Half guard is a bottom position where you control one of the opponent’s legs between your legs — used for retention, sweeps, and modern lockdown or knee-shield games.
Open BJJ Team
Half guard is a bottom position where you control one of the opponent’s legs between your legs — used for retention, sweeps, and modern lockdown or knee-shield games.
Half guard appears constantly in live rolling because many passes stall with one leg trapped.
Half guard is a bottom position where one of the opponent’s legs is trapped between your legs while you fight for underhooks, frames, and sweeps.
No. Modern half guard is a full offensive system with knee shields, underhooks, lockdowns, and back-take or sweep chains.
Focus on frames, getting an underhook or knee shield, and recovering fuller guard before chasing advanced lockdown attacks.
Heel hooks are generally not legal for white belts in IBJJF-style competition, and Open BJJ marks heel-hook IBJJF legality as restricted. ADCC and MMA rulesets often allow heel hooks, but event rules and division details always matter.
Build a simple closed-guard system around posture breaks, scissor and hip-bump sweeps, and two high-percentage submissions so every defense creates another threat.
No, you do not need to be in shape before starting BJJ. Class itself can build useful fitness if you manage intensity, breathe calmly, and train consistently.