Pocket Half Guard Bottom is a specialized half guard variant characterized by a deep underhook on the opponent’s far side combined with tight hip connection and the trapped leg locked between your legs. The ‘pocket’ refers to the space created by pulling the opponent’s far shoulder down with the underhook while using your bottom leg to create a frame against their near hip. This position excels at generating powerful sweeps and back-takes because the deep underhook compromises the opponent’s base while the tight leg control prevents them from advancing to mount or establishing a strong passing position.
The position gained prominence through Eddie Bravo’s 10th Planet system and has been refined by competition specialists who recognize its effectiveness against pressure passers. Unlike standard half guard where the underhook may be shallow, Pocket Half Guard demands a deep underhook that reaches across the opponent’s back, ideally gripping their far lat or armpit. This depth allows you to control their upper body rotation and create powerful off-balancing mechanics. The bottom leg creates a ‘pocket’ or wedge against the opponent’s hip, providing both defensive framing and offensive leverage for sweeps.
Pocket Half Guard Bottom is particularly effective against opponents who favor heavy pressure passing or who attempt to flatten you in half guard. The deep underhook and hip frame prevent them from establishing chest-to-chest pressure, while the leg configuration maintains enough space to generate hip movement and rotational power for sweeps. Advanced practitioners use this position as a launching point for the Old School Sweep, back-takes, and transitions to Deep Half Guard or X-Guard variations.
Position Definition
- Deep underhook secured on opponent’s far side, with your arm reaching across their back to grip their far lat, armpit, or belt, creating significant control over their upper body rotation and preventing them from establishing dominant chest pressure
- Bottom leg (same side as trapped leg) actively framing against opponent’s near hip with foot pressure, creating the characteristic ‘pocket’ space that prevents them from advancing to mount while providing leverage for sweeps and maintaining optimal distance
- Top leg (free leg) locked over opponent’s trapped leg in standard half guard configuration, with knee shield option available or leg threaded beneath their thigh, securing the fundamental half guard lock that prevents them from extracting their leg
- Your bottom shoulder and hip positioned on the mat with active hip mobility maintained, avoiding being completely flattened while keeping enough space to generate rotational power for offensive techniques
- Head position on the underhook side, using head pressure against opponent’s ribs or armpit to reinforce the underhook control and prevent them from stripping your grip or establishing head control
Prerequisites
- Opponent trapped in your half guard with one of their legs secured between both of your legs
- Deep underhook secured on opponent’s far side before they establish heavy chest pressure
- Bottom leg able to create active frame against opponent’s near hip
- Sufficient space and hip mobility to prevent being completely flattened
- Upper body positioning that allows maintenance of underhook depth
Key Defensive Principles
- Maintain underhook depth at all costs - shallow underhook compromises all offensive options and allows opponent to establish dominant pressure
- Active bottom leg frame creates the ‘pocket’ space - passive leg allows opponent to flatten you and neutralize sweeping mechanics
- Hip mobility is essential - being completely flattened destroys offensive potential and puts you at risk of being passed
- Head pressure reinforces underhook control - pulling opponent’s shoulder down with combined arm and head pressure prevents their escape
- Use pocket space to generate rotational power - the gap created by bottom leg frame provides leverage for sweeps and off-balancing
- Transition readiness to Deep Half or Old School - Pocket Half Guard serves as a hub position for multiple high-percentage attacks
- Prevent crossface at all costs - opponent’s crossface combined with underhook stripping leads to flattening and successful passing
Available Escapes
Old School Sweep → Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 45%
- Intermediate: 60%
- Advanced: 75%
Back Take Generic → Back Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 40%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 70%
Deep Half Entry → Deep Half Guard
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 50%
- Intermediate: 65%
- Advanced: 80%
Underhook Sweep from Half → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Electric Chair Submission → Electric Chair
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 55%
Transition to Truck → Truck
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent maintains upright posture and attempts to strip underhook:
- Execute Old School Sweep → Mount (Probability: 65%)
- Execute Back Take Generic → Back Control (Probability: 55%)
If opponent drives forward with heavy pressure attempting to flatten:
- Execute Deep Half Entry → Deep Half Guard (Probability: 70%)
- Execute Underhook Sweep from Half → Side Control (Probability: 50%)
If opponent establishes crossface and compromises underhook depth:
- Execute Shrimp Escape → Knee Shield Half Guard (Probability: 45%)
- Execute Re-Guard → Open Guard (Probability: 40%)
If opponent attempts to extract trapped leg by extending it:
