The transition from Open Guard to Deep Half represents a strategic guard recovery sequence that transforms defensive situations into powerful offensive opportunities. This technique is particularly valuable when facing aggressive standing or passing pressure from top position, allowing the bottom player to dive underneath their opponent’s center of gravity and establish the deep half guard structure. The deep half position provides excellent sweeping mechanics while simultaneously nullifying many common passing strategies. This transition emphasizes proper hip movement, head positioning, and timing to safely navigate underneath the opponent’s base. Modern practitioners have refined this entry to work against various passing styles, making it an essential component of comprehensive guard retention systems. The technique demonstrates the principle of using depth and angle changes to create defensive depth while maintaining offensive threats.
Starting Position: Open Guard Ending Position: Deep Half Guard Success Rates: Beginner 30%, Intermediate 50%, Advanced 70%
Key Principles
- Create angle with hip escape before diving underneath opponent’s base
- Keep head positioned outside opponent’s leg throughout transition to prevent crossface
- Use inside leg as initial hook before completing deep half structure
- Maintain connection with opponent’s far hip to prevent escape during entry
- Control timing by initiating entry as opponent commits weight forward
- Protect neck position by keeping chin tucked and maintaining proper alignment
- Create immediate sweeping threat upon completing transition to maintain initiative
Prerequisites
- Opponent in standing or combat base position attempting to pass
- Space created between you and opponent through frames or grips
- Inside position established with at least one leg
- Opponent’s weight beginning to shift forward or laterally
- Clear pathway underneath opponent’s near leg available
- Grips on opponent’s pants or belt to facilitate dive underneath
Execution Steps
- Establish inside positioning: From open guard, use your inside leg to create a butterfly hook or shin shield against your opponent’s near leg. Simultaneously grip their pants at the knee or ankle with your near-side hand while your far hand controls their belt or far hip. This creates the necessary frame and angle for entry. (Timing: As opponent begins forward pressure or prepares to initiate pass)
- Create angle with hip escape: Execute a strong hip escape away from your opponent, rotating your hips approximately 45 degrees to create the angle needed to dive underneath. Your shoulders should turn toward the mat while maintaining your grips. This hip movement opens the pathway under your opponent’s leg while protecting your back exposure. (Timing: Immediately following inside leg establishment)
- Dive underneath near leg: Drive your head and shoulders underneath your opponent’s near leg, threading your body through the space between their legs. Your head must pass to the outside of their leg, never between their legs. Keep your chin tucked and neck protected as you slide underneath, using your grips to pull yourself through while your legs follow. (Timing: As opponent’s weight shifts forward onto their hands or begins lateral movement)
- Secure first connection point: As your torso passes underneath, immediately wrap your near arm around the back of your opponent’s near leg, securing it to your chest. Your head should be positioned on the outside of this leg, creating a barrier against crossface attempts. This first connection point is critical for structural integrity of the position. (Timing: Immediately upon clearing opponent’s knee with your shoulder)
- Complete deep half structure: Bring your bottom leg (the one closest to the mat) across your opponent’s far hip as a deep underhook, creating the characteristic deep half structure. Your top leg should hook over their near leg, establishing the lockdown or maintaining mobility for sweeps. Ensure your body is perpendicular to your opponent’s, maximizing your leverage advantage. (Timing: Within 1-2 seconds of securing arm wrap around near leg)
- Establish immediate sweeping threat: Without pausing, immediately begin your preferred sweep sequence - whether old school sweep, waiter sweep, or Homer Simpson sweep. The transition is not complete until offensive action begins. Use your grips and leg positioning to off-balance your opponent, preventing them from establishing defensive posture in response to your entry. (Timing: Immediately upon completing deep half structure)
Opponent Counters
- Opponent sprawls back and establishes heavy crossface pressure (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Maintain head position outside the leg, use near arm to frame against hip, and continue hip movement to complete entry before crossface can be established. If crossface succeeds, transition to turtle or reverse De La Riva recovery.
- Opponent steps leg back as you begin dive underneath (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Follow their leg movement with your dive, using your grips to prevent full disengagement. Alternative: transition to single leg X-guard or seated guard if they create too much distance.
- Opponent drives knee toward mat to block entry path (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Use this commitment to transition to alternative guards such as butterfly, reverse De La Riva, or X-guard. The knee drop creates other positional opportunities.
