Mendes Half Guard Pass... Anyone Try?

[krisburns530]

Hey what's up guys..

So I saw this technique on the Mendes Jiu Jitsu Youtube channel where he shows how to pass the half guard.. It seems to me like it's a pretty smooth move and a perfect example of how one can use technique to advance position.



I'm sure many of you have seen this vid before, it seems that this is a rather popular channel on these forums.. Anyway my question is has anyone here tried it in live rolling or even competition? Also...
How did it work out for you?
Are there any key points you'd like to point out that you feel may have not been in the vid?
Are there any "go to" counters for if your opponent is going for this move?
And finally are there any alternatives to this move that you would suggest that are either better overall or better for a specific type of player or more accurate?

Thanks guys for all/any help you may or may not have and stay classy sherdog!

 

[CaSe]

are they in an art studio?

 

[YellowFury]

the knee slice seems pretty common. i've used it and had it used on me.


also that's their school.

 

[kenetics]

Yes I use that tech a lot.

 

[Knock Out Ned]

I have about three other go to moves to deal with knee shield, but I've been playing with this pass and I like it a lot.

To get it right, you really have to force that twisting motion on your opponent-keeping the hips complacent with your shoulders and driving your head into the shoulder area or the upper half of the torso.

Some guys at my gym like to try and turtle when I go for this pass, so I find the best thing to do is to jump to the other side like Mendez does in the video while keeping hold of their lapel.

One guy is wise to what I do now, and tonight he was driving his elbow into my face to keep me from getting a good position on his shoulder with my head. I reset once and passed. The next time he did it, I just tried another pass.

 

[muppetoflove]

Too much white. I feel like I am burning my retinas. 2 white guys in white gis in a room with white mats and white walls, with white artwork. Did i miss anything?

Ohh the technique. Seem like a few different techniques along with some basic rules for passing half guard.

I use the knee slice all the time. It is really high % when I have the underhook.

I have been practicing the knee slice with the collar and sleeve, but I dont have the balance or base for it yet.

I also try to lace my arm through like they do, but It has been widely unsuccessful. I am really tall and skinny and it is hard for me to maintain balance without an underhook.

On the otherhand, I people use the arm through the knees pass on me all the time, so I am sure it works. If only my base were more solid I feel I cold use it more effectively.

 

[BjjStats]

I have a ton of trouble getting the angle right for my knee to slide over the shin. In order to make the angle right, I feel like I have to lift up, which takes my arm pressure off of the hips. I'm probably missing a detail...

 

[Knock Out Ned]

I have a ton of trouble getting the angle right for my knee to slide over the shin. In order to make the angle right, I feel like I have to lift up, which takes my arm pressure off of the hips. I'm probably missing a detail...

Are you popping your knee out before you start to slide your leg out?

If you kind of just sit back on your haunches slightly, your knee will pop out, and you shouldn't have to lift up.

 

[Difeco]

yep.
it's my #1 half pass

 

[randomg1t]

i've tried everything i've seen from them and it's all awesome.

this pass is money.

 

[selfcritical]

Starting off with the navy ride vs the knee shield almost always gets someone sumi gaeshi'd in my experience, but I'm not rolling with mulitple mundials wunderkinds.

 

[BJJ_Rage]

I have a ton of trouble getting the angle right for my knee to slide over the shin. In order to make the angle right, I feel like I have to lift up, which takes my arm pressure off of the hips. I'm probably missing a detail...

I have the same problem.

 

[deadlizard]

I have the same problem.

ditto.

 

[randomg1t]

Starting off with the navy ride vs the knee shield almost always gets someone sumi gaeshi'd in my experience, but I'm not rolling with mulitple mundials wunderkinds.

pardon my ignorance, but what is sumi gaeshi?

 

[bradlabo]

Yes, this is pretty much my go to half guard pass. very effective.

 

[ajf]

Good pass. There's a variation where you grab the arm that's on the mat instead of the lapel.

 

[ajf]

I have a ton of trouble getting the angle right for my knee to slide over the shin. In order to make the angle right, I feel like I have to lift up, which takes my arm pressure off of the hips. I'm probably missing a detail...

I think it's probably an error with weight distribution. Post on the far leg, and use your opposite shoulder/chest to put downward pressure on their leg. Push off with the posted leg, too.. This should take all the weigh off of the leg which is caught in their half guard, giving it the mobility to slide. The grips are also really important but DUH.

 

[Zankou]

Good pass. There's a variation where you grab the arm that's on the mat instead of the lapel.

Rafa specifically rejects that variation in this vid.

I'm sure it still works, just saying.

 

[Goat Gobbler]

I have the same problem.

pull the lapel in tighter so you can keep pressure on the legs when you lift up for the knee cut.

 

[ajf]

Rafa specifically rejects that variation in this vid.

I'm sure it still works, just saying.

I know, however, we had Murilo Santana teach for a few weeks at our school, and I had the rare/enlightening opportunity to drill with him for a half hour after class one day. He adjusted a few things I was doing and one of them was the grip I was using in this pass. i don't think he said either way was right or wrong, but he offered it as an alternative. I think the lapel is easier to grab but I think I actually finish the pass more often with the arm grip.