If you have ever seen Jake Mackenzie grappler, then you know just how precise his half guard is. Pardon my language, but Jake’s half guard isn’t just high precision, it’s fucking phenomenal to watch and an inspiration to me and many others. Guys...

The half guard has become the focus of many high level Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competitors. Guys like Tom DeBlass and Bernardio Faria use the half guard as a foundation to their competitive success. What makes the half guard so attractive is its relative...

Reverse Half Guard By Jake Mackenzie In modern Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, the half guard has been through somewhat of a renaissance as it becomes more and more popular for high level competitors to use it as their primary guard. World class competitors such...

The first level of open guard, especially no-gi, is shin-on-shin guard. This guard is kind of the spider guard for no-gi. It allows you to maintain a certain level of distance from you partner while having some form of control whilst also giving...

Do Not Get Stuck On The Bottom!  When your engaged in a half guard battle, it's almost a safe bet that if the bottom player has the opportunity to come up and acquire an under hook, they will do just that. The under...

Let’s talk a little bit about the half guard... There may not be a more dynamic position in BJJ. From the hobbyist to the top tier competitor, the half guard is the guard of choice for BJJ players of all sizes, shapes, and...

Great Setup For A Quick Back Take! Usually when playing different types of guards, we are looking for intricate sweeps and submission attempts. I think that many grapplers get so obsessed with the idea of sweeping as tripping that they subconsciously ignore a...

Bottom Half Guard Overview by Neil Melanson Neil could easily be considered one of the most dangerous men on the planet. Neil is the head coach of the infamous Blackzillians MMA Team at the Jaco Hybrid Training Center, he has coached some of...

Let Lachlan Giles Give You Some Options! The reverse De La Riva boasts quite a few interesting options. If you haven’t played with the position much, it can be really useful when defending the knee slice pass, and it’s a great transition from...

Tom DeBlass Demonstrates the Half Guard Arm Drag to Spartan Leg Kick Drill I attended a seminar last year with Professor DeBlass directly after participating in a Fight to Win Pro which I had been defeated at. He had cornered me in the...

Countering The Underhook by Jake Mackenzie It is a common problem amongst Brazilian Jiu Jitsu players who love half guard: how to counter the under hook. When playing half guard top, one of the most used techniques is to set an under hook...

The arm drag is such a versatile technique. It can be applied to so many different situations and scenarios. It teaches us about good timing, taking advantage of reactions, and when it’s done well, it puts us in superior position. A lot of...

Double Over Pass From Half Guard by Yuri Simoes If you are new to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, or struggle to pass the guard, it is possible that you just have not found the right technique that works for you. Playing from the top...

Getting Your Underhook Back Can Be A Pain, But Lachlan Giles Has You Covered! Often times when we talk about the half guard position, the under hook is most commonly one of the biggest factors in the position. This goes for both the...

Unlock The Lock Down by Bernardo Faria Are you familiar with the lock down position? The lock down was most famously popularized by Eddie Bravo, who as a huge advocate of half guard, sought to make the position even more powerful and dynamic....