Tech / tips to get from standard half-guard to lockdown

Hey y'all,

Maybe a stupid question. I frequently find myself in half guard with my legs triangled, sort of like this except for with me looking a bit more weak and miserable.

http://www.grapplearts.com/images/Ar...UH-triangl.jpg

I want to get to lockdown so I can be strong and awesome. But that means I have to uncross my legs (weak) and cross one leg over (even weaker). In that moment, I'm finding it difficult to put the lockdown in.

Is there a technique that makes this easier? Or am I just missing something obvious like "put a hand on their knee" or something?

help a noob out so I can represent. :)

~Joshua

I don't know the answer to this, but I'm sure you will read the word "stomp" in this thread plenty.

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Originally Posted by Wancarlos

I don't know the answer to this, but I'm sure you will read the word "stomp" in this thread plenty.

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Right? I'm a total noob so after watching a whole bunch of 1/4 guard drills involving the quarter clinch, I started thinking "mini-stomp??" when I was in half guard. My next thought was something like "Wait, what?" Third thought was "Oh, he's giving me deep-half, I'm good with that."

I have this funny feeling that you're just supposed to be fast. Or maybe there's a stomp for that ;D

I just grabbed this from the tech guide pinned on the top of the boards

Black Mamba MTS47 1:11:38 Forcing the Lockdown

Mini Stomp MTS02 4:15 Forcing the Lockdown

Mini Stomp MTS11 5:10 Forcing the Lockdown

Mini Stomp MTS13 18:21 Forcing the Lockdown

Mini Stomp MTS33 20:43 Forcing the Lockdown

Mini Stomp Variation MTS05 8:01 Forcing the Lockdown

Sometimes guys will tuck their foot under their butt to prevent the lockdown if they know that's what you want. There's some tricks you can do but it would be difficult to explain via text. I'll see if I can film something (if I remember that is). I play between traditional half to lockdown all the time. I tend to prefer traditional half so I can get to deep half more. Something I can say though, don't triangle your legs. It's not helping you at all. As long as you dominate the inside space he won't pass with just a basic leg curl from your bottom leg.

Stomp is always a great option. If you have the underhook you can come right up to dogfight and skip the lockdown. If you can get your left knee (going by the picture) in between yourself and your opponent, you can play Z guard. You can also hold your opponent's leg in place by doing a leg curl with your right leg in the crook of his knee; this will allow you to cross your right leg over for the lockdown without giving up position. In my opinion, the underhook (with your left arm) is more important than anything else in this position. If you can't get it, don't let your opponent get it. If he does get it, jaws of life or stomp quick.

Wow, lots to think about. Thanks everyone!

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Originally Posted by Amir Allam

You can also hold your opponent's leg in place by doing a leg curl with your right leg in the crook of his knee; this will allow you to cross your right leg over for the lockdown without giving up position. In my opinion, the underhook (with your left arm) is more important than anything else in this position. If you can't get it, don't let your opponent get it. If he does get it, jaws of life or stomp quick.

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I think this is going to have to do. I've reviewed what's been said here and there's not a lot I can do about sucking at getting the lockdown other than to be faster and stronger and to try to find a good halfway point between the two like you've described. The Stomp looks cool though. I'm eventually going to want to channel this flow into my full guard / butterfly guard game.

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Originally Posted by Brent Smith

Something I can say though, don't triangle your legs. It's not helping you at all. As long as you dominate the inside space he won't pass with just a basic leg curl from your bottom leg.

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O.o

Any tips on how to dominate the inside space? Maybe it's just basic noobishness / a weak squeeze but if I'm not either in lockdown or halfguard with my legs triangled, I have only a few short seconds until I'm mounted or side-mounted.

I get the feeling that I want to get as close to perpendicular as I can so that my legs aren't parallel to his. But how to instill strength in that? Underhooks? Underhook the leg?

MTS 69. Mini Stop, push, pull, lockdown.