- Opponent circles away from entry side (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Response: Use their circular movement to facilitate your dive, following their motion to accelerate your entry. Their movement actually assists your ability to get underneath their center of gravity.
Test Your Knowledge
Q1: What is the most critical safety consideration when entering deep half guard from open guard? A: The most critical safety consideration is ensuring your head passes to the outside of your opponent’s near leg, never between their legs. Diving with your head between the legs creates extreme vulnerability to guillotine chokes and front headlock positions that can result in immediate submission. Your head must always be positioned outside the leg to maintain defensive integrity while completing the transition. Additionally, maintaining a tucked chin throughout the entry protects against crossface attempts and maintains proper neck alignment.
Q2: Why is the hip escape step essential before diving underneath your opponent’s leg? A: The hip escape creates the necessary angle to safely and efficiently dive underneath your opponent’s base. Without this angle creation, the entry becomes linear and predictable, making it easy for the opponent to stuff the attempt by simply driving their weight forward or sprawling. The hip escape opens the pathway underneath the near leg by rotating your body approximately 45 degrees, creating space and a clear entry route. This angular approach also protects your back from exposure during the transition, as your shoulders rotate toward the mat rather than remaining flat. The angle makes the difference between a smooth, fast entry and a slow, easily defended attempt.
Q3: What should you do immediately upon completing the deep half structure, and why is this timing critical? A: Immediately upon completing the deep half structure, you must begin your sweeping sequence without any pause. This timing is critical because it prevents your opponent from establishing defensive posture in response to your entry. The transition and sweep should be treated as one continuous motion - the offensive advantage of deep half comes from the dynamic entry that immediately converts to attacking pressure. If you pause after achieving the position, you give your opponent time to base out, establish grips, and neutralize your sweeping mechanics. The most successful deep half entries flow seamlessly into old school sweep, waiter sweep, or Homer Simpson sweep variations, maintaining constant pressure and initiative.
Q4: How should your body be aligned relative to your opponent’s body in proper deep half guard structure? A: Your body should be positioned perpendicular to your opponent’s body, forming a ‘T’ shape when viewed from above. This perpendicular alignment is fundamental to deep half guard mechanics because it maximizes your leverage advantage for sweeps while minimizing your opponent’s ability to use their weight against you. If your body remains parallel to your opponent, you lose the mechanical advantage that makes deep half effective, and sweeps become exponentially more difficult. The perpendicular position allows you to use your entire body structure against a portion of your opponent’s base, creating the leverage differential that powers successful sweeps from this position.
Q5: What are the three most important connection points to establish during the deep half entry, and in what order? A: The three most important connection points are: (1) Grips on opponent’s pants/belt before initiating the dive - these provide the pulling power to thread your body underneath; (2) Near arm wrap around the back of opponent’s near leg immediately upon clearing their knee with your shoulder - this secures your position and creates structural integrity; (3) Bottom leg underhook across opponent’s far hip to complete the deep half structure - this establishes your sweeping mechanics. The order is critical because each connection point builds on the previous one. Without initial grips, you cannot effectively dive underneath. Without the immediate arm wrap, opponent can establish crossface or disengage. Without the leg underhook, you cannot generate sweeping leverage. These three connections work together to create the complete deep half structure.
Q6: If your opponent sprawls back and attempts a crossface as you enter deep half, what is the correct defensive response? A: If your opponent sprawls back and attempts crossface pressure, your first priority is maintaining your head position outside their leg rather than between their legs. Use your near arm to create a strong frame against their hip, preventing them from driving their weight directly onto your head and neck. Continue your hip movement to complete the entry before the crossface can be fully established - speed is essential here. If the crossface successfully establishes before you complete the entry, you must immediately transition to a safer position such as turtle or reverse De La Riva guard recovery rather than fighting from a compromised deep half position. The key is recognizing when to complete the entry and when to abort to a safer alternative based on the opponent’s defensive success.
