This week on GB Technique we are looking at techniques and strategies to control and pass the half guard as taught by Gracie Barra black belt instructors.

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Whenever I watch tournaments matches – especially in the blue belt divisions – I see a lot of top players getting caught in the half guard and unable to pass.

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The bottom half guard player has many strong sweeping options from the bottom. It can be very frustrating to find yourself trapped in a half guard and unable to free your leg.

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The jiu-jitsu competitor needs several tools to be able to deal with the various half guard situations that they will encounter.

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Let’s check out several techniques to pass the half guard from some of Gracie Barra’s top instructors

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1) Half Guard Pass Sprawling the Hips

Throwback to Prof. Marcio Feitosa showing some great details on how to neutralize and pass your opponent’s half guard. Great pass and this should be in your passing arsenal!

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2) How to free your leg

Prof. Fabiana Borges shows a secret to freeing your leg from a tight entanglement. This is a must know technique to free your leg!

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3) Passing Deep Half Guard

It is common that half guard players will transition between regular half guard and deep half guard positions. You need to understand the position or you will be swept and surrender the 2 points. GB Montreal Head Instructor Prof, Bruno Fernandes shows us how.

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4) Half-Guard Pass using Kimura grip

Gracie Barra Jupiter brings us a nice no-gi technique to use the Kimura grip to control the opponent and force the pass.

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5) Defend Kimura and take the back / Defesa de Kimura na Meia Guarda Pegando as Costas

many students ask about how to defend and neutralize the Kimura attack from the bottom half guard? Note the slick leg work in this technique.

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Do you have problems passing the half guard? Please share your own tips on how to defeat the half guard and pass.

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Credits: Mark Mullen

Gracie Barra Black belt based in Asia