Headquarters Control is a critical transitional position in modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu half guard passing and retention systems. The position represents a strategic checkpoint where the top player has established significant pressure and control against the bottom player’s knee shield or half guard structure, while the bottom player maintains defensive frames and looks for opportunities to recover or sweep. Named and popularized by Bernardo Faria, headquarters has become fundamental to understanding modern pressure passing methodology and systematic guard retention.
From the top perspective, headquarters represents a stable control platform where the passer can consolidate grips, apply sustained pressure, and systematically break down the guard player’s defensive structure before committing to a specific passing direction. The position is characterized by chest-to-knee pressure, head control, and wide base positioning that neutralizes the bottom player’s most powerful defensive tools while maintaining multiple passing options.
From the bottom perspective, headquarters is a transitional defensive state requiring active frame management, hip mobility, and offensive threats to prevent the pass. The bottom player must maintain shoulder elevation, create angles with hip movement, and constantly threaten sweeps or position improvements to avoid being flattened and passed. Success from bottom requires understanding that headquarters is never a resting position—it demands continuous adjustment and strategic timing to escape or reverse.
Strategically, headquarters represents the intersection of pressure passing and systematic guard retention, making it essential knowledge for both passing and guard-playing specialists. The position teaches fundamental concepts about frame management, pressure application, energy conservation, and strategic decision-making that apply throughout the entire BJJ positional hierarchy.
Key Principles
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Headquarters is fundamentally about pressure management and frame efficiency from both perspectives
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Top player maintains chest-to-knee pressure while controlling head and establishing wide base for stability
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Bottom player keeps shoulders elevated with active frames, never allowing position to become static
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The position creates strategic dilemmas forcing both players to balance multiple defensive and offensive priorities
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Success requires reading opponent’s pressure and reactions to time transitions appropriately
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Energy efficiency is critical—top player conserves energy through skeletal pressure, bottom player through intelligent movement
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Headquarters serves as launching point for multiple techniques rather than destination position
Top vs Bottom
| Bottom | Top | |
|---|---|---|
| Position Type | Defensive with offensive options | Offensive/Controlling |
| Risk Level | Medium | Low to Medium |
| Energy Cost | Medium | Medium |
| Time | Medium | Medium to Long |
Key Difference: Pressure control trades mobility for dominance
Playing as Bottom
Key Principles
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Maintain active frames with outside leg knee shield—never let it collapse or become passive barrier
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Keep shoulders elevated and posture active—being flat makes all defensive actions significantly harder
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Create angles with hip movement rather than trying to frame statically against superior pressure
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Use opponent’s forward pressure against them by timing sweeps when they commit weight
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Constantly battle for inside position with your frames to prevent crossface or underhook control
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Maintain connection with inside leg to prevent leg weave or complete pass
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Read opponent’s pressure direction to time re-guards, sweeps, or transitions rather than fighting strength against strength
Primary Techniques
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Underhook Sweep from Half → Standing Position
- Success Rate: Beginner 35%, Intermediate 50%, Advanced 65%
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Deep Half Entry → Deep Half Guard
- Success Rate: Beginner 40%, Intermediate 55%, Advanced 70%
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Re-Guard from Headquarters → Butterfly Guard
- Success Rate: Beginner 45%, Intermediate 60%, Advanced 75%
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Old School Sweep → Standing Position
- Success Rate: Beginner 30%, Intermediate 45%, Advanced 60%
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Shin Shield Recovery → Open Guard
- Success Rate: Beginner 50%, Intermediate 65%, Advanced 80%
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- Success Rate: Beginner 25%, Intermediate 40%, Advanced 55%
Common Mistakes
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❌ Allowing frames to become passive or collapsed under pressure
- Consequence: Opponent easily flattens you and completes pass with minimal resistance
- ✅ Correction: Constantly pump and reset frames actively, treating them as dynamic tools not static barriers—if one frame weakens, immediately establish alternative frame
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❌ Keeping shoulders flat on mat instead of maintaining active elevated posture
- Consequence: Loss of hip mobility and ability to create angles, making all escapes and sweeps significantly harder
- ✅ Correction: Keep shoulders elevated with active core engagement, maintaining ability to shift weight and adjust frames throughout the position
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❌ Fighting opponent’s pressure head-on with strength rather than using angles
- Consequence: Exhaustion without progress as you try to bench press heavier opponent’s weight
