The Underhook Sweep from Pocket Half Guard is a fundamental come-up sweep available when the bottom player has established deep underhook control in pocket half guard. The technique exploits the mechanical advantage created by the deep underhook controlling the opponent’s upper body rotation, combined with the pocket space maintained by the bottom leg frame against the opponent’s hip. By rising to the knees while maintaining underhook control, the bottom player generates sweeping momentum that compromises the top player’s base and drives them onto their back.
This sweep is most effective when the top player commits weight forward or attempts to flatten the bottom player, as their forward energy redirects into sweeping power. Unlike the Old School Sweep which requires reaching behind the far leg, the Underhook Sweep relies primarily on the come-up mechanic - rising to your knees while driving through the opponent’s compromised base. This makes it particularly effective against pressure passers whose forward momentum becomes the catalyst for reversal.
Strategically, this technique creates a fundamental dilemma for the top player: pressure forward and feed the underhook sweep, or posture away and expose back takes and Old School variations. This push-pull dynamic makes pocket half guard a dangerous attacking platform where no safe equilibrium exists for the passer, and the underhook sweep is the primary tool that punishes forward commitment.
From Position: Pocket Half Guard (Bottom) Success Rate: 43%
Possible Outcomes
| Result | Position | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Success | Side Control | 43% |
| Failure | Pocket Half Guard | 35% |
| Counter | Side Control | 22% |
Attacker vs Defender
| Attacker | Defender | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Execute technique | Prevent or counter |
| Key Principles | Underhook depth determines sweep power - the deeper the grip… | Never commit excessive forward pressure when the opponent ha… |
| Options | 8 execution steps | 4 defensive options |
Playing as Attacker
Key Principles
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Underhook depth determines sweep power - the deeper the grip across their back, the more control you have over their upper body rotation during the come-up
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The come-up must be explosive and committed - hesitation allows the opponent to re-establish base and sprawl their hips back to kill the sweep
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Use opponent’s forward pressure as fuel - time the sweep when they drive into you rather than fighting against their weight
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Maintain pocket leg frame throughout the come-up to prevent the opponent from advancing position during the transition
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Head position drives the body - keep your head tight to their ribcage on the underhook side to reinforce the driving direction
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Complete the sweep fully to side control - stopping in dogfight or on your knees without securing top position wastes the sweep’s momentum
Execution Steps
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Verify underhook depth and grip: Before initiating the sweep, confirm your underhook reaches deep across the opponent’s back with you…
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Create the come-up angle with a slight hip escape: Shrimp your hips slightly away from the opponent to create the angle needed for the come-up. This sm…
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Rise to the posting elbow: On the free arm side (opposite the underhook), rise up onto your elbow while simultaneously pulling …
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Transition from elbow to hand post: Replace the elbow post with a hand post, raising your torso higher while pulling aggressively with t…
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Drive to knees with explosive hip thrust: This is the critical power phase. Explode your hips forward while driving off your posting hand and …
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Drive through the opponent’s base: Continue forward pressure with your chest and underhook as you come to your knees. The opponent shou…
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Complete the sweep and land in top position: As the opponent falls onto their back, follow them down while maintaining underhook control. Release…
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Consolidate side control: Immediately after completing the sweep, transition the underhook to a crossface or head control posi…
Common Mistakes
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Attempting the come-up with a shallow underhook that only reaches the near shoulder
- Consequence: The underhook collapses under pressure during the rise, opponent easily strips it, and you end up flattened in half guard or passed to side control bottom
- Correction: Before initiating any sweep motion, ensure your underhook reaches deep across the opponent’s back to their far lat, armpit, or belt. If it is shallow, re-swim it deeper first or transition to a different attack
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Rising straight up instead of creating an angle with a hip escape first
- Consequence: Opponent’s chest weight pins you flat because there is no angle to build the posting elbow. The sweep stalls immediately and you waste energy in a compromised position
- Correction: Always hip escape slightly to create a 30-45 degree angle before building to the elbow. This small shrimp provides the space needed to rise without being blocked by chest pressure
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Releasing the half guard leg lock during the come-up phase
- Consequence: Opponent steps their trapped leg free and posts wide, completely neutralizing the sweep. They may immediately advance to mount or establish a dominant passing position
- Correction: Maintain the half guard leg lock throughout the entire sweep until you have fully arrived in top position. The trapped leg is essential leverage that prevents the opponent from basing out
Playing as Defender
Key Principles
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Never commit excessive forward pressure when the opponent has a deep underhook - forward weight is the fuel that powers this sweep
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Maintain wide base with at least one leg posted to prevent being toppled by the come-up drive
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The whizzer (overhook) is your primary defensive tool - establishing it early kills the sweep’s pulling leverage
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Address the underhook before the sweep begins rather than trying to stop a sweep already in motion
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If you cannot strip the underhook, flatten the opponent’s hips to eliminate the angle needed for the come-up
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Recognize the hip escape setup as the earliest cue and respond immediately with pressure and base adjustment
Recognition Cues
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Bottom player hip escapes slightly to create an angle, shifting their hips away from you and toward their underhook side
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Bottom player’s free arm begins posting on the mat (elbow or hand) as the first stage of the come-up
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Increased pulling pressure from the underhook as the bottom player attempts to load your weight over their trapped leg
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Bottom player’s head drives into your ribcage with increased pressure, indicating they are building toward the rise
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Bottom leg frame against your hip becomes more active with pushing force as they generate come-up leverage
Defensive Options
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Establish a deep whizzer on the underhook arm and sprawl hips back - When: As soon as you feel the initial hip escape and increased underhook pulling pressure, before the bottom player reaches their posting elbow
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Drive crossface pressure while stripping the underhook to flatten the bottom player - When: When you detect the underhook deepening but before the come-up angle is established, particularly effective when combined with dropping your hips
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Base out wide and lower center of gravity to resist the toppling force - When: When the come-up is already in progress and the bottom player has reached at least the elbow post stage - too late for prevention, focus on resistance
Position Integration
The Underhook Sweep from Pocket Half Guard occupies a central role in the half guard offensive system, serving as the primary come-up sweep that punishes forward pressure from the top player. It forms a critical decision point in the pocket half guard attack tree: opponents who lean forward to prevent back takes expose themselves to this sweep, while those who posture to prevent the sweep open opportunities for Old School variations and deep half entries. This technique integrates directly with dogfight position, as incomplete sweeps often transition to dogfight where additional sweep and back take options remain available. Within the broader half guard system, it represents the most direct path to top position from an underhook-dominant bottom game.