BJJ Graph

Reverse Half Guard Bottom

Dec 09, 202515 min read

Reverse Half Guard Bottom is an unconventional half guard variation where the bottom player faces away from their opponent while controlling one of their legs, essentially inverting the traditional half guard configuration. In this position, the bottom player’s back is toward opponent’s chest while maintaining leg control, creating unique angles for sweeps, back takes, and transitions that are not available from standard half guard. This position often occurs during scrambles, failed sweep attempts, or as a deliberate entry for specialized techniques.

The reverse half guard creates mechanical advantages through unexpected angles and leverage points. Because opponent expects traditional half guard attacks and defenses, the inverted configuration disrupts their base and balance in unfamiliar ways. The position is particularly effective for generating momentum-based sweeps that use opponent’s forward pressure against them. However, the position carries inherent risks due to back exposure, making timing and explosive movement essential.

This position is more common in advanced BJJ and no-gi grappling where mobility and dynamic movement are emphasized. It requires good body awareness, hip mobility, and understanding of sweep mechanics. The position serves as both a transitional state during scrambles and a deliberate attacking platform for practitioners who study its specific techniques. While riskier than standard half guard, reverse half guard offers surprising offensive opportunities when executed with proper timing and technique.

Position Definition

  • Bottom player’s back oriented toward opponent’s chest in inverted configuration, with spine alignment running parallel to opponent’s centerline while maintaining defensive hand positioning to protect neck and prevent hooks
  • One opponent leg trapped in half guard configuration between bottom player’s legs, with strong inside control using both legs to clamp and control despite unconventional body orientation
  • Hip connection maintained with opponent’s trapped leg, using active clamping pressure and constant tension through both legs to prevent leg extraction and maintain positional integrity
  • Dynamic body positioning with continuous movement and rotation readiness, as static positioning in reverse half increases vulnerability to opponent establishing dominant controls or extracting their trapped leg

Prerequisites

  • Strong half guard fundamentals and understanding of standard half guard mechanics
  • Good body awareness and spatial orientation during inverted positioning
  • Hip mobility and flexibility to execute rotation-based movements
  • Understanding of sweep mechanics, timing, and momentum generation
  • Defensive awareness to protect back and neck during vulnerable transitions
  • Experience with scrambling situations and dynamic position changes

Key Defensive Principles

  • Leg Control Priority: Maintain secure leg control to prevent immediate pass while setting up offense, using constant tension and active clamping
  • Dynamic Movement: Stay mobile and active to prevent opponent from settling into controlling position or establishing hooks on your back
  • Back Protection: Protect neck and prevent hooks while moving through vulnerable positions, keeping chin tucked and hands defending
  • Timing-Based Attacks: Execute sweeps and transitions based on opponent’s weight shifts and commitments, capitalizing on forward pressure
  • Hip Mobility: Use hip rotation and movement to create sweep angles and back take opportunities through explosive directional changes
  • Transition Readiness: Recognize this as transitional position requiring quick offensive action rather than sustained defensive holding

Available Escapes

Old School Sweep → Side Control

Success Rates:

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

Half Guard to Back Take → Back Control

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 40%
  • Intermediate: 55%
  • Advanced: 70%

Rolling Back Take → Back Control

Success Rates:

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

Hip Bump Sweep → Mount

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 25%
  • Intermediate: 40%
  • Advanced: 55%

Transition to Truck → Truck

Success Rates:

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

Re-Guard → Half Guard

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 45%
  • Intermediate: 60%
  • Advanced: 75%

Underhook Sweep from Half → Side Control

Success Rates:

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

Deep Half Entry → Deep Half Guard

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 40%
  • Intermediate: 55%
  • Advanced: 70%

Opponent Counters

Counter-Attacks

Decision Making from This Position

If opponent drives forward with heavy chest pressure attempting to flatten and control:

If opponent posts hand on mat to establish base and prevent rotation:

If opponent attempts to extract trapped leg or backs away to create distance:

If opponent reaches for back control with hooks or seat belt grip:

Common Defensive Mistakes

1. Weak leg control allowing opponent’s leg to slip free

  • ❌ Consequence: Opponent extracts their trapped leg and passes to side control or mount, completely losing the position and any offensive opportunities
  • ✅ Correction: Maintain tight leg control on opponent’s trapped leg with active clamping using both legs to create secure entanglement. Keep constant tension and immediately reclaim control if opponent starts extracting. Use hip pressure and leg squeezing to prevent any space for leg removal.

2. Exposing back to opponent without defensive hand positioning

  • ❌ Consequence: Opponent secures hooks, seat belt control, or harness position, transitioning to dominant back control with submission threats
  • ✅ Correction: Keep chin tucked to chest and maintain defensive hand positioning to protect neck. Monitor opponent’s arm movement and prevent seat belt grips. If hands start attacking neck, immediately address the threat before continuing offensive attacks.

3. Remaining static in reverse half guard without attacking

  • ❌ Consequence: Opponent settles their weight, establishes controlling grips, and methodically passes or takes back while bottom player loses all offensive momentum
  • ✅ Correction: Recognize reverse half as transitional position requiring immediate offensive action. Attack within 2-3 seconds of establishing position. Choose sweep or back take based on opponent’s pressure and weight distribution. Never allow opponent time to establish stable controls.

4. Poor timing on sweep attempts when opponent’s weight is not committed

  • ❌ Consequence: Sweep fails completely, expending energy while giving opponent opportunity to counter and establish dominant position or complete their pass
  • ✅ Correction: Wait for opponent to commit weight forward before initiating sweep. Feel for the moment when opponent’s base is compromised by their forward pressure. Execute sweep explosively when timing window opens. If opponent’s weight is neutral or back, choose different attack or reposition.

