BJJ | An Introduction To The Deep Half Guard
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Deep Half Guard·Evolve Mixed Martial Arts
BJJ World Champion Teco Shinzato from the EVOLVE Fight Team gives An Introduction To The Deep Half Guard in Brazilian Ji…
Deep Half Guard
SubFamilyディープハーフガード(Dīpu Hāfu Gādo)
TransliterationTranslation: deep half guard
Overview
The Deep Half Guard subfamily covers the advanced half guard variation where the guard player dives deep underneath the opponent, positioning the body entirely beneath the opponent's hips with the head and shoulders under the opponent's centre of gravity. [1] Deep half guard provides extraordinary sweeping leverage because the guard player's body is directly under the opponent's weight, making off-balancing and sweeping possible with relatively little effort. [1],[2] The position requires comfort with being underneath an opponent and strong hip movement to navigate the under-body space. [2],[3]
History & Origin
The deep half guard was developed by Jeff Glover and further systematised by Ryan Hall and Bernardo Faria, who used it as the centrepiece of his five-time world championship competition game. [1] Faria's dominant use of deep half guard proved its effectiveness at the highest levels of competition. [2],[3]
Effectiveness
The deep half guard provides an exceptionally strong sweeping position by placing the guard player directly underneath the opponent's centre of gravity, making sweeps mechanically efficient. [1] Bernardo Faria describes the deep half as the most reliable sweeping position in BJJ because the opponent's weight is loaded directly over the guard player's hips. [2]
Lineage
Competition Record
Bernardo Faria used the deep half guard as his primary position to win five IBJJF World Championship titles at the black belt level, including victories over elite competitors. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Using the legs and hips to control the opponent from the bottom — maintaining distance management and attack angles
Joints Involved — Hips (primary engine for sweeps and attacks), knees (framing and hooking), ankles (secondary hooks)
Force Vector — Pulling, framing, and hip-escaping — creating angles for attacks while preventing passing
Positional Mechanic — The guard is an active offensive position — leg control compensates for bottom positioning by threatening sweeps and submissions
Position & Entry
From guard retention — When opponent starts to pass, trap one leg between your legs to establish half guard
From sweep attempt — After a failed sweep, retain the position by securing half guard control on one leg
Videos
Deep Half to Coyote Guard
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Deep Half Guard·Malachy Friedman
The Coyote Guard is an amazing addition to the BJJ half guard allowing the guard player to take away the mobility of the…
2 videos
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
2
Low2/10
Guard positions are defensive; injury risk comes from transitions, not the position itself
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Restricted
— IJF — Guard pulling penalized as non-combativity — ground...
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDFLegal
— IBJJF — Legal — guard is fundamental to BJJ, sweeps from ...
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— ADCC — Legal, guard pull penalized -1 point in points por...
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— Unified MMA — Legal — no penalty for playing guard
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓Deep half guard is an inverted position where the guard player slides underneath the opponent to control one leg from below — it provides sweeps that are nearly impossible to stop once the position is established (Jeff Glover, Deep Half Guard, instructional)
✓Deep half guard works by getting underneath the opponent's centre of gravity — their weight works against them
✓The entry to deep half: from standard half guard, underhook the far leg and slide underneath, ending with the opponent's leg over your shoulder
✓Deep half guard sweeps rely on leverage: the guard player's body acts as a fulcrum to tip the opponent over
✓The waiter sweep (extending the trapped leg overhead) and the Homer Simpson sweep (rolling under) are the two primary deep half sweeps
✓Deep half guard is extremely difficult to counter: the opponent cannot use their weight effectively because it's above their base
✓Bernardo Faria used deep half guard to win multiple world championships at the heavyweight level — proving its effectiveness at the highest level
Common Mistakes
!Entering deep half without controlling the far leg — the leg control is what makes the position work
!Getting underneath without a plan to sweep — deep half is not a resting position; sweep immediately
!Allowing the opponent to establish a crossface before entering deep half — the crossface prevents the entry
!Not protecting the neck in deep half — guillotine threats exist; keep the chin tucked
!Staying in deep half too long — the position has a timing element; sweep before the opponent adjusts
!Not maintaining the leg over the shoulder — if the leg slips off, the position is lost
!Using deep half exclusively without developing other half guard tools — it should be part of a complete system
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Achieve Guard Contact — establish leg control around or against the opponent
2Control Grips — secure sleeve, collar, or wrist control for manipulation
3Manage Distance — use legs and grips to control the range and prevent passing
4Threaten Submissions/Sweeps — create offensive threats to keep the opponent reactive
Sources & References
Primary Source
Jiu-Jitsu University (Saulo Ribeiro, 2008)
1BookThe Guard (Moreira & Beneville, 2008)
Alias sources — [1] IBJJF Rules (2024) [2] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [3] The Guard (Moreira & Beneville, 2003)
2BookJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [2] IBJJF official records
3OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
4CitationThe Guard (Moreira & Beneville, 2008)
