Half Guard Battle
Mat mode
5:00
Tell the roomFrom half guard, top frees the trapped leg to side control or mount.
Show full gameHide full gameRules · how to win · coach notes
TOP PLAYER
POSITION
Chest to chest. Top has the crossface with one leg trapped between the bottom player's legs.
OBJECTIVE
Free the trapped leg to side control or mount. The pin counts once it holds 3 seconds.
CONSTRAINTS
No submissions. Both players work the position only. Bottom starts with the underhook. No flat-on-the-back half guard from the reset. No backstep. The top player passes forward instead of spinning to the far side. Reset when the top player frees the trapped leg to side control or mount and holds 3 seconds, or when the bottom player sweeps to top or recovers full guard. 5-6 min rounds.
WIN CONDITION
Free the trapped leg to side control or mount and hold the pin for 3 seconds.
BOTTOM PLAYER
POSITION
On their side in half guard with the far-side underhook.
OBJECTIVE
Sweep to top or recover full guard.
CONSTRAINTS
Same no-submission, underhook-start, no-backstep, and named reset rules. 5-6 min rounds.
WIN CONDITION
Sweep to top, or recover full guard.
In competition
See it in competition: Murilo Santana's Unstoppable No-Gi Pressure Passing →
Grapplers Collective, Half Guard Battle. 5-6 min rounds.
Problem
Offensive and defensive half guard mechanics under live resistance.
Tell the room
From half guard, top frees the trapped leg to side control or mount. Bottom sweeps to top or recovers full guard. The top pin counts once it holds 3 seconds.
Setup
Start chest to chest. Top has the crossface with one leg trapped between the bottom's legs. Bottom on their side with the far-side underhook.
Score
Hold the pin for 3 seconds.
- Top — frees the trapped leg to side control or mount
- Bottom — sweeps to top or recovers full guard
Rules
- No submissions. Both players work the position only.
- Bottom starts with the underhook. No flat-on-the-back half guard from the reset.
- No backstep. The top player passes forward instead of spinning to the far side.
Adjust
Easier
Give the bottom a deep, established underhook and have the top player work at 70 percent.
Harder
Add submissions for both players and allow the backstep.
If it stalls
If the bottom locks the legs and holds, add a 30-second clock — no sweep or recovery attempt and the top scores.
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