In 2009, on the IBJJF World Championship, a comparatively unknown BJJ black belt named Bernardo Faria confronted a bodily superior opponent within the open weight division. Because the match intensified, Faria slid beneath his opponent, clamped his grips, and used a seemingly odd, tucked-in place to tip his adversary over with easy leverage. Commentators known as it “unusual however sensible.” What the viewers witnessed was a masterclass in one of the vital misunderstood but efficient positions in trendy Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: the Deep Half Guard.
What Is Deep Half Guard?
Consider it because the sneakiest option to flip protection into offense.
You’re on backside. Your higher physique is wedged beneath your opponent’s hips. Considered one of their legs is trapped between your individual. Your head is positioned close to their far hip, and your arms are hugging their trapped leg. To somebody watching, it would appear to be you’re in hassle, however ask any seasoned grappler, and so they’ll inform you: that’s the place the enjoyable begins.
The Deep Half is all about management, angles, and persistence. You’re actually beneath your opponent, which provides you insane leverage and off-balancing energy. It’s like a stress cooker place, tight, shut, and filled with potential.
Why It Works (The Logic Behind It)
The core idea of the deep half is getting beneath your opponent’s middle of gravity. When you’re there, you’re successfully controlling their base from the within out. Very like a automotive jack doesn’t must elevate a car with power however with place and mechanics, the deep half means that you can elevate and tip opponents utilizing minimal effort.
Based on 2022 IBJJF match knowledge analyzed by BJJ Heroes, the deep half guard was utilized in 14% of profitable sweep sequences in matches the place the practitioner was at a weight drawback, indicating its strategic use when approach should trump power. Bernardo Faria, a five-time IBJJF World Champion, attributes over 60% of his competitors sweeps to deep half variations.
2 Excessive-Share Sweeps From Deep Half Guard
Now, after protecting the essential mechanics and the success tales of the deep half guard, let’s dive into some sensible usages of it mixed with sweeps that you could doubtlessly use to show the tides round. You don’t must grasp ten sweeps from the deep half to make use of it successfully. Give attention to two core choices that work throughout belt ranges:
1) Homer Sweep
Sure that’s proper. It’s named after The Simpsons character Homer Simpson for its simplicity and “rolling” nature, this sweep makes use of your momentum and underhooked leg to roll your opponent backward. Right here’s the way it goes:
Management your opponent’s far leg along with your outdoors hand.
Tuck your head beneath and roll towards the underhooked facet.
End within the high half or facet management.
The Homer sweep can go away your opponent fully baffled. One second they’re on high with full management, and the subsequent, you’ve gotten reversed the place and brought over, usually earlier than they even realise what occurred.
2) Deep Half Again Take (Plan B Sweep)
In case your opponent bases out or counters the Homer Sweep, this feature turns into accessible.
Use your inside arm to raise the trapped leg.
Push along with your shoulder whereas turning towards your opponent’s again.
Come out behind them into seatbelt management or the turtle.
Each strategies work as a result of they capitalize on the off-balance mechanics created by the deep half place. They’re additionally comparatively protected to try, if the sweep fails, you’re nonetheless in a structurally sound place to reset.
When Ought to You Use Deep Half Guard?
Whereas there are numerous debates as to when you need to or mustn’t use them, we’ve discovered it typically helpful to make use of the Deep Half Guard within the following conditions:
When flattened in conventional half guard, and unable to pummel for the underhook.
When going through aggressive top-pressure passers.
As a strategic possibility when stalling out in closed or open guard.
Throughout scrambles the place you possibly can slide beneath and isolate a leg.
It’s particularly efficient in Gi and No-Gi settings alike, though in No-Gi, it’s possible you’ll rely extra on physique positioning than lapel or pant grips.
Conclusion
The deep half guard isn’t flashy, however it’s undeniably efficient. It’s a place that rewards persistence, precision, and understanding of leverage. From white belt to black belt, it gives a strong instrument to neutralise stronger opponents and reverse the battle in your favour.
In case you’ve by no means explored deep half, perhaps it’s time to slide beneath the storm and uncover its quiet energy—so the true query is: will you be the hammer or the lever?
You might also like:
5 Underrated BJJ Submissions That Really End Fights
Evolve Blended Martial Arts® is Asia’s premier championship model for martial arts. It has genuine World Champions in Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Blended Martial Arts, Boxing, Wrestling, and No-Gi Grappling. Named because the #1 ranked martial arts group in Asia by CNN, Yahoo! Sports activities, FOX Sports activities, ESPN StarSports, Tokyo Instances, and plenty of different main authorities, Evolve MMA goals to ship the very best martial arts instruction accessible wherever on the planet.
