Stalemate...

A few nights ago I was rolling against a classmate who's a few inches and probably 30 or more pounds bigger than I am. We ended up with him in my half guard, so I used the Jaws of Life to get double underhooks, but he just kept his right arm under my neck and really jammed his bicep into my face. I couldn't get my head free, even when I reapplied the Jaws of Life and fully extended my arms. I tried to sweep him to my left / his right, to force him to base with that arm and then free my head, but he is a big man, and it didn't work. I couldn't go anywhere, and he doesn't know what to do from there offensively, so we stalemated until he got bored and quit.

Has anyone ever been in a situation like that, and if so, any advice on how to keep things progressing?

Happens all the time to me. I whip up, then whip down and try to get on my left hip. From there I start the "shrug" and try to get the "S" grip around his head and arm. From there I try to get to his back although more often than not he forces that arm back through and I have to switch to the old school. Do you have a premium membership? I know MTS 15 or 22 covers this in detail.

Try a stomp perhaps, but don't jeopardize your position you know u don't want to pretend to give something up with the intention of getting him to move. When this happens now u have to fight off a pass/submission and that means u aren't on offense you are defense and he has the momentum going in his direction no bueno imho. I'm no teacher though my word is not golden.

work your stomps. there are alot of sweeps to that side if his arm is mad jammed under your head. alot of guys i train with that know about my half guard series try head and arm control, but it takes away thier ability to post on the arm under the head. so its sweep city.

I used to have a partner who would just wrestle pin me in sidemount. I had to teach him a kimura just so he'd open up to try something. I know it seems bizarre to show someone how to finish you from a position they frequently hit but sometimes you have to give a little get some space.