Half-Guard Game

[RobertMartinez]

I've had the Mastering the Rubber Guard book for quite some time now, but just recently picked it up and started studying it in depth. I love all of the half-guard stuff, and it's something I'm trying to incorporate into my jiu jitsu. Does anyone have any tips for playing with the half guard?

Also a big thank you to Eddie for all of your hard work that we now get to reap the benefits from.

[Brandon Mccaghren]

I've had the Mastering the Rubber Guard book for quite some time now, but just recently picked it up and started studying it in depth. I love all of the half-guard stuff, and it's something I'm trying to incorporate into my jiu jitsu. Does anyone have any tips for playing with the half guard?

Also a big thank you to Eddie for all of your hard work that we now get to reap the benefits from.

I think the primary thing you need to keep in mind when studying the Lockdown half is that it proposes an entirely different way to move your hips from bottom position than traditional Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Traditionally, the hips are moved by placing your foot on the mat (or your opponent) and using a shrimping-type motion to create space and get on to your side, creating an angle for offensive attack and preventing your opponent from smashing your beautiful little face into the dirt.

The Lockdown half presents an entirely different solution: controlling the opponent's isolated leg with a 2 on 1 type control and using the whipping of that leg to move the opponent and yourself into a position of offense and/or defensive safety.

Critics of the Lockdown typically argue that the Lockdown keeps you "flat on your back" or "you can't move your hips." This is false, and can be proven false with mounds of video footage against high level opponents (every match we see from Eddie has the same gameplan: clinch the leg, get to lockdown, sweep, typically with The Electric Chair or Old School, look for the truck). The problem is actually that you have a prescribed and practiced way that you prefer to move your hips ("shrimping") that you feel comfortable with, and in light of that fact have failed to look objectively into other options deeply enough to discover that there is, in fact, more than one way to skin a cat.

The primary benefit of the Lockdown Half is that it prevents the opponent from effectively posturing and punching you in the face. I can say with 100% certainty that if you are playing Z-Guard or some sort of non-clinching half guard style predominantly, you don't have people regularly trying to punch you in the face. That's perfectly acceptable. Be aware that when the punches start coming, you're gonna wish you had the reps on the clinching styles of guard.

[Gary Meek]

I think the primary thing you need to keep in mind when studying the Lockdown half is that it proposes an entirely different way to move your hips from bottom position than traditional Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Traditionally, the hips are moved by placing your foot on the mat (or your opponent) and using a shrimping-type motion to create space and get on to your side, creating an angle for offensive attack and preventing your opponent from smashing your beautiful little face into the dirt.

The Lockdown half presents an entirely different solution: controlling the opponent's isolated leg with a 2 on 1 type control and using the whipping of that leg to move the opponent and yourself into a position of offense and/or defensive safety.

Critics of the Lockdown typically argue that the Lockdown keeps you "flat on your back" or "you can't move your hips." This is false, and can be proven false with mounds of video footage against high level opponents (every match we see from Eddie has the same gameplan: clinch the leg, get to lockdown, sweep, typically with The Electric Chair or Old School, look for the truck). The problem is actually that you have a prescribed and practiced way that you prefer to move your hips ("shrimping") that you feel comfortable with, and in light of that fact have failed to look objectively into other options deeply enough to discover that there is, in fact, more than one way to skin a cat.

The primary benefit of the Lockdown Half is that it prevents the opponent from effectively posturing and punching you in the face. I can say with 100% certainty that if you are playing Z-Guard or some sort of non-clinching half guard style predominantly, you don't have people regularly trying to punch you in the face. That's perfectly acceptable. Be aware that when the punches start coming, you're gonna wish you had the reps on the clinching styles of guard.

Well put Brandon...thanks for your insight on lockdown! Lockdown is legit and a lot of traditionalist view it as a stalling mechanism because they know how to put it on, but not how to use it properly. Once you learn how to use it effectively, it can be your greatest weapon from the bottom game. As we all know, it's also as easy to get out of as any other control technique if you just sit there and don't do anything with it.

[Pan]

Does anyone else use lockdown with the gi? I find my halfguard game gets shut down too easily due to opponents controlling the far side lapel under the armpit. If I can get to perfect double underhooks quickly, I can usually get something to work but if I end up flat at any time it's a real struggle to work anything. Obviously much easier nogi, just wondering if anyone else has any experience of it in the gi.

[highlygifted81]

I find with the gi you really need to do a vertical whip then hands to the hips to bring their hips just above yours. Either way it is much harder to play this type of game with the gi. The good thing about this is if you can pull it off against bigger opponents in the gi , nogi will be on point.

[Greg W]

I used lockdown for 6 years almost exclusivly in the gi. All sorts of cool tricks and chokes with it in da gi!! I was ready to rock with it when I went no gi!!

[JHouse]

Brandon, thanks for taking the time to break that down, seriously appreciated.

[Nick Lerch]

guard the hell out of your neck. i used to get the shit choked out of me when i first started pulling and practicing 1/2g all the time. now if they get close to a guillotine itll usually cost them top position. i wind up sweeping them and getting to top side control on the safe side.