The Underhook Sweep from Half Guard is a fundamental attacking technique that exploits the power of the underhook control to off-balance and sweep opponents from bottom half guard. This sweep represents one of the highest percentage attacks available from half guard, combining proper angle creation, hip movement, and timing to reverse position. The technique capitalizes on the underhook’s ability to control the opponent’s posture and weight distribution, creating the mechanical advantage necessary to complete the reversal. By establishing the underhook on the trapped leg side, you create a powerful lever that disrupts your opponent’s base while simultaneously generating the momentum needed for the sweep. This technique serves as a cornerstone of modern half guard systems, offering a reliable pathway from defensive bottom position to dominant top control.
Starting Position: Half Guard Ending Position: Side Control Success Rates: Beginner 35%, Intermediate 50%, Advanced 65%
Key Principles
- Secure deep underhook control before initiating sweep
- Create angle by shifting hips away from opponent
- Drive forward and upward with underhook leverage
- Use opponent’s pressure against them through timing
- Maintain tight connection throughout sweep motion
- Control opponent’s far hip to prevent counter-base
- Finish sweep by coming up on top in secure position
Prerequisites
- Half guard established with one leg trapped between your legs
- Deep underhook secured on the trapped leg side
- Head positioned on the underhook side of opponent’s body
- Hip angle created away from opponent’s center line
- Opponent’s weight committed forward or maintained heavy
- Free hand controlling opponent’s far hip or pants grip
- Knee shield cleared or controlled to prevent blocking
Execution Steps
- Secure the underhook: Drive your arm deep under opponent’s armpit on the trapped leg side, wrapping around their back. Your shoulder should connect tightly to their ribs, with your hand gripping their far lat or back of the gi. This underhook becomes your primary sweeping lever. (Timing: Establish during initial half guard engagement)
- Create the angle: Shift your hips out and away from your opponent at approximately 45 degrees, moving your shoulders toward the mat on the underhook side. This angle is critical as it creates the mechanical advantage for the sweep and prevents you from lifting dead weight directly underneath the opponent. (Timing: Immediately after securing underhook)
- Control the far hip: With your free hand, establish a strong grip on opponent’s far hip, belt, or pants. This grip prevents them from posting their leg out for base and helps control their weight distribution. Pull this hip toward you while maintaining your angle. (Timing: Simultaneous with angle creation)
- Load and bridge: Come up onto your shoulder on the underhook side, creating a strong bridge position. Your head should be tight to opponent’s ribs, and your underhook arm should be driving their weight up and over. This loading phase prepares the explosive component of the sweep. (Timing: As opponent commits weight forward)
- Drive the sweep: Explosively drive your underhook arm upward and forward while simultaneously pulling their far hip with your grip hand. Your hips should elevate and rotate toward the underhook side, using your bridge and the trapped leg as a fulcrum. Drive your shoulder into their torso as you sweep them over. (Timing: Coordinate with opponent’s forward pressure)
- Complete the reversal: As opponent rolls over, maintain your underhook control and come up on top, transitioning into side control or knee on belly. Keep your weight distributed forward and chest pressure heavy to prevent re-guard. Secure the position before hunting submissions or advancing further. (Timing: Follow through momentum to top position)
Opponent Counters
- Opponent whizzers your underhook arm, overhooking and controlling it tightly (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Switch to Old School Sweep by posting on your free hand and kicking the trapped leg out, or transition to deep half guard where the whizzer becomes less effective
- Opponent posts their far leg out wide for base when they feel the sweep coming (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Use your hip control grip to prevent the post, or switch to a back take by using the underhook to climb up their back as they defend the sweep
- Opponent flattens you out by driving their chest down and sprawling their hips back (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Maintain underhook and transition to knee shield half guard or pump your half guard to create space for re-establishing angle and sweep opportunity
- Opponent grabs your pants or ankle to control your sweeping leg (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Use your mobility to kick the leg free or switch to butterfly hook on the non-trapped side for alternative sweeping mechanics
- Opponent sits back and removes their weight before sweep completes (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Response: Follow them up immediately using underhook to maintain connection, potentially transitioning to butterfly guard or single leg attack as they create distance
Test Your Knowledge
Q1: Why is creating a 45-degree angle essential before executing the underhook sweep? A: The angle creates mechanical advantage by positioning your body perpendicular to your opponent’s center of gravity rather than directly underneath them. This allows you to sweep them over your body using leverage instead of attempting to lift their full weight vertically, which would be inefficient and require excessive strength. The angle also positions your underhook arm at the optimal trajectory for driving upward and forward.