Eddie doesn't chant that shit like a drill sergant for nothing :)

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Originally Posted by Tim Bruhn

MTS 69. Mini Stop, push, pull, lockdown.

Eddie doesn't chant that shit like a drill sergant for nothing :)

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Word. But, not to be ignorant, but isn't that getting me from quarter guard to lockdown? I've got half-guard which seems a lot better for the most part. Their knee is on the mat.

...but then, walking it through mentally, I think I might see what you're saying. If I go for the mini-stomp, the most they are likely to do is get from half-guard to quarter-guard and right into my mini-stomp. Maybe?

We'll see if I can get some reps in tonight.

Getting from trad 1/2 to lockdown is easy especially if their knee is on the ground.

The lockdown 1/2 is a very hard game to perfect. Rep the shit out of the electric chair and master it first, so that you will be enthusiastic about mastering all the tricks to getting the lockdown especially the mini stomp.

Thanks for the tip Professor Eddie.

I managed to hit the electric chair sweep in open rolling last night, felt pretty strong. For a white belt with no stripes, my half-guard game is marginally dangerous. :)

I need to figure out how to protect my neck and throat from wrist or elbow pressure, but I'm progressing in part because folks weighed in and helped me figure something out. So thanks. :)

Would you guys hate me if I say I would prefer to stay in half guard on my side than flatten out just to get lockdown? I think I'd rather try for the lockdown while I'm still on my side. Takes me a lot of energy to get to my side. If I'm already there, I'd rather not go backwards. Am I wrong or is this a matter of personal preference?

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Originally Posted by David Rosado

Would you guys hate me if I say I would prefer to stay in half guard on my side than flatten out just to get lockdown? I think I'd rather try for the lockdown while I'm still on my side. Takes me a lot of energy to get to my side. If I'm already there, I'd rather not go backwards. Am I wrong or is this a matter of personal preference?

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Nah we won't hate you. Only hate on you.

Just kidding. When I'm threatening with the lockdown, if I can snatch it up right from a "whipped up" position I will. However, I always rep it super old school where you go through the whole path, just because in my opinion that's the worst case scenario. But honestly anytime I can get my ass out and myself with a deep seatbelt in, I'll play in that position. I think that there's tons of power to force scrambles and stuff from being on your side as well. But that's just how I play it.

I knew Lockdown for quite a while, but till I saw EB/RG II I didn't realize how amazing it is. Is it something that is treated as most basic thing at 10thP, something that white belts are taught, or is it saved for more experienced guys?

I'm mostly curious, because in places I trained, no one was really using that. I saw that on some videos on youtube and when I rolled with blue/purple belts, I was trying to use that - with small success ratio, but still somehow it helped. But I never really had a coach that gathered us and said "ok, I will now show you how to get and maintain lockdown". From what I see, it's must-have for me, since I don't mind fighting off my back, so if I could get some opinions if I should get that done asap, or wait with it till I get more experience, that would be great :)

I teach lockdown half to brand new people and sharpen it as they progress.
The only time I'm flat on my back is if they manage to get head and arm but from jaws of life on, I don't really end up flat on my back.

Also, since I'm total rookie when it comes to Lockdown - how much you can do from there. I mean, I saw Master Bravo sweeping Royler at will with it, but when it comes to submission and finishing the fight - which submisions that supports? And how it really neutralize my opponent?

To me lockdown half is more of a sweeping position. You can get some calf cranks or banana splits but it's mostly sweeps.

Damn...looks like I missed on awesome technique...I hope to fix that soon and add lockdown to my arsenal :)

Lot of interesting stuff. I need to work that stomp because alot of people where i train just but their heel to their ass and defend that lockdown. Interestingly enough, it's still distracting enough for them not to try and attack or pass. Maybe thats just for low level guys though.

I noticed last night that I keep sitting up instead of whipping to my side. Almost like a half cocoon position. I cant recall it very well but im sure there isnt enough room to retrieve a butterfly hook. I tried for oldschool and ended up with the electric chair sweep anyway, but it felt weird having all that room. Any known techniques from the position I described?