Can't use Half Guard

SummerStriker

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So my biggest problem rolling was getting smashed in half guard. Every time I rolled I would end up getting cross faced for 2/3 the round.

I spent every session for close to 6 weeks working half guard techniques including the lockdown and conventional sweeps. Now , as soon as I get half guard most people, blue belts included, bale instantly and let me get butterfly or stand up.

I guess that if I want to use these techniques I need to develop some kind of open guard game or get snappier with closing the full guard if I'm going to scare them into trying to pass my half guard.

I guess.
 
You need an open guard anyway. Something scary enough to make the think basing in your halfguard is safer.
 
You need an open guard anyway. Something scary enough to make the think basing in your halfguard is safer.

It's a topic I'm kind of iffy on. I always blew it off because mma sparring, anytime I'd use an open guard is normally throw an up kick and stand up. I do so much grappling now though I feel like I'm getting into odd stuff. I'm suppose to do some big tournament next month so I'm trying hard to get my shit together for it.
 
If someone just stands up in your half guard, that should leave them open to some sweeps/takedowns.
 
How are people able to just stand up in your half guard without you sweeping them?
 
How are people able to just stand up in your half guard without you sweeping them?

They are bigger and stronger or do Judo and have great bases, and I don't have much experience with those sweeps. I just stand up with them.
 
I don't mean people stand. I can't think of that happening but once or twice, but they scoot away and keep me from closing full guard most of the time, so I stand up.
 
I don't mean people stand. I can't think of that happening but once or twice, but they scoot away and keep me from closing full guard most of the time, so I stand up.

I dont see how they make you stand up.... if you want to play guard, dont stand up, stay on your ass...
 
I dont see how they make you stand up.... if you want to play guard, dont stand up, stay on your ass...

I always just did BJJ for the carry over to self defense, but I'm starting to enjoy it for its own sake. Previous instructors I've had insisted on standing up. It's new to me to play on my back.
 
If they stand up you have plenty of options, you might like using a sitting guard to sweep them with a single leg. Here it is from De La Riva.

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If they back away from your half guard and you can keep the underhook, you can change to butterfly hooks. Instead of standing up from here you could go to the front headlock and work to choke, take the back or get the crucifix

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If they break all of their grips, you can go for arm drags, foot on hips guard etc. Obviously there are heaps of options, and these are just a few. But you should really work on some form of open guard, especially one you can use if the opponent stands.

Do you do gi, no gi, mma? might be helpful in terms of recommendations, seeing as alot of open guard options change depending on the circumstance.
 
If they aren't putting any pressure on your guard and are just cutting you loose, there's no point in training grappling with them
 
I'm mostly interested in mma.

Thanks for the tips!

You should check out the foot on hips guard, De La Riva, single leg x, and butterfly guard. all are very useful open guards for mma imo. I can post up some gifs as a very basic "technique flow" if you want?
 
I'm mostly interested in mma.

Thanks for the tips!

man, I dont get you, you wanna practice your guard but you stand up as soon as you can? here is reality, are you some type of ncaa wrestler? because if thats not the case, eventually you will end up on your ass, if you do not even practice guard in training, then you simple will have no guard, getting up works fine for some people, but as soon as they find someone who can control them, that aint going to happen all that easy, not only that, if you have a sucky guard, and catn threat with anything, theyll have a day in the park inside your close guard... You are a white belt now, train to get good, if you are worry about mma, then you eventually will have to develop some sort of guard, unless like I said, you are some type of super wrestler. Anyways, if you are mostly interest in mma, why on earth are you even worry about half guard? unless you are an extremely good grappler, half is not a good position to hang around...
 
BJJ rage, I think I have a good closed guard. I worry about half guard because I end up there a lot when I escape mount. When it comes to what people do, I can't control them. I think I'm getting ok at half because I get those lock down moves off if they stay, but like I said, people have been wary of it and backing up. I never cared about playing with open guards because they don't serve me well for mma, but if I'm going to keep doing BJJ, I need to learn something for it.
 
You should check out the foot on hips guard, De La Riva, single leg x, and butterfly guard. all are very useful open guards for mma imo. I can post up some gifs as a very basic "technique flow" if you want?

I visited a BJJ school on my last trip where they taught 4 da la riva sweeps for no gi. I don't get it though. The wrist controls you need for most of the ones they showed seen too difficult without the jacket to grab. Do you think they work no gi?

I've been getting the elevator sweep some from half butterfly.
 
BJJ rage, I think I have a good closed guard. I worry about half guard because I end up there a lot when I escape mount. When it comes to what people do, I can't control them. I think I'm getting ok at half because I get those lock down moves off if they stay, but like I said, people have been wary of it and backing up. I never cared about playing with open guards because they don't serve me well for mma, but if I'm going to keep doing BJJ, I need to learn something for it.

thats my point, if you want to keep doing bjj, aside from mma, then just dont stand back up, if they back down, just stay on your ass and play guard, you will improve your guard, plus is playing guard is really fun...
 
Im bored as hell so im posting some gifs up anyway lol

The 1st thing I would work on would be the foot on hips. Its not a position you wanna hang out in, but its a good base to transition from.

this would be the 1st sweep to work on

v7eh4k.jpg


If the opponent's leg is out of range attack with this sweep

2nsq1hl.jpg


If the opponent's leg is still to far away you can "pummel" your leg inside and get a sweep straight away from single leg x, ending in a good position to attack with heel hooks and leg locks.

206k3cz.jpg


If you cant sweep them from here straight away, elevate your hips up and pump your knee back and forward for the single leg x sweep.

2yydwk8.jpg
 
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