Basic Sweep from Half Guard
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Half Guard Sweep·Absolute MMA St Kilda - Melbourne
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Half Guard Sweep
Familyハーフガードスイープ(Hāfu Gādo Suīpu)
Translation: Half guard sweep
Overview
The Half Guard Sweep family covers all sweeping (reversal) techniques executed from the half guard position — where the bottom player controls one of the opponent's legs between their own legs and uses that control as leverage for reversals. [1] Half guard sweeps were revolutionised by Roberto 'Gordo' Correa in the 1990s, who transformed half guard from a mere recovery position into a complete offensive platform, and were further developed by Lucas Leite, Tom DeBlass, Bernardo Faria, and the 10th Planet Lockdown system. [1],[2] The underhook-based sweep (coming to the knees with an underhook and driving forward) is the most fundamental and highest-percentage half guard sweep, while deep half guard sweeps (sliding underneath the opponent) and Lockdown sweeps (using the figure-four leg control) provide alternative pathways. [2],[3] Half guard sweeps are among the most commonly executed sweeps in both gi and no-gi competition because half guard is the most frequently reached guard position during scrambles and guard recovery. [3]
Half Guard ReversalHalf Guard SweepSweep From Half Guard
History & Origin
Half guard sweeps were developed primarily by Roberto 'Gordo' Correa in the 1990s after a knee injury limited his closed guard game, forcing him to develop an offensive system from half guard. [1] Gordo's old school sweep and underhook system proved that half guard was a viable offensive position, not just a guard recovery step. [1],[2] Lucas Leite refined the system and won multiple IBJJF World Championships using half guard sweeps as his primary technique. [2],[3] Eddie Bravo's Lockdown system added a no-gi dimension, and Jeff Glover and Ryan Hall developed the deep half guard sweep game. [3]
Effectiveness
Half guard sweeps are among the most effective and commonly used sweeps in competition because half guard is the most frequently reached guard position during scrambles and guard passes. [1] Lucas Leite's competition record demonstrates half guard sweep effectiveness at the highest level — multiple IBJJF World Championship titles won primarily from half guard. [2] The old school sweep is one of the highest-percentage individual sweeps in all of BJJ. [3]
Lineage
Competition Record
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Using the controlled leg as an anchor point while the bottom player generates sweeping force through underhook leverage, hip elevation, or leg entanglement to reverse the top player
Joints Involved — Legs (trapping one of the opponent's legs between the knees creates the anchor — without this control the sweep has no fulcrum), hips (driving upward and forward to generate sweeping force), shoulders (the near-side underhook is the critical grip — it prevents the crossface and provides the leverage for coming to the knees)
Force Vector — Forward and upward — the underhook sweep drives the bottom player up to the knees while pulling the opponent forward; the trapped leg prevents the opponent from posting, Deep half: upward from below, elevating the opponent from underneath, Lockdown: lateral, flattening the opponent's base by extending the trapped leg sideways
Sweep Mechanic — Half guard sweeps exploit the trapped leg — with one leg controlled, the top player cannot post or base on that side; the sweep drives the opponent toward the trapped-leg side where they have no ability to resist
Position & Entry
Old School sweep (underhook half guard) — Secure the near-side underhook, fight through the crossface, come to the knees while controlling the opponent's far leg, and drive forward to complete the sweep — ending in top half guard or side control [1]
Deep half sweep — Slide underneath the opponent's hips from half guard, hook their far leg, and elevate them from below by bridging — the opponent rolls over the top of you [2]
Lockdown electric chair sweep — From Lockdown half guard (figure-four leg control), stretch the opponent's trapped leg by extending the Lockdown, creating a sweeping force that tips them sideways
Plan B / Dog Fight sweep — From the underhook half guard, come to the knees in the 'dog fight' position (both fighters on their knees), then use the underhook to drive through or take the back
Videos
Wedding Sweep from Half Guard Basic
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Half Guard Sweep·TeachMeGrappling Coach Brian
This video we work on the wedding sweep again when an opponent is attempting to knee slice. Check out the details and y…
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
2
Low2/10
Half guard sweeps are ground-based reversals with minimal impact; the primary risk is the top player securing a guillotine or d'arce choke during the sweep attempt when the bottom player comes to the knees
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
— Unified MMA — Legal defensive technique
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— IBJJF — Legal — escapes and sweeps are fundamental to BJJ...
