Breaking Half Guard

In half guard, chest to chest (similar to side control) underhooked head for head control and underhooked arm

  1. Hand that is underhooking arm goes out past opponent’s head and plants on the mat like a suction
  2. Switch head position so your head is on the other side of opponent’s head (your head is acting as a wall so opponent can’t turn towards you). -so on one side of opponent’s head is your head and on the other side is your arm
  3. Use your head as a pillar/post and get on your tip toes and tip toe the leg in the guard up so guard falls below the knee
  4. Bring your knee to the ground and try and free it
  5. you can use your free leg to help pry it free
  6. with hand that was/is underhooking head, grab opponent’s shoulder/elbow and bring it up to put your knee in there to establish side control

Alternative: Opponent has a deep under hook to your body

  1. Make sure your arm is framing to prevent them from leg picking you
  2. Same Side hand will pummel underhook grip, you start with the elbow, then get your arm through to get the underhook/pummel
  3. other hand will place on opponent’s hip
  4. apply pressure and go forward, you should end up in a 3 quarters mount
  5. Break half guard as described before, but your knee should already be free

Alternative: You can’t establish underhook because they are keeping their arms too tight

  1. Establish head control and plant your under control hand on the mat and then drag them away from it
  2. Try and get underhook