5. Neglecting to protect against crossface when rotating

  • ❌ Consequence: Opponent secures strong crossface control, flattening bottom player and preventing rotation-based attacks while establishing passing position
  • ✅ Correction: Keep inside arm active to block crossface attempts during rotation. Frame against opponent’s shoulder or neck to prevent crossface from landing. If crossface starts connecting, abandon current attack and address the control before continuing offensive sequences.

6. Forcing back take when opponent has strong base and defensive positioning

  • ❌ Consequence: Back take attempt fails, leaving bottom player in worse position with opponent now aware of the attack and better positioned to pass or control
  • ✅ Correction: Read opponent’s base and weight distribution before committing to back take. If opponent has strong defensive posture with wide base, choose sweep instead. Only attempt back take when opponent is driving forward with committed pressure. Have backup plan if initial attack fails.

Training Drills for Defense

Entry and Recognition Drill

Partner drives into your standard half guard with forward pressure, forcing you into reverse half position. Practice recognizing position immediately and establishing secure leg control. Focus on smooth transition and immediate control establishment. Build awareness of when and how reverse half occurs naturally during rolling.

Duration: 10 repetitions per round, 3 rounds

Sweep Timing Drill

From established reverse half, partner provides rhythmic forward pressure at varying intensities (light, medium, heavy) and you time sweep execution based on pressure level. Focus on feeling opponent’s weight commitment and using their momentum against them. Build timing sensitivity for recognizing optimal sweep windows.

Duration: 5-minute rounds, 3 rounds

Back Take Flow Drill

From reverse half, practice transitioning to back control using various entries: rotation under, direct back take, dog fight to back. Partner provides progressive resistance (25%, 50%, 75%). Execute 10 successful back takes per entry method. Build back attack systems and develop multiple pathways from reverse half.

Duration: 10 successful completions per variation

Position Recovery Drill

Start in reverse half with partner attempting to pass. Practice recovering to standard half guard or transitioning to deep half when sweep timing isn’t optimal. Partner uses realistic passing pressure. Develop ability to recognize when to attack versus when to recover position.

Duration: 5-minute rounds with positional reset

Escape and Survival Paths

Back Attack Path

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

Top Control to Submission

Reverse Half Guard Bottom → Old School Sweep → Side Control → Kimura from Side Control

Leg Lock Entry

Reverse Half Guard Bottom → Deep Half Entry → Deep Half Guard → Outside Ashi-Garami → Heel Hook

Truck System Path

Reverse Half Guard Bottom → Transition to Truck → Truck → Twister

Mount Dominance Path

Reverse Half Guard Bottom → Hip Bump Sweep → Mount → Armbar from Mount

Success Rates and Statistics

Skill LevelRetention RateAdvancement ProbabilitySubmission Probability
Beginner30%30%20%
Intermediate50%50%35%
Advanced70%70%50%

Average Time in Position: 15-30 seconds (transitional position)

Expert Analysis

John Danaher

Reverse half guard represents a critical intersection between positional hierarchy and mechanical advantage through unconventional geometry. While the position appears defensive due to back exposure, the inverted configuration creates leverage angles that standard half guard cannot access. The key mechanical principle is using opponent’s forward pressure as the primary force multiplier for rotation-based attacks. When opponent drives their chest into your back, they unknowingly load the spring mechanism that powers your back take or sweep. The timing window is narrow—you must attack within 2-3 seconds of establishing reverse half, as any longer allows opponent to establish controlling grips that negate your mechanical advantages. Train your students to recognize reverse half not as a destination but as a transitional launching pad for immediate offensive action. The position rewards practitioners who understand rotational mechanics and can execute explosive directional changes under pressure.

Gordon Ryan

I end up in reverse half guard frequently during scrambles, especially when opponents defend my standard half guard sweeps by driving into me with heavy pressure. Rather than fighting back to standard half guard and wasting energy, I’ve learned to embrace the inverted position and attack immediately from there. The back take from reverse half is extremely high percentage if you time it correctly—as opponent drives forward trying to flatten you, you rotate under and take their back in one motion using their momentum. The position requires confidence and explosive movement capability. I don’t recommend staying in reverse half for extended periods because it’s inherently risky with your back exposed, but as a transitional attack position during scrambles, it’s highly effective when you commit fully to the attack. The key is recognizing the position immediately and attacking before opponent settles their weight or secures controlling grips. Train this position specifically during scramble drills to develop the recognition speed and explosive execution needed for competition success.

Eddie Bravo

Reverse half guard isn’t traditionally part of the 10th Planet system, but it connects naturally with our scrambling philosophy and back take emphasis. When students end up in reverse half during rolls, I teach them to immediately look for the back take or transition to dog fight rather than trying to return to standard configurations. The position aligns perfectly with our philosophy of staying mobile and offensive even from seemingly bad positions—we embrace chaos and unconventional angles rather than fighting against them. From reverse half, you’re already positioned for the rotation-based attacks that fit our dynamic style. The position also teaches students to stay calm when their back is exposed, which is a crucial skill for developing well-rounded guards that work under pressure. I see reverse half as a gateway position that leads to positions we specialize in: back attacks, dog fight scrambles, and deep half entries. Train your students to recognize it as an opportunity rather than a problem, and they’ll develop the creative, adaptive mindset that defines modern no-gi grappling.