Half Guard Hip Switch Counter From The Bottom With Tom DeBlass

 

A brilliant factor of Jiu Jitsu is the fact that small movements or adjustments can make huge differences. It’s all about leverage, weight distribution, and proper technique. Something as simple as switching your hips in a certain position can open up a whole new list of submissions or positions. 

Switching the hips is commonly done by the top person in half guard. It can open up some options;it could be used to get past the knee shield, you could use it as a means of getting your leg free to pass, and there are also some possible submissions opportunities like arm bars. Feel free to check our another guide Everything About Half Guard by Theodoro Canal. 

However, Jiu Jitsu is the perfect art and for seemingly every move there is a counter. It is important to think about how your positioning would change from the bottom if your partner switched their hips. Where does that shift their pressure, what does it open up for them, and what would their next move be?

When you consider all these things, you are presented with the opportunity to counter. In this video, Tom DeBlass demonstrates how to address the hip switch from half guard while on the bottom by countering with a hip switch of your own, check it out below!

 

The Technique

Even though this can be troubling for some while playing half guard, Tom DeBlass states he loves when people try to do this to him because he has figured out how to totally eliminate their passing attempt.

If the top person successfully switches their hips, one thing you want to make sure of is that your arms do not end up above your chest. What happens is people bring their arms up and try to roll back into their partner but they just end up getting stuck there. Also, if you bring your arms up too high it gives your partner the opportunity to start walking them up higher to isolate and attack them.

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Instead of getting stuck in this position, as soon as they switch their hips you are going to switch yours. As they begin to switch, keep your hands low and use them to create frames on your partners hip and shoulder area. This will help to allow you to both keep your arms low and will help you push your partner as you go to switch your hips.

Next you are going to need to put your right foot into your partner's left hip. This serves as an entry into leg positions and will set you up to start attacking. To do this, post with your left leg and hip escape while simultaneously bringing that foot up to their hip. As you do this, your momentum will start moving your partner over top of you and it will be very easy to grab a hold of their leg and bring that foot up to the hip.

From here you have tons of options to start attacking. First, you could begin to come up and take the top position, or you could transition to X guard. Also you have access to a toe hold (depending on your belt level), you could throw their leg underneath your other arm and bring your leg up for a knee bar, and it also opens up opportunities for back takes. 

To summarize, when the hip switch is on you, you have to counter by also switching your hips. This needs to be done quickly, as soon as you feel your partner beginning to switch if you want to be successful. If you wait too long and allow them to switch and get settled low on your hips, you are in trouble.

Also check Next Generation Guard Passing by Mica Galvao.

 

About Tom DeBlass

Tom DeBlass is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt and mixed martial artist with a long history of successful competition. In MMA Tom has fought for Bellator, is signed to ONE Championship, and was called up to fight in the UFC after a 7 fight win streak. His professional MMA record is 11-2.

The list of Toms grappling titles and achievements are seemingly endless. His most notable titles are Pan American and World Champions, as well as many others at both brown and black belt. He is also one of the only people to win the North American Trials 3 times. Tom opened his gym, Ocean County Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 2006, and has consistently coached champions. 

About Tom’s Instructional

Tom has dedicated this entire instructional to the domination of half guard. Included you will find techniques such as lower pant leg grip to Ashi/X-guard, getting to half guard from De La Riva guard, effectively elevating and transitioning to deep half guard, and so much more.

Tom has been a huge voice in the Jiu Jitsu community for many years, and his record speaks for itself. Master the half guard and become proficient in using it to transition to submissions. Check out his instructional here!

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