Deep Half Guard Defense

[Jared Gammel]

Hey bros. Just curious what you guys generally do when defending the deep half. I find myself utilizing this guard a lot more (strictly in a competition sense, not self-defense) than I used to. It's definitely become prevalent with top level grapplers. However, I haven't seen a lot of pointers or techniques detailing the defense about the position.

Obviously we're trying to stay on top, maintain base- but any other suggestions that you've had success with combating deep half guard?

[Ian Elliott]

Grab the inside arm and step over the head for the arm bar, or extend the leg near the head over his head for the inverted arm bar. If he frees your trapped leg in the inverted arm bar, then go to the triangle.

[Ian Elliott]

Turn your body and step on the shoulder with the free leg, straighten the trapped leg; and step out like the 100 meter dash on sprinter blocks.

[Jared Gammel]

I think I understand what you're saying for both of these. I feel like attacking that inside arm is the natural thing to do, but when they know it's coming, it seems pretty easy to hide it and work the double-under pass. I was working for arm bars and triangles in this situation but found myself giving up sweeps. So I began focusing more on maintaining the position.

I'll definitely look more into your second escape suggestion, as that is closer to what I had in mind. Thanks!

[AJ Camacho]

There's a way to use both of your insteps to trap their thigh. I saw it as an arm bar submission from top half guard in Dave Camarillo's book and accidently used it while somebody was using a deep half sweep on me. Trapping their leg prevented them from coming up on top buying me time to fight for their arm to secure the arm bar.

Admittedly, my partners deep half wasn't that great but he entered it with a properly defended arm until he got stuck.

[Ubereem1]

there is no defense deep half will always get you

[Ian Elliott]

Your on the right track, the first thing is holding your base. If the opponent hides the inside arm and scoots out further get ready to turn into him or he'll take your back. If he gets stuck, that's when you can regain your base to attack or escape.

[Chris Herzog]

I use the Russian Cowboy Vs Deep Half.

[Jared Gammel]

Thanks for the follow-up Ian. I'm definitely going to break that down today.

Chris- I'm trying to imagine bypassing the head on top and getting to the RC as they whip under to deep half. Do you still have one leg between their legs, and you're working the knee bar from there? Or are you somehow getting your trapped leg out?

[Chris Herzog]

You have to time it as they first dive in for deep half, stuff their head and sit hard on their stomach. You leave your leg in between thiers, get the deep hook and work from there. Leaving the leg in is just skipping a step in the path later on. Its like getting a Free NewYork in RG, if they put their hand on the mat.