Safety Considerations
When practicing the open guard to deep half transition, practitioners must prioritize proper head positioning throughout the entry sequence. Never allow your head to dive between your opponent’s legs, as this creates immediate vulnerability to guillotine chokes and can result in serious neck injuries if the submission is applied aggressively. Always maintain a tucked chin position to protect against crossface pressure and potential neck cranks. During drilling, partners should use controlled movements and avoid explosive counter-pressure until proper technique is established. Beginners should practice this entry exclusively with cooperative partners who understand the safety requirements and will not apply sudden pressure that could compress the neck. As with all inverted or underneath positions, practitioners with neck injuries or restrictions should consult with medical professionals before attempting this technique. The transition should be trained progressively, starting with zero resistance and gradually increasing intensity only after demonstrating consistent proper form. Partners should communicate clearly about resistance levels and immediately stop if either person feels uncomfortable or unsafe during the entry sequence.
Position Integration
The open guard to deep half transition represents a critical component of modern guard retention and recovery systems. This entry serves as an essential bridge between various open guard structures and the deep half position, allowing practitioners to maintain guard integrity when facing aggressive standing or pressure passing attempts. The technique integrates seamlessly with other guard recovery concepts, particularly when combined with reverse De La Riva, butterfly guard, and single leg X positions as alternative pathways. In competition contexts, this transition is frequently used as a last-resort guard retention option when primary guards are being passed, effectively transforming defensive situations into offensive opportunities through depth and angle changes. The deep half position reached through this entry provides immediate access to powerful sweeping sequences including the old school sweep, waiter sweep, and Homer sweep, making it not just a defensive recovery but an offensive position in its own right. Advanced practitioners use this entry as part of layered guard systems where open guard, butterfly, deep half, and single leg X positions flow together based on opponent reactions. The transition also connects to back-take sequences and leg entanglement systems for practitioners who train in modern submission grappling rulesets. Understanding this entry as part of the larger positional ecosystem rather than as an isolated technique is essential for developing comprehensive guard games that function against diverse passing styles and opponent body types.
Expert Insights
- Danaher System: The transition from open guard to deep half represents a sophisticated application of angular change and depth management in guard retention. The critical mechanical element is the perpendicular alignment achieved relative to the opponent’s body - this geometric relationship is what transforms a potentially vulnerable position into one with significant sweeping leverage. I emphasize to students that the head position outside the opponent’s near leg is non-negotiable; this is the structural foundation that prevents crossface control and maintains defensive integrity throughout the transition. The timing of this entry is equally important - it should be initiated as the opponent commits their weight forward or laterally, using their momentum against them. The hip escape that precedes the dive underneath is not merely preparatory movement but creates the angular pathway necessary for safe entry. Students must understand that the position is not complete until offensive action begins - the deep half entry and subsequent sweep should be viewed as a single, continuous sequence rather than separate techniques.
- Gordon Ryan: In competition, I view the deep half entry from open guard primarily as a high-percentage guard recovery option rather than a primary attacking system. The technique becomes extremely valuable when facing aggressive standing passers who are difficult to off-balance with traditional butterfly or De La Riva attacks. The key to making this work at the highest levels is explosive execution - there can be no hesitation once you commit to the entry, as elite opponents will immediately capitalize on slow or tentative movement. I specifically use this transition when opponents are pressuring forward with their weight, which makes the dive underneath much easier and more effective. The most important element for competition success is immediately threatening the sweep upon completing the position - if you pause even momentarily, world-class opponents will establish their defensive posture and neutralize your offensive options. I integrate this entry as part of a larger guard retention system where I’m constantly flowing between butterfly, single leg X, and deep half based on how my opponent is attempting to pass. Against opponents with strong pressure passing games, having this transition as a reliable option prevents them from simply smashing through your guard structures.
- Eddie Bravo: The deep half entry from open guard fits beautifully into the 10th Planet system as a connection point between our various half guard positions and our sweeping sequences. What makes this transition special is how it uses the opponent’s forward pressure against them - they’re literally pushing you into a position where you have leverage advantage. I teach students to think of this as diving under a wave rather than fighting against it. Once you complete the entry, the lockdown becomes an incredibly powerful control mechanism that sets up not just sweeps but also the electric chair submission sequence that’s become a signature of our system. The creativity comes in how you combine this entry with other positions - from deep half you can flow to the truck, to standard lockdown, or back to open guard depending on what the opponent gives you. I emphasize that students should never view this as a stalling position but rather as a dynamic platform for attacks. The transition works exceptionally well in no-gi contexts where the lack of gi grips makes it harder for opponents to prevent the dive underneath. We’ve developed specific entries from rubber guard and mission control that flow into this position, creating multiple pathways that keep opponents guessing about where the attack is coming from.