Reverse Half Guard Top occurs when the passer has successfully circled behind the bottom player’s half guard, trapping their leg from behind. This advantageous position offers multiple high-percentage passing options, including back takes and leg drag passes. The reverse orientation disrupts the bottom player’s traditional half guard defensive structure, making it difficult for them to recover their frames and underhooks. This position is particularly effective because it neutralizes many common half guard escapes and sweeps.
The reverse half guard top position represents a critical moment in passing sequences where the top player has gained a positional advantage but must consolidate it quickly before the bottom player can recover their guard structure. This position commonly arises from backstep movements during traditional half guard passing, or when circling to avoid the lockdown. The key to success is recognizing this as a transitional window of opportunity rather than a static control position.
Position Definition
- Top player’s hips positioned behind and to the side of bottom player’s hips, with their trapped leg extending between bottom player’s legs from the reverse angle, creating an awkward defensive geometry
- Bottom player facing away from top player or at a severe angle, unable to establish traditional half guard frames or chest-to-chest connection, with their upper body twisted uncomfortably
- Top player’s chest pressure directed toward bottom player’s hips from behind, with weight distribution preventing bottom player from rotating to face them or recovering full guard structure
- Bottom player’s half guard hook engaged on top player’s leg but from a compromised reverse angle, limiting their ability to create sweeping leverage or maintain defensive posture
Prerequisites
- Successful backstep or circling movement from traditional half guard top position
- Bottom player’s half guard structure disrupted through angular change
- Top player’s leg trapped in half guard but from reverse orientation
- Bottom player unable to maintain facing position or establish underhooks
Key Offensive Principles
- Maintain chest pressure directed toward opponent’s hips to prevent rotation and re-facing
- Keep low base with hips close to opponent to limit their mobility and space for recovery
- Control the head with crossface from behind to freeze defensive movements
- Immediately choose between back take or pass completion—this is a decision point, not a resting position
- Prevent opponent from turning to face you by maintaining angular advantage and pressure
- Use the threat of back control to force opponent into defensive reactions that open passing lanes
- Work methodically to extract trapped leg while maintaining positional dominance
Available Attacks
Transition to Back Control → Back Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 45%
- Intermediate: 60%
- Advanced: 75%
Leg Drag Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 50%
- Intermediate: 65%
- Advanced: 80%
Knee Slice from Half → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 40%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 70%
Transition to Mount → Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Crossface Pass → North-South
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 40%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 70%
Transition to Truck → Truck
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Smash Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent attempts to turn and face you by rotating their chest toward you:
- Execute Transition to Back Control → Back Control (Probability: 70%)
- Execute Crab Ride to Back → Crab Ride (Probability: 60%)
If opponent flattens defensively to their stomach to prevent the back take:
- Execute Leg Drag Pass → Side Control (Probability: 75%)
- Execute Knee Slice from Half → Side Control (Probability: 65%)
If opponent attempts to recover full guard by shrimping away:
- Execute Smash Pass → Side Control (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Pressure Pass → Side Control (Probability: 65%)
If opponent reaches for underhook to recover half guard structure:
- Execute Kimura from Half Guard → Kimura Control (Probability: 55%)
- Execute Crossface Pass → North-South (Probability: 60%)
Optimal Submission Paths
Back Attack Path
Reverse Half Guard Top → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke
Passing to Submission Path
Reverse Half Guard Top → Side Control → Kimura from Side Control
Kimura Trap Path
Reverse Half Guard Top → Kimura Control → Kimura from Half Guard
Mount Attack Path
Reverse Half Guard Top → Mount → Americana from Mount
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 30% | 55% | 20% |
| Intermediate | 50% | 70% | 35% |
| Advanced | 70% | 85% | 50% |
Average Time in Position: 10-20 seconds
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
The reverse half guard represents a critical bifurcation point in the passing sequence where the biomechanical advantages heavily favor the top player. The key mechanical principle is that the bottom player’s defensive structure is oriented for frontal attacks, not posterior threats. When you circle to the reverse angle, you’ve fundamentally broken their defensive geometry. The two primary pathways—back control and pass completion—are not separate techniques but rather responses to the opponent’s defensive choice. If they prioritize preventing the pass by staying flat, they expose their back. If they turn to prevent the back take, they surrender the pass. This is not a position to be held, but rather a moment of decision that must be capitalized upon immediately. The positional dominance window is approximately 3-5 seconds before skilled opponents can begin recovery sequences.
Gordon Ryan
In competition, I actively seek the reverse half guard through backstep movements because it creates such a dominant passing angle. Once you get here, the opponent is effectively choosing between giving up their back or being passed—both result in significant point advantages. The psychological pressure is immense because every movement they make to defend one threat opens the other. I typically prefer the back take from this position as it scores more points and leads to submissions, but if they commit fully to preventing the back by flattening, the pass becomes effortless. The key is maintaining heavy pressure throughout the transition so they can’t create any recovery space. Against high-level opponents, you have maybe 5-10 seconds in this position before they start executing complex recovery sequences, so decisiveness is critical.
Eddie Bravo
The reverse half guard is one of the worst positions for the lockdown player because it neutralizes the leg entanglement advantage completely. From the 10th Planet perspective, we teach aggressive inversion and knee recovery to escape this position before the pass is completed, because once someone establishes reverse half with good pressure, you’re basically choosing which way you want to lose. If you’re on top, this is your opportunity to finish the pass immediately—don’t give them time to work their defensive systems or hit those funky rubber guard recoveries. The reverse angle also sets up some sick truck entries if they try to turn into turtle, which can lead to calf slicers and back takes. Just don’t hang out here thinking you’re safe, because skilled 10th Planet guys will find weird inversions to recover if you give them time.