Leg Weave Bottom

Jan 23, 20269 min read

Leg Weave Bottom Position represents a challenging defensive scenario in half guard where the top player has threaded their leg through your guard structure, establishing a powerful passing position. This position occurs when the passer has successfully weaved their knee-side leg between your legs while maintaining upper body control, creating significant pressure and limiting your mobility. The bottom player faces immediate threats of guard passes to side control, mount, or back control if defensive frames and hip movement are not properly established. While disadvantageous, this position offers specific defensive pathways and counter-attacks that can recover guard or create scrambles when executed with proper timing and technique. Understanding the mechanics of maintaining frames, creating angles, and preventing the complete pass is essential for survival and eventual escape from this high-pressure position. Success requires constant movement, precise framing against the opponent’s pressure points, and recognition of timing windows for transitions to more favorable positions like knee shield, deep half, or dogfight.

Position Definition

  • Top player’s knee-side leg is threaded between bottom player’s legs, typically positioning the shin or knee across the bottom player’s hip line or thigh to establish the weave structure that disrupts defensive leg positioning
  • Bottom player maintains half guard hook with one leg (usually the far leg) while the near leg is being controlled or pressured by the top player’s weaved leg, creating asymmetric leg connection
  • Top player applies forward and downward pressure through chest and shoulder, often with crossface or underhook control to flatten the bottom player and prevent hip escape
  • Bottom player’s back is on or near the mat with varying degrees of hip escape and shoulder rotation depending on defensive frame effectiveness and ability to create angles
  • Space between players is minimal due to the leg weave creating tight connection, requiring bottom player to actively create frames with forearms, elbows, or knees to prevent complete chest-to-chest contact

Prerequisites

  • Bottom player was in half guard position (standard, knee shield, or lockdown variation)
  • Top player successfully initiated leg weave entry by threading knee-side leg between bottom player’s legs
  • Bottom player failed to prevent the initial weave with knee shield or frame
  • Top player established some form of upper body control (crossface, underhook, or collar tie)
  • Bottom player’s far-side leg maintains some connection (half guard hook) preventing complete pass

Key Defensive Principles

  • Establish and maintain strong defensive frames using forearms against opponent’s neck, shoulder, or hip to prevent complete flattening
  • Keep active hip movement and angle creation to prevent top player from settling their weight and consolidating position
  • Protect the underhook battle - fight to maintain or recover underhook on the near side to limit top player’s control
  • Use far-side leg (hook) actively to disrupt balance and prevent top player from stepping over or completing passes
  • Create space through bridging and shrimping movements to insert knee shield or recover full guard structure
  • Monitor and defend crossface pressure - prevent head control which enables easier passing sequences
  • Maintain awareness of back exposure - avoid turning too far into opponent when attempting escapes

Available Escapes

Frame and Shrimp → Knee Shield Half Guard

Success Rates:

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

Underhook Sweep from Half → Side Control

Success Rates:

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

Deep Half Entry → Deep Half Guard

Success Rates:

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

Old School Sweep → Side Control

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 10%
  • Intermediate: 25%
  • Advanced: 40%

Dogfight Position → Dogfight Position

Success Rates:

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

Rolling to Guard → Closed Guard

Success Rates:

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

Lockdown Sweeps → Lockdown

Success Rates:

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

Opponent Counters

Counter-Attacks

Decision Making from This Position

If top player establishes strong crossface and drives chest pressure to flatten you:

If top player posts hands forward or elevates hips to step over your leg:

If top player drives weight forward while maintaining low posture:

If top player attempts to free their leg from your hook while controlling upper body:

Common Defensive Mistakes

1. Allowing top player to establish deep crossface without fighting for frames

  • ❌ Consequence: Complete flattening occurs, eliminating hip mobility and making escapes extremely difficult. Top player can consolidate position and pass at will.
  • ✅ Correction: Immediately establish forearm or elbow frame against opponent’s neck or shoulder as leg weave begins. Keep active resistance to prevent head control. Prioritize frame maintenance over other defensive actions initially.

