Leg Hook Top

Jan 23, 202610 min read

Leg Hook Top Position represents a transitional control state where the top practitioner has achieved significant advancement in passing half guard by controlling the bottom player’s leg with a hooking motion. This position occurs when the top player has managed to get their leg underneath or around the bottom player’s defending leg, creating a powerful mechanical advantage for completing the pass. The hook serves multiple purposes: it controls the bottom player’s hip mobility, prevents them from recovering full guard, and provides a stable base for the top player to advance their position. This is a critical waypoint in the passing sequence, where the top player has moved beyond the initial stages of half guard engagement but has not yet fully cleared the legs to achieve side control or mount. The position requires precise weight distribution, hip control, and timing to prevent the bottom player from using the momentary instability to re-guard or create scrambles. Understanding this position is essential for both passers who need to recognize the window of opportunity it creates, and bottom players who must understand the defensive requirements to prevent advancement.

Position Definition

  • Top player’s leg is hooked underneath or around bottom player’s defending leg, creating mechanical control of the hip and limiting bottom player’s ability to recover guard or create distance
  • Top player maintains forward chest pressure on bottom player’s upper body, typically with shoulder or chest pressure on the sternum or shoulder line to prevent bottom player from sitting up or creating frames
  • Bottom player is on their side or back with at least one leg controlled by the hook, with limited ability to establish effective frames or create the space needed for guard recovery
  • Top player’s weight is distributed between the hooked leg, grounded knee, and upper body pressure, creating a stable tripod base that resists bottom player’s attempts to off-balance or reverse
  • Bottom player’s far leg (not hooked) may be free but lacks the positional leverage to effectively recover guard without first addressing the hook control

Prerequisites

  • Top player has initiated half guard passing sequence and achieved initial control
  • Bottom player’s leg is accessible for hooking (not deeply locked in half guard or other defensive configuration)
  • Top player has created sufficient angle and space to insert the hooking leg
  • Bottom player’s upper body is controlled enough to prevent immediate re-guarding attempts
  • Top player has maintained base and balance throughout the transitional movement

Key Offensive Principles

  • Maintain constant forward pressure with chest and shoulders to prevent bottom player from creating space or establishing defensive frames
  • Control bottom player’s far hip with hand or forearm to prevent hip escape and limit their ability to turn into you or away to recover guard
  • Keep the hooking leg actively engaged with pressure and tension, using it as both a control mechanism and a steering tool for the pass completion
  • Distribute weight intelligently across three points of contact: hooked leg, grounded knee, and upper body, creating stable base that resists sweeps and scrambles
  • Stay patient and systematic in advancing the pass rather than rushing, as premature weight shifts can allow bottom player to exploit the transitional vulnerability
  • Monitor bottom player’s far leg and prevent them from using it to create butterfly hooks, push off your hips, or establish other re-guarding mechanisms
  • Transition smoothly to the next phase of the pass once the hook has served its controlling purpose, typically moving to leg drag, knee slice, or direct pressure pass completion

Available Attacks

Knee Slice Pass → Side Control

Success Rates:

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

Leg Drag Pass → Side Control

Success Rates:

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

Leg Weave Pass → Side Control

Success Rates:

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

Transition to Mount → Mount

Success Rates:

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

Back Take Generic → Back Control

Success Rates:

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

Knee on Belly → Knee on Belly

Success Rates:

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

Kimura from Half Guard → Kimura Control

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 20%
  • Intermediate: 35%
  • Advanced: 50%

Darce Setup → D’arce Control

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 15%
  • Intermediate: 30%
  • Advanced: 45%

Opponent Escapes

Escape Counters

Decision Making from This Position

If bottom player is flat on their back with minimal defensive frames:

Else if bottom player is on their side attempting to create frames and distance:

Else if bottom player extends arms to push or frame:

Else if bottom player attempts to turn away or go to turtle:

Else if bottom player is actively trying to recover full guard:

Common Offensive Mistakes

1. Maintaining static hook position without advancing the pass or adjusting pressure

  • ❌ Consequence: Bottom player gains time to develop defensive strategies, establish frames, or begin working toward guard recovery, negating the positional advantage
  • ✅ Correction: Use the hook as a transitional control tool with a specific passing objective in mind, constantly working toward the next phase of the pass rather than settling into static position

2. Lifting weight off bottom player’s upper body to focus entirely on leg control

  • ❌ Consequence: Bottom player sits up, establishes frames, or creates the space needed to recover guard or initiate scrambles
  • ✅ Correction: Maintain constant chest and shoulder pressure on bottom player’s upper body while using the hook for lower body control, creating a complete control system

3. Hooking the leg without controlling the far hip or opposite side of the body

  • ❌ Consequence: Bottom player can hip escape away from the hook, turn into you, or use their free leg to create butterfly hooks or push off your hips
  • ✅ Correction: Combine the leg hook with active control of the far hip using hand, forearm, or body weight to prevent hip movement and create complete control

