Eddie Bravo and half guard sweeps.

[Ke?poFist]

A question to those whom have read Eddie Bravo's "Jiu-Jitsu Unleashed" book. I've found alot of his rubber guard stuff to be phenomenal and I try to use it when I can, but I really wanted to put his half guard stuff into use, because I tend to get screwed when on the bottom there.

Old School and Plan B looked like solid moves I could work into my game, but I never seemed to be able to get the space necessary. In the pictures, Joe Rogan is being demonstrated on, being on the top in half guard, but he is posted up a bit with Eddie shimmied down with double underhooks. From there, he continues for the sweep.

When I under half guard, I find most opponents place a really tight game. Usually I can get my arms under for underhooks, but then fighting to get my head down away from their shoulder pressure is usually a strain. Assuming I do get my head down WITH the double unders then I'm usually stuck with the weight on their chest onto my head stopping me from creating the distance necessary to grab the foot and complete the sweep.

Anyone else have any experience trying these sweeps?

[Cassius]

Did you search hard at all before you posted this? I can distinctly remember at least three threads about Bravo's half guard game in which details are covered in a minute manner. Hell, Aesopian just put out a big article about it like a week and a half ago. Check www.aesopian.com for that. Hell, search through my training log for that matter.

All that aside, please tell me you've at least seen these sweeps done in an orthodox manner before. I've known the same sweeps from regular half guard for years.

Yes, I get it. You train BJJ. Don't be like Osiris was when he got some stripes and start a new thread about every single question you have.

[Cassius]

You realize that this is still DHS, right? IRON FIST and all that?

[Cassius]

Nothing new at all. The only difference is that he does it with lockdown. Which is why I'm being pissy.

[Ke?poFist]

Did you search hard at all before you posted this? I can distinctly remember at least three threads about Bravo's half guard game in which details are covered in a minute manner. Hell, Aesopian just put out a big article about it like a week and a half ago. Check www.aesopian.com for that. Hell, search through my training log for that matter.

All that aside, please tell me you've at least seen these sweeps done in an orthodox manner before. I've known the same sweeps from regular half guard for years.

Yes, I get it. You train BJJ. Don't be like Osiris was when he got some stripes and start a new thread about every single question you have.

Jesus Christ I ask one question and this is what I get? Wouldn't the typical thing be getting a few stripes, and then lecturing everyone else about how to do things rather than asking questions?

No I didn't search for that specific question. I recall the book being discussed and thats the thread that prompted me to buy it, but from memory I don't recall the half guard being discussed in any depth on this specific issue.

Yes I know more orthodox sweeps, but 9/10 times I find it easier to work back to guard rather than go for a sweep. I was kind of hoping Eddie's book would give me some new ideas on how to sweep easier, but it seems my primary problem is creating enough space to work for anything.

Out of curiousity what IS allowed to be discussed in here besides posting videos and group fellation?

[Cassius]

Pick something that hasn't been discussed before. Write a thoughtful post. Discuss that.

You're lucky Boyd is in a giving mood.

[Boyd]

I actually feel like being helpful today. Fancy that.

So you've got the Lockdown, got the double unders, but you're too high on their body, correct? I actually had a similar discussion about this with Aeso. We both felt the Lockdown inhibits hip movement and more or less locks you down alongside your opponent, and if you don't catch it when you're already low on your opponent, you're fucking yourself. Then Mastering the Rubber Guard came out, and all our concerns were addressed.

Go to Borders and look up the Whip Up in Mastering the Rubber Guard. Basically, from where you're getting stuck, you raise their trapped foot in the air, plant your hands in their hips, and pop them up for a second while you shoot your body as low under theirs as you can get. You want yourself to be in a tight little ball directly underneath their hips. From here, I immediately drive forward and grab the ankle. I have trouble getting Old School from here; almost no one passively allows you to just grab their foot and bowl them over, but luckily, almost everyone will drive back into you, making Plan B a much higher percentage move in my opinion.

And...I usually don't advocate this, but don't rule out the Electric Chair. I've gotten some really good people in that move when they try to avoid Plan B by posting their leg out wide.

[Ke?poFist]

Thanks Boyd. I think I see what you mean about popping them up. My first issue is usually baiting them or boring them into releasing my neck (usually my opponent goes for over/under to lock me down before working for a submission or pass).

But I'll have to take a look at that book and see what you mean in detail. I also set myself up for some private instruction to work specifically on half guard.

[Xanen]

My half-guard game is more traditional in that I do similar sweeps, but without the lockdown.

