Atlas/Guard/Half Guard
Guard position·kimura (near-side arm isolation via underhook battle), guillotine (when opponent drops head), electric chair (from lockdown with underhook)
Half Guard
Half

Half Guard

One leg trapped - asymmetrical guard control

Dominance
65
vs 35
Control depth
Proximal
Guarding
Transitions
32
outbound
Submissions
56
downstream
//01—About this position

What it is

Guard position where one leg is trapped between both legs of the bottom player. This asymmetrical structure creates different mechanics than closed guard. Offers sweeps and back takes from the hook control.

What you do

The step-by-step execution guide lives in the app — 6-step breakdown, biomechanics, and situational tips.

Open1position detailin the App Store↗
Dominance — Passing perspective
35 vs 65
Disadvantaged↓ -30Dominant
Control depth · Distal — Fighting to free trapped leg and pass
Dominance — Guarding perspective
65 vs 35
Disadvantaged↓ 30Dominant
Control depth · Proximal — Trap leg, fight underhook, sweep or take back
//02—Concept tags
CONTROLPRESSUREESCAPESWEEP
//03—Transitions outbound

32 ways out.

All32transitionsin the App Store↗
Half Guard →
Murilo Pass
Sitting on torso - heavy hips, dominant control
Type
Pass
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Half Guard →
Half Guard to Head-and-Arm Control
Arm trapped to neck - sets up arm triangle and darce
Type
Pass
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Half Guard →
Half Guard to Hon Kesa Gatame
Chest across chest, arm trapped - judo pin control
Type
Pass
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Half Guard →
Half Guard to Modified Scarf Hold
Armpit traps arm, hand controls head - submission setup
Type
Pass
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Half Guard →
Half Guard to Smash Pressure
Crushing chest pressure - flatten guard structure
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Half Guard →
Half Guard to Double Underhooks
Both underhooks on legs - lift and stack control
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Half Guard →
Half Guard to Over-Under Grip
Asymmetric grip - one over one under
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Half Guard →
Half Guard to Stack Pressure
Stacking weight on shoulders - compressed guard
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Half Guard →
Half Guard to X-Shin Block
Shin blocks thigh - prevent hip escape
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Half Guard →
Half Guard to Twister Side Control
Far leg hooked from side - twister setup, spinal attack
Type
Pass
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Half Guard →
Leg Drag
Leg dragged across body - modern pass hub
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Half Guard →
Electric Chair
lockdown half-guard platform - hip lock threat, sweep, back take
Type
Position adjustment
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Half Guard →
100 Kilos
Belly-down side control - sprawled chest pin
Type
Pass
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Half Guard →
Knee Cut
Knee sliced across the thigh - shear past to pin
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Half Guard →
Underhook Half Guard
Deep underhook from bottom half guard - back-takes and reversals
Type
Position adjustment
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Half Guard →
Half Guard Sweep
Sitting on torso - heavy hips, dominant control
Type
Sweep
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Half Guard →
Underhook to Back
Over-under grip - upper body control from back
Type
Back take
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Half Guard →
Half Guard to Dogfight
Kneeling half guard - underhook battles, back takes
Type
Position adjustment
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Half Guard →
Deep Half Guard Entry
Hip penetration beneath opponent - sweep leverage
Type
Position adjustment
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Half Guard →
Knee Shield Insert
Top leg frames torso - distance control
Type
Position adjustment
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Half Guard →
Irimi Ashi Entry
Half guard trap plus butterfly hook
Type
Position adjustment
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Half Guard →
Lockdown Entry
Figure-four leg trap - restrict mobility, disrupt base
Type
Position adjustment
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Half Guard →
Ashi Garami Entry
Basic leg isolation - straight ankle locks
Type
Entanglement
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Half Guard →
Honey Hole from Half Guard
Both legs thread through - dual control position
Type
Entanglement
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Half Guard →
Kimura Trap Sweep
Kimura grip for control - sweeps, back takes, submissions
Type
Sweep
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Half Guard →
Knee Shield Insert
Shin across hip - distance control, sweep setup
Type
Position adjustment
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Half Guard →
Single Leg X Entry
One leg hooked, one elevating - sweep angles
Type
Position adjustment
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Half Guard →
X-Guard Entry
Crossed leg hooks - explosive sweeps
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Half Guard →
Technical Stand Up
Equal standing - fight for grips
Type
Standup
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Half Guard →
Half Guard to Single Leg Control
One leg captured - finish the takedown
Type
Standup
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Half Guard →
Electric Chair
lockdown half-guard platform - hip lock threat, sweep, back take
Type
Entanglement
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Half Guard →
Underhook Half Guard
Deep underhook from bottom half guard - back-takes and reversals
Type
Position adjustment
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
//04—Submissions downstream