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— IJF — Legal
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF— 4 from mount/back
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDF— FIAS Combat Sambo — Legal
FIAS Combat Sambo RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓The underhook battle determines everything in half guard — whoever wins the underhook wins the position; fight for the near-side underhook before anything else (Lucas Leite's training philosophy) [1]
✓Come to the knees BEFORE trying to sweep — the sweep from flat on your back is much weaker than the sweep from the knees; the underhook should pull you up to the dog fight position
✓Control the far leg — during the old school sweep, gripping the opponent's far pant leg or hooking their far leg prevents them from posting and completing the pass
✓Deep half guard requires comfort underneath — drill getting your hips deep under the opponent until the position feels natural; the sweep mechanics are powerful but the entry is psychologically challenging
✓The Lockdown requires practice — crossing your feet in a figure-four over the opponent's trapped leg takes specific timing; drill the Lockdown entry from half guard [2]
✓Chain sweeps with back takes — the underhook half guard position is equally good for sweeping and for taking the back; train both pathways and switch between them based on the opponent's reaction
✓In no-gi, the underhook is even more critical — without gi grips, the underhook is the primary control mechanism from half guard
✓Train against the crossface — the top player's crossface is the primary weapon against half guard sweeps; develop the ability to fight through the crossface
Common Mistakes
!Attempting to sweep without the underhook — the underhook is the foundation of half guard offence; sweeping without it is extremely difficult
!Staying flat on the back — half guard sweeps require getting to the side or knees; flat-on-back half guard is purely defensive
!Not controlling the far leg — during the old school sweep, the opponent can post with their far leg if it's not controlled, stopping the sweep
!Coming to the knees with the head down — rising with the head too low exposes the neck to guillotines and d'arce chokes; keep the head up
!Only trying one sweep — if the old school sweep is defended, immediately chain to plan B, deep half, or back take; single-attempt sweeping is predictable
!Neglecting the Lockdown — many practitioners avoid the Lockdown because it requires specific positioning; it is a powerful tool that should be developed
!Forgetting about the crossface — allowing the top player to drive a crossface while attempting to sweep flattens you and kills the underhook
Related Techniques
Half Guard (Position) — the position from which these sweeps are executedGuard Sweep — the broader sweep categoryBack Take — accessible from the dog fight position alongside sweepsDeep Half Guard — a specialised position for deep half sweepsLockdown — 10th Planet half guard control for electric chair sweeps
Counter Techniques
Crossface — driving the forearm across the bottom player's face to flatten them and kill the underhookFree the Leg — hip switching and knee slice to extract the trapped legWhizzer — overhook with hip pressure to counter the underhookGuillotine — attacking the neck when the bottom player comes to the knees with their head lowD'Arce/Anaconda — arm triangle attacks when the bottom player's head is exposed during the sweep
Setup Chain
1Recover Half Guard — trap one of the opponent's legs when guard is being passed
2Establish Knee Shield — place shin across opponent's torso for space
3Win Underhook — fight for the near-side underhook
4Come to Knees — use the underhook to rise to dog fight position
5Sweep or Back Take — drive forward to sweep or turn the corner for back take
6Consolidate — establish top position or back control
Sources & References
Primary Source
Jiu-Jitsu University (Saulo Ribeiro, 2008)
1BookJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Description sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) and Roberto Gordo's innovation [2] Lucas Leite competition record [3] Deep half and Lockdown development
2BookMastering the Rubber Guard (Bravo, 2006)
3BookHalf Guard instructionals (Lucas Leite, Tom DeBlass)
4CitationJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Description sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) and Roberto Gordo's innovation [2] Lucas Leite competition record [3] Deep half and Lockdown development
5CitationMastering the Rubber Guard (Bravo, 2006)
6CitationHalf Guard instructionals (Lucas Leite, Tom DeBlass)
Community
Athletics
Requires
upper body strength (underhook battle), hip mobility (coming to knees from bottom), leg strength (maintaining half guard control)
Favours
strong shoulders (underhook and whizzer battles), compact build (easier to get underneath for deep half)
Key muscles
shoulders (underhook), core (coming to knees), hamstrings (trapping the leg), forearms (grip fighting)
Sub-techniques
Deep Half Sweep
SubFamilyThe Deep Half Sweep subfamily covers sweeps from the deep half guard, an advanced half guard variation where the guard player dives deep underneath the opponent, positioning their body entirely beneath the opponent's hips. [1] Deep half guard provides extraordinary sweeping leverage because the guard player is directly under the opponent's centre of gravity, making it possible to off-balance and sweep with relatively little effort. [1,2] Deep half sweeps include the waiter sweep (hooking the far leg with the foot), the Homer Simpson sweep (walking under to the other side), and direct elevations. [2,3]
3 genera·3 techniquesExplore
Electric Chair Sweep
SubFamilyThe Electric Chair Sweep subfamily covers the half guard sweep that uses a lockdown (double leg interlock) on the opponent's trapped leg combined with an underhook to stretch and sweep the opponent by lifting their leg with the lockdown and driving with the underhook. [1] The electric chair gets its name from the stretching effect on the opponent's groin and hip — the lockdown pulls the trapped leg while the underhook pushes the body, creating an uncomfortable split that either sweeps the opponent or forces them to give up the position. [1,2] The electric chair is both a sweep and a submission threat, as the stretch can force a tap-out from groin or hip pain. [2,3]
1 genera·1 techniquesExplore
Old School Sweep
SubFamilyThe Old School Sweep subfamily covers the classic half guard underhook sweep where the guard player obtains an underhook, comes up to the knees, and drives the opponent over using the underhook leverage and the half guard leg control. [1] The 'old school' sweep is so named because it was one of the earliest half guard sweeps developed, predating the more modern deep half and lockdown systems. [1,2] The sweep uses fundamental principles — underhook control, hip switch, and forward drive — making it one of the most reliable and universally applicable half guard sweeps. [2,3]
1 genera·1 techniquesExplore
Plan B Sweep
SubFamilyThe Plan B Sweep subfamily covers the half guard sweep that is typically used when the primary underhook sweep fails and the opponent drives their weight down, creating an opportunity for an alternative sweep angle. [1] The 'Plan B' name reflects its role as the secondary sweep option from half guard — when the opponent defends the underhook sweep by driving forward, their forward momentum can be redirected into a different sweep direction. [1,2] Plan B sweeps typically involve taking a different grip configuration and sweeping the opponent in a different direction than the original underhook sweep attempt. [2,3]
1 genera·1 techniquesExplore
Notes
Half guard sweeps include the old school sweep, plan B sweep, electric chair, and dozens of other variations. Half guard appears in 547 passages across 23 books. Roberto 'Gordo' Correa revolutionized the half guard from a failed position into one of the most sophisticated attack platforms in BJJ. (23 books; Ribeiro, Jiu-Jitsu University)
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the most common mistake when setting up a half guard sweep?
A common mistake is being flat on your back instead of on your side. According to Absolute MMA St Kilda, you need your hips out to the side with proper frames in place, or your opponent can easily escape back into a dominant position.
Should I remove my knee shield before going for the underhook?
No. Absolute MMA St Kilda emphasizes that you should replace the knee shield with your underhook simultaneously—taking the underhook as the knee shield removes. If you remove the knee shield first, your opponent can drop down and pass your guard.