Alias sources — [1] IBJJF Rules (2024) [2] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [3] The Guard (Moreira & Beneville, 2003)
5CitationJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [2] IBJJF official records
Community
Athletics
Requires
hip flexibility, active legs, grip management
Favours
long legs for distance control and guard retention
Key muscles
hip flexors, adductors, quadriceps, core, grip
Sub-techniques
Standard Deep Half
GenusThe Standard Deep Half establishes the deep half guard with the guard player fully underneath the opponent, one arm hugging the controlled leg, head positioned under the opponent's hip, with the body serving as a platform beneath the opponent's base. [1] From this position, the guard player can execute waiter sweeps, Homer Simpson sweeps, and direct elevations by simply shifting the hips and using the under-body leverage. [1,2] The standard deep half requires the guard player to be comfortable in a compressed, underneath position. [2,3]
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Waiter Deep Half
GenusThe Waiter Deep Half positions the guard player in deep half guard with the free leg extended upward to hook the opponent's far leg — holding it like a waiter holding a tray — creating a sweeping platform. [1] The waiter position adds the far-leg hook to the standard deep half, providing an additional lever for sweeping and control. [1,2] The extended leg hook both prevents the opponent from basing with the far leg and creates a powerful elevation mechanism for the sweep. [2,3]
Explore
Notes
Deep half guard appears in 18 passages across 4 books. The bottom player dives deep under the opponent's center of gravity with the underhook side. Jeff Glover and Bernardo Faria are the most famous deep half guard specialists. Jiu Jitsu Style (2015) documents de la Riva to deep half guard transitions and sleeve control sweeps from deep half. (Jiu Jitsu Style 28, 2015; 4 books in corpus)
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main concept of playing deep half guard?
The core concept is to put your arm in between, get your hips in close, and control your opponent's hips near your face. You don't need to be fast—you have to be tight and control the situation, then analyze your opponent's posture and weight distribution to choose the right response.
Why would I use deep half guard instead of regular half guard?
Deep half guard allows you to control your opponent close to you and gives you multiple ways to pass the guard or keep them far from you, providing more control options in specific situations.
What should I do if my opponent stands up while I'm attacking from deep half?
You have transitions available—if your sweep attempt causes your opponent to stand up, you can change to X guard or transition to 50/50 guard to maintain control of the situation.
How do I get into deep half guard from other positions?
You can transition into deep half guard from positions like Bella Riva or lasso guard by lifting slightly, kicking, and hooking your opponent's leg while controlling the hips and knee.
How does the Deep Half Guard work?
The Deep Half Guard subfamily covers the advanced half guard variation where the guard player dives deep underneath the opponent, positioning the body entirely beneath the opponent's hips with the head and shoulders under the opponent's centre of gravity. Deep half guard provides extraordinary sweeping leverage because the guard player's body is directly under the opponent's weight, making off-balancing and sweeping possible with relatively little effort.
Where does the Deep Half Guard come from?
The deep half guard was developed by Jeff Glover and further systematised by Ryan Hall and Bernardo Faria, who used it as the centrepiece of his five-time world championship competition game. Faria's dominant use of deep half guard proved its effectiveness at the highest levels of competition.
Is the Deep Half Guard legal in competition?
IBJJF: legal — Legal — guard is fundamental to BJJ, sweeps from guard score 2 points; IJF: restricted — Guard pulling penalized as non-combativity — groundwork from guard permitted …; ADCC: legal — Legal, guard pull penalized -1 point in points portion; Unified MMA: legal — Legal — no penalty for playing guard; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Deep Half Guard?
Danger rating 2/10. Low — guard positions are defensive; injury risk comes from transitions, not the position itself
How do I set up the Deep Half Guard?
The standard setup chain: Achieve Guard Contact → Control Grips → Manage Distance → Threaten Submissions/Sweeps.
How do I defend against the Deep Half Guard?
Standard counters include: Guard Pass — systematically work to clear the legs and establish a dominant position / Leg Pin — control one or both legs to neutralize guard retention / Pressure Passing — use heavy chest pressure to flatten and immobilize the guard player.
What are the variants of the Deep Half Guard?
Common variants: Standard half guard (one leg trapped between both legs with an underhook); Deep half guard (fully under the opponent with the leg fully entangled); Lockdown half guard (figure-four leg lock on the trapped leg (10th Planet)); Z-guard (knee shield) (knee across the opponent's chest creating a frame).
How effective is the Deep Half Guard in competition?
Bernardo Faria used the deep half guard as his primary position to win five IBJJF World Championship titles at the black belt level, including victories over elite competitors.
What are common mistakes when doing the Deep Half Guard?
Top errors to watch for: Entering deep half without controlling the far leg — the leg control is what makes the position work / Getting underneath without a plan to sweep — deep half is not a resting position; sweep immediately / Allowing the opponent to establish a crossface before entering deep half — the crossface prevents the entry / Not protecting the neck in deep half — guillotine threats exist; keep the chin tucked.
What are other names for the Deep Half Guard?
The Deep Half Guard is also known as Dīpu Hāfu Gādo, Deep Half, Meia Guarda Profunda, Deep Underhook Half.