Complete Guide to the Deep Half Guard Sweep

One of my favorite half guard styles to play, whether it is gi or no gi is the deep half guard. The deep half guard is what I would call an advanced position. Meaning, you must learn how to play standard half guard before you can play in the deep half. It is a position used by some of the world’s best Jiu Jitsu fighters. Jeff Glover, Ryan Hall, and one of my favorites, Bernardo Faria. All have used the deep half to achieve success in competition.

Why the Deep Half Guard is So Effective

Why the deep half guard is so effective in Jiu Jitsu is due to its deceptive, yet superior positioning. When played correctly, deep half gives your opponent very little chance of a good offense. There are little to no submissions available for your opponent, and all they can do is attempt a pass. With deep half, the sweeping percentage is high. Check out Bernardo Faria using it in live competition.

The Versatility of the Deep Half Guard Sweep

Another reason it is so effective, is that it can be played on almost anyone. There are some guards that are simply hard to play on bigger, heavier opponents. Bigger opponents still cannot enforce their will on a good deep half player. In the position, all of the opponent’s weight is taken off of you. If the opponent tries putting shifting weight, they are easily swept over. Here is an example of a sweep that I hit on big guys in the gym.

Using the Deep Half Guard Sweep for Submissions

The last aspect of deep half that I enjoy is that there are indeed submissions from the position. While deep half is primarily a sweeping position to get dominate positions such as the back or mount, there are some great low key submissions to hit as well. Here is Jeff Glover showing a sneaky little kneebar that you can attain from deep half.

Once you have a good fundamental understanding of half guard, play around with the deep half position. You will see the benefits of it and be able to apply its use on the mats. At this point, I actually prefer deep half to normal half. Being able to get to the position, hit a sweep and get on top with little effort is a great feeling. You’ll be able to feel that from deep half.