Why do I get stuck when trying to come up to my knees during the sweep?
You likely haven't switched your leg hook. Absolute MMA St Kilda explains that if you keep the same leg hooked during the sweep, it will trap you and prevent you from standing up—you must change your feet and remove the hooked leg to complete the sweep cleanly.
What's the key to maintaining half guard control before attacking?
Always keep your opponent's leg trapped with at least one of your legs and maintain your knee shield. Absolute MMA St Kilda stresses never leaving the trapped leg untrapped at any point, as this is your primary control mechanism.
How does the Half Guard Sweep work?
The Half Guard Sweep family covers all sweeping (reversal) techniques executed from the half guard position — where the bottom player controls one of the opponent's legs between their own legs and uses that control as leverage for reversals. Half guard sweeps were revolutionised by Roberto 'Gordo' Correa in the 1990s, who transformed half guard from a mere recovery position into a complete offensive platform, and were further developed by Lucas Leite, Tom DeBlass, Bernardo Faria, and the 10th Planet Lockdown system.
Where does the Half Guard Sweep come from?
Half guard sweeps were developed primarily by Roberto 'Gordo' Correa in the 1990s after a knee injury limited his closed guard game, forcing him to develop an offensive system from half guard. Gordo's old school sweep and underhook system proved that half guard was a viable offensive position, not just a guard recovery step.
Is the Half Guard Sweep legal in competition?
Unified MMA: legal — Legal defensive technique; IBJJF: legal — Legal — escapes and sweeps are fundamental to BJJ, sweep from bottom scores 2…; IJF: legal — Legal; ADCC: legal — Legal, sweep scores 2 points (4 from mount/back); FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Half Guard Sweep?
Danger rating 2/10. Low — half guard sweeps are ground-based reversals with minimal impact; the primary risk is the top player securing a guillotine or d'arce choke during the sweep attempt when the bottom player comes to the knees
How do I set up the Half Guard Sweep?
The standard setup chain: Recover Half Guard → Establish Knee Shield → Win Underhook → Come to Knees → Sweep or Back Take → Consolidate.
How do I defend against the Half Guard Sweep?
Standard counters include: Crossface — driving the forearm across the bottom player's face to flatten them and kill the underhook / Free the Leg — hip switching and knee slice to extract the trapped leg / Whizzer — overhook with hip pressure to counter the underhook / Guillotine — attacking the neck when the bottom player comes to the knees with their head low.
What are the variants of the Half Guard Sweep?
Common variants: Old School sweep (the fundamental underhook half guard sweep; come to knees…); Plan B (Dog Fight) (from the underhook dog fight position, use single-leg-sty…); Deep half sweep (sliding underneath and elevating the opponent from below [2]); Electric chair sweep (Lockdown-based sweep that opens the opponent's legs later…); Knee tap sweep (from the underhook, tap the opponent's far knee while dri…); Roll-under back take (instead of sweeping to top, roll underneath to take the b…); Half butterfly sweep (combining a butterfly hook with half guard control for an…); Waiter sweep (from deep half, use the far leg to elevator the opponent …).
How effective is the Half Guard Sweep in competition?
Half guard sweeps score 2 points in IBJJF/ADCC. Lucas Leite won multiple World Championship titles primarily from half guard sweeps.
What are common mistakes when doing the Half Guard Sweep?
Top errors to watch for: Attempting to sweep without the underhook — the underhook is the foundation of half guard offence; sweeping without i… / Staying flat on the back — half guard sweeps require getting to the side or knees; flat-on-back half guard is purely … / Not controlling the far leg — during the old school sweep, the opponent can post with their far leg if it's not contr… / Coming to the knees with the head down — rising with the head too low exposes the neck to guillotines and d'arce chok….
What are other names for the Half Guard Sweep?
The Half Guard Sweep is also known as Hāfu Gādo Suīpu, Half Guard Reversal, Half Guard Sweep, Sweep From Half Guard.