Q2: What is the primary purpose of controlling your opponent’s far hip during the underhook sweep? A: Controlling the far hip prevents your opponent from posting their far leg out for base, which is one of the most common and effective defenses against this sweep. By pulling the far hip toward you, you restrict their ability to extend that leg for support while also helping to load their weight onto the sweeping trajectory. This grip essentially removes one of their primary defensive options before they can employ it.
Q3: How should you respond if your opponent successfully whizzers your underhook arm? A: When caught in a whizzer, you have several options: transition to the Old School Sweep by posting on your free hand and extending the trapped leg; move to deep half guard where the whizzer becomes less effective; or use the whizzer against them by climbing up their back for a back take opportunity. The key is to never fight the whizzer with strength, but rather redirect to a position where their overhook control becomes a liability rather than an advantage.
Q4: What timing principle makes the underhook sweep most effective? A: The sweep is most effective when executed as your opponent commits their weight forward with pressure. By using their forward momentum and pressure against them, you reduce the amount of force needed to complete the sweep and catch them with their weight already moving in a vulnerable direction. Attempting the sweep when they are postured up or sitting back requires you to generate all the movement yourself, making it much less efficient.
Q5: Why must the underhook be maintained throughout the entire sweep and into top position? A: Maintaining the underhook throughout ensures continuous control of your opponent’s upper body, preventing them from creating frames, turning away, or escaping during the transition. If you release the underhook too early, your opponent can use the scramble to recover guard or escape to neutral position. The underhook that initiates the sweep should be the same connection that controls them as you establish side control, creating a seamless chain of control from bottom to top position.
Q6: What role does hip elevation play in generating sweeping power? A: Hip elevation through bridging creates the primary power source for the sweep, allowing you to use your entire lower body musculature rather than just arm strength. By elevating your hips and rotating them toward the underhook side, you create a lever effect with your body serving as the fulcrum and your opponent being lifted over the top. This biomechanical principle allows smaller practitioners to sweep larger opponents by maximizing leverage and minimizing reliance on upper body strength alone.
Q7: How does the underhook sweep connect to other half guard attacks in a systematic approach? A: The underhook sweep serves as a central technique that connects to multiple other attacks: when defended with a whizzer it opens back takes; when opponent sits back it transitions to waiter sweep; when they flatten you it allows entry to deep half; when the far leg posts it can chain to butterfly sweeps or single leg attacks. This interconnected system means that every defense your opponent makes to the underhook sweep creates an opportunity for a different attack, embodying the principle of creating dilemmas from bottom position.
Safety Considerations
The underhook sweep is generally one of the safer techniques in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, with minimal injury risk when executed properly. However, practitioners should be aware that explosive bridging can strain the neck if head position is incorrect - always keep your head tight to opponent’s body rather than bridging with an extended neck. When coming up on top, control your weight distribution to avoid driving knees into opponent’s ribs or face during the scramble. Training partners should tap the mat if they feel themselves being swept too aggressively and are unable to breakfall safely, particularly on hard surfaces. Beginners should practice breakfalls separately before drilling this sweep at full speed. As with all sweeps, be conscious of the training space and ensure sufficient room to complete the technique without rolling into walls, equipment, or other practitioners.
Position Integration
The Underhook Sweep from Half Guard represents a cornerstone technique within the modern half guard bottom system, serving as both a primary attacking option and a hub that connects to numerous other techniques. This sweep exemplifies the systematic approach to half guard play by creating a clear offensive threat that forces opponents to react, with each reaction opening pathways to additional attacks. When integrated into a complete half guard game, the underhook sweep works in conjunction with deep half entries, old school sweeps, back takes, and various submission attempts to create a web of interconnected threats. The technique also serves as an essential bridge between defensive half guard retention and offensive top game, providing a reliable method to reverse inferior position into dominant control. Advanced practitioners use the threat of this sweep to manipulate opponent reactions, setting up their preferred attacks by forcing predictable defensive responses. The underhook itself becomes a fundamental control position that appears throughout BJJ, making this sweep an excellent vehicle for developing general grappling concepts that apply far beyond half guard alone.