2. Releasing far-side leg hook prematurely in attempt to escape

  • ❌ Consequence: Top player completes pass immediately to side control or mount without resistance. Loss of only remaining connection point accelerates positional loss.
  • ✅ Correction: Maintain far-side hook throughout escape attempts unless deliberately transitioning to deep half or other guard recovery. Use hook to off-balance opponent and create scramble opportunities. Only release when secured alternative position.

3. Remaining static and accepting the position without hip movement

  • ❌ Consequence: Top player settles weight and consolidates leg weave, making escape progressively more difficult. Energy depletes while defending without attempting improvement.
  • ✅ Correction: Keep constant hip movement even if small - shrimp, bridge, angle changes. Never accept static position. Create micro-adjustments that prevent opponent from settling and set up larger escape movements.

4. Turning fully into opponent to escape, exposing back

  • ❌ Consequence: Top player takes back control or achieves crucifix position. What began as guard pass defense becomes back attack defense with worse odds.
  • ✅ Correction: Maintain awareness of back exposure threshold. When turning to dogfight or deep half, keep shoulders within 45 degrees of mat. If forced further, transition to turtle with defensive posture rather than giving up back mount.

5. Using only upper body strength to fight frames without hip engagement

  • ❌ Consequence: Arms fatigue quickly while top player maintains pressure through better leverage. Frame battle is lost leading to flattening and pass.
  • ✅ Correction: Coordinate frame pressure with hip movement and leg engagement. Use shrimping motion to create angle that makes frames more effective. Engage core and legs to support arm frames rather than isolated upper body pushing.

Training Drills for Defense

Leg Weave Escape Flow Drill

Partner establishes leg weave with moderate pressure. Bottom player cycles through frame creation, hip escape, knee shield recovery, and dogfight entries for 2-minute rounds. Top player maintains position but allows escapes to complete, then re-establishes weave. Focus on smooth transitions between defensive options.

Duration: 5 rounds of 2 minutes

Progressive Resistance Leg Weave Defense

Start with compliant top player allowing bottom player to work all escape options. Gradually increase resistance over 5 rounds: 30% resistance, 50%, 70%, 90%, then 100% competitive. Bottom player maintains same escape attempts throughout increasing difficulty. Identifies which escapes work under pressure.

Duration: 5 rounds of 3 minutes

Frame Maintenance Under Pressure

Top player establishes leg weave and applies sustained crossface and chest pressure for 30-second intervals. Bottom player focuses solely on maintaining strong frames without attempting escapes. Develop frame endurance and proper positioning under realistic pressure. Rest 30 seconds between intervals.

Duration: 10 intervals of 30 seconds

Leg Weave to Deep Half Timing Drill

Top player alternates between forward pressure and backward weight shifts. Bottom player identifies windows for deep half entry based on weight distribution. Practice shooting deep half only when opponent commits weight forward. Develops timing recognition and entry precision.

Duration: 4 rounds of 3 minutes

Escape and Survival Paths

Defensive escape to sweep to submission

Leg Weave Bottom → Knee Shield Half Guard → Side Control → Kimura from Side Control

Deep half counter to leg lock

Leg Weave Bottom → Deep Half Guard → Ashi Garami → Inside Heel Hook

Dogfight scramble to back attack

Leg Weave Bottom → Dogfight Position → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke

Success Rates and Statistics

Skill LevelRetention RateAdvancement ProbabilitySubmission Probability
Beginner20%15%5%
Intermediate35%30%10%
Advanced50%45%20%

Average Time in Position: 30-90 seconds before pass or escape

  • Half Guard - Parent position - broader category of bottom half guard positions
  • Knee Shield Half Guard - Primary escape target - recovering defensive structure with frames
  • Deep Half Guard - Counter-attack option - diving under pressure to invert guard hierarchy
  • Dogfight Position - Scramble position - transitional state when coming up on elbow
  • Lockdown - Alternative defensive strategy - trapping weaving leg to counter pressure
  • Frame Management - Defensive concept - fundamental skill for survival in leg weave bottom
  • Guard Retention - Core principle - preventing guard pass from compromised position
  • Underhook Defense - Defensive concept - critical for preventing crossface and maintaining frames
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