56 finishes live
from this position.

All56submissionsin the App Store↗
SUB-001
Kimura
Guarding
Live
8/10
SUB-002
Arm-in Guillotine
Guarding
Watch
7/10
SUB-003
Guillotine Choke
Guarding
Watch
7/10
SUB-004
Electric Chair
Guarding
Watch
7/10
SUB-005
High Elbow Guillotine
Guarding
Watch
6/10
SUB-006
Ten Finger Guillotine
Guarding
Watch
6/10
SUB-007
Triangle Choke
Guarding
Watch
6/10
SUB-008
Groin Stretch
Guarding
Watch
6/10
SUB-009
Armbar
Guarding
Long
5/10
SUB-010
Calf Slicer
Guarding
Long
5/10
SUB-011
D'Arce Choke
Guarding
Long
5/10
SUB-012
Hip Slicer
Guarding
Long
5/10
SUB-013
Omoplata
Guarding
Long
5/10
SUB-014
Hiza Gatame
Guarding
Long
5/10
SUB-015
Anaconda Choke
Guarding
Long
4/10
SUB-016
Arm Triangle
Guarding
Long
4/10
SUB-017
Prone Armbar
Guarding
Long
4/10
SUB-018
Buggy Choke
Guarding
Long
4/10
SUB-019
Kneebar
Guarding
Long
4/10
SUB-020
Toe Hold
Guarding
Long
4/10
SUB-021
Brabo Choke
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-022
Calf Compression
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-023
Calf Crusher
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-024
Cross Collar Choke
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-025
Head and Arm Choke
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-026
Heel Hook
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-027
Inside Heel Hook
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-028
Inverted Armbar
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-029
Loop Choke
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-030
Rear Naked Choke
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-031
Rolling Kneebar
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-032
Saddle Heel Hook
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-033
Straight Ankle Lock
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-034
Straight Armlock
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-035
Tarikoplata
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-036
Aoki Lock
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-037
Arm Crush
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-038
Baratoplata
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-039
Prone Ankle Lock
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-040
Bicep Slicer
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-041
Calf Crank
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-042
Cryangle
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-043
Estima Lock
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-044
Gogoplata
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-045
Goose Neck Wrist Lock
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-046
Inverted Heel Hook
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-047
Mir Lock
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-048
Monoplata
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-049
Outside Heel Hook
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-050
Reverse Calf Slicer
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-051
Reverse Triangle
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-052
Reverse Wrist Lock
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-053
Sitting Arm Triangle
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-054
Straight Wristlock
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-055
Wrist Lock
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-056
Z-Lock
Guarding
Long
2/10
//05—Linked positions

Browse the graph.

Control85
Mount
Sitting on torso - heavy hips, dominant control
9 ↗ transitionsControlling
Control84
Head-and-Arm Control
Arm trapped to neck - sets up arm triangle and darce
5 ↗ transitionsControlling
Control75
Hon Kesa Gatame
Chest across chest, arm trapped - judo pin control
10 ↗ transitionsControlling
Control85
Modified Scarf Hold
Armpit traps arm, hand controls head - submission setup
6 ↗ transitionsControlling
// Half Guard · Guard

Read this position
on your phone.

Open Half Guard in Grapla for the full detail block, all 32 outbound transitions, the counter graph, and the option to log this position straight to your journal.

Download on the
App Store