- Execute Electric Chair Submission → Electric Chair (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Transition to Truck → Truck (Probability: 55%)
Escape and Survival Paths
Shortest path to submission
Pocket Half Guard Bottom → Electric Chair → Electric Chair Submission
High-percentage path via positional advancement
Pocket Half Guard Bottom → Old School Sweep → Mount → Armbar from Mount
Back-take submission path
Pocket Half Guard Bottom → Back Take Generic → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke
Deep Half transition path
Pocket Half Guard Bottom → Deep Half Entry → Deep Half Guard → Waiter Sweep → Side Control → Kimura from Side Control
Truck system path
Pocket Half Guard Bottom → Transition to Truck → Truck → Twister Finish
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 55% | 45% | 20% |
| Intermediate | 70% | 60% | 35% |
| Advanced | 85% | 75% | 50% |
Average Time in Position: 45-90 seconds before sweep attempt or transition
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
Pocket Half Guard represents a biomechanically sophisticated approach to the underhook battle that defines modern half guard dynamics. The key mechanical advantage lies in the creation of a three-dimensional control system: the deep underhook controls the opponent’s upper body rotation and prevents them from generating forward pressure into your chest, the bottom leg frame creates a wedge that maintains optimal distance and prevents hip flattening, and the top leg secures the fundamental half guard lock. This triangulated structure creates a mechanically stable defensive platform while simultaneously generating multiple offensive vectors. The ‘pocket’ space is not merely defensive spacing—it represents stored potential energy that can be explosively released through rotational sweeping mechanics. When we examine the force vectors involved in the Old School Sweep from this position, we see that the deep underhook creates a moment arm that allows us to off-balance our opponent’s upper body while the bottom leg pocket provides a fulcrum point for hip rotation. The depth of the underhook is absolutely critical—each inch of underhook depth exponentially increases our control over the opponent’s shoulder and reduces their ability to generate counterforce. Advanced practitioners understand that Pocket Half Guard is not a static holding position but rather a dynamic launching platform for a series of interconnected attacks where each defensive response by the opponent opens a different offensive pathway.
Gordon Ryan
In competition, Pocket Half Guard Bottom is one of my go-to positions when facing heavy pressure passers because it gives me both strong defensive structure and immediate offensive threats. The reality of high-level competition is that your opponent will not give you easy sweeps—they’re going to fight hard to strip your underhook and establish their crossface. That’s why I emphasize being extremely aggressive with the underhook depth and not accepting shallow control. If I feel the underhook becoming compromised, I’m immediately transitioning to Deep Half or attacking the Old School Sweep rather than staying in a deteriorating position. The mistake I see most commonly is people treating Pocket Half Guard as a resting position where they wait for opportunities—that’s exactly backwards. You need to constantly threaten the Old School Sweep, constantly threaten the back-take, and make your opponent defend your attacks rather than attacking your defenses. When I have Pocket Half Guard Bottom against high-level opponents, I’m looking for the moment they post their hand near my head to defend the underhook pressure—that posting creates the angle I need for the Old School Sweep. Against opponents who refuse to post and maintain tight defensive posture, I’m using the underhook to create swimming motions that gradually elevate their trapped leg, setting up the Electric Chair. The competition reality is that Pocket Half Guard Bottom gives you the tools to sweep or take the back, but you have to be the aggressor even from bottom position.
Eddie Bravo
Pocket Half Guard is a cornerstone of our 10th Planet half guard system because it creates this beautiful dilemma for the opponent where every defensive choice opens up a different attack. When I developed the Lockdown system, I realized that the deep underhook combined with proper pocket spacing was the key to making the whole system work. The pocket space is what allows you to generate that whip motion with your hips that makes the Old School Sweep so powerful. But here’s what most people miss—the pocket isn’t just about creating space, it’s about creating the right angle. Your bottom foot should be actively digging into their hip, not just passively framing, because that active pressure is what prevents them from smashing through and it’s what gives you the pivot point for your sweeps. From Pocket Half Guard, you’ve got immediate access to the Old School Sweep, the back-take, the Electric Chair if they extend that trapped leg, and transitions into the Lockdown if you want to add that leg control. The innovation we brought to this position was understanding that you can combine the Pocket spacing with the Lockdown leg configuration—that combination creates even more control and opens up the entire Twister system. When you’re working Pocket Half Guard in the gym, don’t just drill the techniques in isolation. Drill the transitions between them—when they defend the Old School, you should automatically be flowing to the back-take or Deep Half. That flow between connected positions is what makes the whole system dangerous and unpredictable for your opponent.