4. Rushing the pass completion before establishing sufficient control and positioning

  • ❌ Consequence: Bottom player exploits the weight shift and instability to sweep, re-guard, or initiate scrambles that neutralize your passing advantage
  • ✅ Correction: Progress systematically through the passing sequence, ensuring each phase of control is established before advancing to the next, particularly securing upper body control and hip immobilization

5. Allowing bottom player’s free leg to remain active and create defensive structures

  • ❌ Consequence: Bottom player uses the free leg to establish butterfly hooks, push off your hips, or create frames that compromise your base and passing mechanics
  • ✅ Correction: Monitor and control the free leg’s positioning and activity, using your free hand or body positioning to limit its defensive effectiveness while maintaining the hook

6. Maintaining squared-up posture instead of creating proper passing angle

  • ❌ Consequence: Limited mobility for pass completion, vulnerable to bottom player’s frames and re-guarding attempts, inefficient force application
  • ✅ Correction: Create proper passing angle by positioning your body at 45-90 degrees relative to bottom player, allowing efficient force direction and pass completion mechanics

7. Failing to chain the hook into a specific passing technique or submission threat

  • ❌ Consequence: Position becomes a stalemate with no clear advancement opportunity, wasting the control advantage and allowing bottom player time to develop counters
  • ✅ Correction: Have a clear technical sequence planned before establishing the hook, using it as one step in a multi-part passing chain that leads to position advancement or submission threats

Training Drills for Attacks

Hook Establishment Flow Drill

Partner in half guard bottom offers 75% resistance. Top player practices entering and establishing the leg hook from various half guard configurations while maintaining upper body control. Focus on smooth transitions, proper weight distribution, and maintaining base throughout the hooking motion. Work for 5-minute rounds, switching roles after each round.

Duration: 5 minutes per round

Hook to Pass Completion Sequences

Start in established leg hook top position. Partner provides graduated resistance (50%, 75%, 90%). Top player practices transitioning from hook control to various passing completions: knee slice, leg drag, leg weave, and direct pressure passes. Emphasis on recognizing the optimal timing and entry points for each passing variation based on bottom player’s defensive positioning and movement.

Duration: 6 minutes per round

Hook Maintenance Under Pressure

Establish leg hook top position with partner providing maximum resistance to escape or re-guard. Top player focuses on maintaining all control points (hook, upper body pressure, hip control) while bottom player attempts every guard recovery technique in their arsenal. Drill emphasizes problem-solving, pressure maintenance, and defensive awareness while in transitional positions.

Duration: 3 minutes per round

Counter Response Drill

Partner in bottom position attempts specific escapes in sequence: hip escape, re-guard, deep half entry, butterfly hook creation, turning to turtle. Top player practices appropriate counters to each escape attempt while maintaining hook control or advancing to better position. Builds pattern recognition for common defensive responses and proper counter-timing.

Duration: 5 minutes per round

Submission Chain from Hook Position

Start in leg hook top position. Practice transitioning to submission threats (kimura, darce, anaconda, guillotine) based on bottom player’s defensive reactions and arm placement. Partner provides intelligent resistance, creating realistic arm positions and defensive frames. Focus on recognizing submission opportunities that present during the passing sequence.

Duration: 5 minutes per round

Optimal Submission Paths

Shortest path to submission

Leg Hook Top → Kimura from Half Guard → Kimura Control → Kimura

High-percentage darce path

Leg Hook Top → Darce Setup → D'arce Control → Darce Choke

Back attack path

Leg Hook Top → Back Take Generic → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke

Position advancement to submission

Leg Hook Top → Knee Slice Pass → Side Control → Kimura from Side Control

Mount finish path

Leg Hook Top → Transition to Mount → Mount → Armbar from Mount

Success Rates and Statistics

Skill LevelRetention RateAdvancement ProbabilitySubmission Probability
Beginner60%50%15%
Intermediate70%65%25%
Advanced80%75%35%

Average Time in Position: 15-45 seconds

  • Half Guard - Parent position - primary position from which leg hook top is typically established
  • Deep Half Guard - Related position - common defensive counter that bottom player may attempt
  • Knee Slice Pass - Primary transition - most common passing technique from this position
  • Leg Drag Pass - Primary transition - alternative high-percentage pass from hook control
  • Side Control - Transition target - most common final position after successful pass
  • Headquarters Position - Related passing position - similar control concepts with different leg configuration
  • Kimura from Half Guard - Submission threat - opportunistic submission from this position
  • Darce Choke - Submission threat - available when bottom player makes defensive errors
  • Underhook Pass - Related passing concept - complementary passing strategy from half guard top
  • 10th Planet Half Guard Bottom System - Defensive system - understanding opponent’s systematic defense from bottom
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