- ✅ Correction: Create angles with hip movement, redirect pressure rather than opposing it directly, time movements when opponent commits weight
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❌ Failing to maintain inside leg connection allowing leg weave or complete pass
- Consequence: Opponent easily steps over and clears both legs, completing pass unopposed
- ✅ Correction: Always maintain inside leg hook or frame preventing opponent from establishing both-leg control, treating inside leg as critical anchor
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❌ Holding frames rigidly in same position without adjusting to opponent’s movements
- Consequence: Opponent finds timing to collapse or bypass static frames, as they’re predictable
- ✅ Correction: Constantly adjust frame positions based on opponent’s pressure direction—frames must be dynamic and responsive, not frozen
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❌ Waiting passively in position without attempting sweeps or re-guards
- Consequence: Opponent has unlimited time to find passing solution with no offensive threats to manage
- ✅ Correction: Continuously threaten sweeps and position improvements to force opponent to divide attention between passing and defense
Playing as Top
Key Principles
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Maintain constant forward pressure through chest and shoulder into opponent’s upper body to limit mobility and breathing space
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Control the head and far shoulder through crossface or underhook to prevent opponent from turning in or creating offensive angles
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Keep hips low and forward to maximize pressure on trapped leg side while maintaining base with free leg
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Use systematic grip fighting to establish and maintain dominant grips while denying opponent’s preferred grips
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Create angle and pressure variations to force opponent to react and expose passing opportunities
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Maintain heavy shoulder pressure while preserving mobility to transition between passing sequences
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Coordinate upper body control with lower body positioning to create comprehensive control framework
Primary Techniques
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Knee Slice Pass → Side Control
- Success Rate: Beginner 40%, Intermediate 60%, Advanced 75%
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Headquarters Pass → Side Control
- Success Rate: Beginner 35%, Intermediate 55%, Advanced 70%
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- Success Rate: Beginner 30%, Intermediate 50%, Advanced 65%
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- Success Rate: Beginner 25%, Intermediate 45%, Advanced 60%
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Leg Drag Pass → Leg Drag Control
- Success Rate: Beginner 30%, Intermediate 50%, Advanced 65%
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Kimura from Half Guard → Kimura Control
- Success Rate: Beginner 20%, Intermediate 35%, Advanced 50%
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- Success Rate: Beginner 15%, Intermediate 30%, Advanced 45%
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Back Take Generic → Back Control
- Success Rate: Beginner 20%, Intermediate 35%, Advanced 50%
Common Mistakes
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❌ Sitting back on heels instead of maintaining forward hip pressure and chest-to-chest contact
- Consequence: Creates space for opponent to recover guard, insert knee shield, or attempt sweeps without pressure constraint
- ✅ Correction: Keep hips low and forward with chest pressure constant, driving weight through opponent’s upper body while maintaining heavy shoulder contact
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❌ Losing crossface or underhook control while attempting to pass, allowing opponent to turn in and create angles
- Consequence: Opponent regains offensive capability, can establish underhook or recover full guard, negating passing progress
- ✅ Correction: Maintain dominant upper body control throughout passing sequence, never sacrificing crossface or underhook until pass is completed
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❌ Positioning trapped leg too close to opponent, allowing easy sweep or off-balancing attempts
- Consequence: Vulnerable to basic half guard sweeps, old school sweeps, or lockdown-based attacks that exploit poor leg position
- ✅ Correction: Keep trapped leg positioned defensively with foot away from opponent’s hip, maintaining strong base and pressure distribution
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❌ Forcing the same passing sequence repeatedly without reading opponent’s reactions and adjusting strategy
- Consequence: Opponent anticipates and counters the single-dimension attack, leading to stalled position or reversal
- ✅ Correction: Use systematic approach with multiple passing options, flowing between techniques based on opponent’s defensive reactions
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❌ Rising too high during passing attempt, elevating center of gravity and reducing pressure effectiveness
- Consequence: Loss of control and pressure allows opponent to create space, recover guard, or execute sweeps
- ✅ Correction: Maintain low base throughout passing sequences, generating pressure through proper hip positioning rather than height
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❌ Neglecting to control opponent’s far arm or wrist, allowing them to post and create defensive frames
- Consequence: Opponent establishes strong frames that prevent passing progression and create opportunities for retention or sweeps
- ✅ Correction: Secure wrist control or arm isolation as part of control framework, neutralizing opponent’s ability to create defensive structures
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❌ Rushing through position without establishing complete control before initiating passing sequence
- Consequence: Incomplete control leads to scrambles, failed passes, or counterattacks from opponent’s remaining offensive tools
- ✅ Correction: Systematically establish all control points before advancing, ensuring upper body control, pressure, and grip dominance are complete