### Overview The Half Guard is a versatile position used in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), wrestling, and other grappling arts. In the Half Guard, the bottom practitioner is positioned underneath their opponent while controlling one of their legs between their own. **Possible Position(s):** - Half Guard is typically used from the "Bottom" position in its standard application but can also be referenced in certain defensive and transitionary upper positions. **Japanese Name:** - The exact Japanese name for "Half Guard" is not universally recognized or widely used as the position is predominantly known by its English terminology. ### Setting Up the Half Guard 1. **Getting to Half Guard:** - Start from a position where your opponent is either in your Closed Guard or transitioning between positions. - Unlock your legs and shift your hips to come onto your side, enveloping one of the opponent's legs between yours. 2. **Securing Your Position:** - Ensure that your bottom leg is hooked around the opponent’s captured leg. - Use your top leg to apply pressure to the opponent's hip or thigh to create space and control. 3. **Preventing Opponent’s Pass:** - Use your "free" arm to maintain a frame against the opponent. It could be placed against the hip, shoulder, or collarbone to keep their weight off you. - With your other hand, control the opponent’s far sleeve or lapel to disrupt their balance and further restrict movement. ### Transitioning to Offensive Techniques from Half Guard 1. **The Underhook Battle:** - Aim to secure an underhook on the same side as the opponent’s captured leg. This is crucial for transitioning into sweeps or taking the back. 2. **Sweeping Options:** - **Old School Sweep:** - With the underhook secured, bump your opponent forward, disrupting their balance. - Grasp the opponent's trapped ankle, rise onto your elbow and elevate your hips to topple them into a sweep onto their back. - **Electric Chair Sweep:** - Stretch the controlled leg by scissoring your legs. Elevate your hips and aim to catch their opposite ankle, pulling it towards your chest while pushing the knee with your top leg for added leverage. ### Defensive Maneuvers in Half Guard 1. **Keeping the Guard Secure:** - Constantly track your opponent’s base and head movement to prevent their advancement to Side Control. Maintain your frames and use hip movements to adjust and reinforce control. 2. **Escaping from Potential Threats:** - Should your opponent succeed in troubling your guard, turn onto your stomach, freeing your leg, and scrambling to a kneeling recovery position (such as a turtle or reversing to re-establish guard). ### Final Tips - Always remain active with your hips; little adjustments can make substantial differences in security and comfort. - Don't just settle for the position; constantly work towards sweeps, reversals, or waiting for opportunities to arise.