In general in BJJ, if is very good to be aware of they direction your hips are pointing in relationship to you opponent. These half guard passes are no different. We’ll go over 4 variations.

But first one critical point: As Saulo Ribeiro says “The problem is not the pass, it’s how you start the pass.” It’s easy to think of half guard as a transitional position that you’re in while you’re on your way into a better one. However you think of half guard, you have to remember that even though you may be excited about geting closer to a dominant position, you still have to be smart and cannot afford to rush things. Back to Saulo’s wisdom…You have to remember to start you pass properly. This means flattening your opponent. Your opponent should be flat on their back before you start your pass.

Start in Half Guard. You are on top trying to pass. Your right leg is in their half guard.

1. – Flatten your opponent. Under hook them with your top (left) arm and grab their collar behind their neck as you circle your hips towards them. (you’re stepping into them on your knees)

2 – Once they are flat, “back turn”. Flop onto your outside hip and face their legs with your chest. Move your left arm grip down to their belt or the waist of their pants. With your other arm, apply pressure with your forearm to their top knee. From here, there are 3 options:

#1 – BACKTURN to MOUNT

IF they do not have an under hook with their top arm THEN

3 – Scoot your butt up towards their armpit on your near side and creep your elbow up on the far side as you try to elevate their arm and fold it over their face. As you go, grab their gi with your hand so that they cannot push your elbow down. When your armpit is just below their chin, reach around with that arm and grab the back of their collar, trapping their arm against their face. This is very uncomfortable for your opponent.

4. drop your trapped leg knee on the other side of their hips as you sit up to mount.

5. With your free ankle, press down on the top of their thighs to free your trapped ankle.

6. you now have the mount. Why not finish with a head and arm?

#2 – BACKTURN to SIDE CONTROL

IF they get and under hook THEN (You were going for #3 above but somehow their arm escaped and they got an under hook with their top arm)

4. Quickly under hook their under hook with your top arm and reach behind their neck and grab their collar.

5. Over hook their bottom arm with your other arm, judo side control style. as you post out with your free leg and turn your hips to face their head.

6. slide your trapped knee forward towards you posting foot. * If you need to free it, use your free foot to apply pressure to their legs where they are crossed. This will open up their half guard and free your legs.

7. End up in side control.

#3 – BACKTURN to NORTH SOUTH
IF they have an under hook way back at step 2, when you have reached back to grab their belt THEN (Remain back turned for the entire pass)

3. Try to keep their under hook trapped against their body as you scoot your butt up towards their armpit.

4. free your knee of the trapped leg by walking your foot up towards their butt. And pressing down on their bottom knee.

5. When your knee is free, pop the knee of your free leg in between your trapped leg and their hips.

6. pop the trapped leg out and circle to north south or establish side control.

#3 – SWITCH SIDES to SIDE CONTROL

IF they have a deep under hook way back at step 2 THEN
3. Over hook their top arm and grab the back of their jacket in the middle of their back.
4.Rotate your trapped leg so that it is parallel top their spine.
5.Post out with your free leg as you pop-up and sit onto of their top leg just above the knee.
6. Kick your free leg over, while you keep your head close to their chest pinning them down on their back as you switch sides.
7. Once you have cleared to their other side, grab their top knee with your free hand and scoot your butt up and frre your leg.
8. End in side control on their opposite side.

Key points:

Must flatten opponent before you start your half-guard pass.

Separating your opponents elbow from their side greatly weakens their ability to defend. (In the above examples, you do this by scooting your butt up towards their armpit and by creeping your own elbow up underneath theirs)

Sometimes it helps to start a pass with your end position in mind as your goal. “Okay I am starting this pass (#1) and I am going to end up mounted. Oh crap. They just got an under hook. Now I am going to change my plan and end up in side control. #2.”