Here are some tips which may or may not be helpful:
1) Make sure you're properly on your side. If your shoulder blade is on the mat, you probably aren't at the right angle.
2) Don't get crossfaced. Play the "paw" game if you need to.
3) For the Old School style sweep, make sure you reach your bottom arm below his butt instead of trying to reach around his back. In order for that to happen, you really need to crunch yourself down.
4) If you're still getting stuck after trapping his far leg, try scissoring your legs before coming up. It's not absolutely necessary but will give you a lot more leverage.
5) As with most moves, I rarely get Old School on the first try. I'll go for it, then switch to a different sweep depending on their reaction. Most of my half-guard sweepage involves rocking front to back. Be prepared to dive completely under their leg and come out the back door.
6) There's nothing wrong with going back to full guard if that's working out well for you.

[Boyd]

Thanks Boyd. I think I see what you mean about popping them up. My first issue is usually baiting them or boring them into releasing my neck (usually my opponent goes for over/under to lock me down before working for a submission or pass).

Ounce of prevention, tonne of cure. I've found the optimal timing for setting up your half guard is before you've even entered half guard. Sometimes this can seem backwards. For example, in the traditional knee-elbow escape, you want your opponent sitting low on your hips, but once you regain half guard, you want to dive back into him and get yourself as low under him as possible. In a situation like this, I IMMEDIATELY begin pummeling. Immediately begin working to your side. Immediately begin balling up. It sounds to me like you're getting flattened out and fighting from there. While there are methods for creating space and winning the pummeling war from this position, it is VASTLY harder than fighting to remain on your side.

[Cassius]

What Boyd says is true. The last place you want to be fighting from in half guard is your back all flattened out like a dead fish. Just because I'm bored, I'll try to lay this out in a way that makes sense with the BJJ "position before submission" adage.

If you're in half guard, try not to get flattened out. If you get flattened out, start pummelling for underhooks while defending the pass and rocking as much as you can to try to get on your side. IF you accomplish that, start focusing on balling up. Hip up to your side if you're not playing lockdown. If you're playing lockdown, try to get as low as possible.

Don't automatically assume "HAY I'M IN HALF GUARD IT'S BRAVO TIME." Just like every other position, there's the right way to play half guard, and then there's the wrong way. Take care of your priorities first.

In review:

Don't get flattened out. If you do, work for underhooks and/or try to get on your side. After you get one or the other, work for the one you haven't gotten yet. Get to the position you want to be in. NOW start working technique.

[GIJoe6186]

KempoFist, get to your side first, I agree with Boyd. Having just started playing with the Lockdown, when your being pressed down, raise your legs and lift him into the air. That will drive his weight forward and onto you, having him react by trying to put his weight back down at the rear. Then you can come back up.

The Lockdown is all about timing because as Boyd pointed out, it restricts your hip movement. Thats why when you go for Old School you have to let it go, but at the right time.

[Boyd]

One thing you'll find about the Lockdown is that you can sometimes use it to help you out of a stalemate. I've had guys flatten me out into a seemingly hopeless half guard nightmare, but I kept moving their trapped leg around. I'd push it up in the air, bring it in close to their other leg, stretch it away. Even though they had superior positioning on me, they didn't feel comfortable in their base and would very mildly panic, giving me just enough room to bump them up and swim in for a precious underhook.

[GIJoe6186]

Thats what I use it for mostly. he night I first learned it I was keeping this guy who outweighed me by 50lbs and always blew through my gaurd at bay. The best thing is it trulyy locks the guy down.

It gives you time to think.

Instead of me going "oh shit here he comes" I kept him in place until I got my underhooks in and then proceeded with sweep.

[Cassius]

I guess this is the part where I get all gay and lay out my half guard game for you to copy.

My half guard game generally works in this order: I fuck up, my guard gets passed, or I regain half guard from side control. I almost always immediately go to lockdown and start bumping. Whilst in lockdown, I pummel for underhooks unless I'm planning on trying one of the more novel half guard sweeps. If I can get underneath the guy's hips, I'll play lockdown like x-guard and use lockdowned x-guard sweeps. Why? BECAUSE I CAN STOP ASKING QUESTIONS. If I can't, I'll get up on my side, start doing monkey feet, and hit half butterfly (stolen from my old BJJ coach and Aesopian).

Sometimes, for hilarity's sake, I'll take a kimura grip, drop my leg, spin around to north south, sweep, and take the t-bag finish.