovery fails - gives up position to avoid the pass

  • Quarter Guard - Transitional position when top player begins freeing the trapped leg

  • Lockdown - Alternative leg control system that can provide stability when flattened

  • Underhook Control - Critical control point that determines escape viability from flattened position