Old School Sweep

Half-guard underhook sweep that captures the far ankle and rolls the passer over the trapped leg — a staple dogfight finish.

From Half Guard / DogfightTo Top Half or Side Control

Overview

The old-school sweep sits up with an underhook from half guard (often dogfight), reaches the far ankle or pants, and rolls the opponent over the trapped near leg to come up on top. It is one of the highest-percentage half-guard sweeps when the underhook is live.

#Win the Underhook

Flat half guard does not old-school well.

Sit up into dogfight with a live underhook
Keep the near leg clamped
Win head/shoulder position
Spot the far ankle or pants

#Capture and Roll

Reach the far ankle/heel
Pull the ankle as the underhook elevates
Roll them over the trapped near leg
Follow your hips to the top

#Consolidate Top

The sweep ends in a pin.

Land in top half or side control
Clear immediate frames
Establish cross-face/underhook
Only then hunt submissions

Key Grips & Control Points

Strong underhook on the near side
Far ankle, pants, or heel capture
Bottom-leg clamp that keeps their near leg trapped through the roll
Head position that wins the shoulder race in dogfight

Timing & Movement Cues

Sweep when they post the free hand or stand the far foot close
Attack as they drive pressure without clearing the underhook
Finish when their far base is already light

Typical Counters to Expect

Whizzer that kills the sit-up before the ankle capture
Stepping the far foot back out of reach
Flattening you and clearing the clamp mid-reach

Follow-Up Options

Side control or mount after a clean roll
Back take if they post and turn away
Waiter / deep-half chains if they stand to free the ankle

Setups & Entries

Dogfight sit-up from Z-guard or classic half
Failed smash-pass that gifts the underhook
Deep-half exits that land you in dogfight with a live underhook

Training Drills

Dogfight underhook to far-ankle captures
Old-school roll to top consolidation
Old-school vs back-take decision when they post

Coaching Notes

Underhook first, ankle second
Keep the near-leg clamp until you are coming up on top
If the far ankle escapes, do not chase — reset dogfight structure

Related Study

Connect this movement with complementary positions and attacks.

Half Guard →Dogfight →Z-Guard →Deep Half Guard →Waiter's Sweep →Back Control →

Summary

Old-school sweep wins the half-guard underhook, captures the far ankle, and rolls them over the trapped leg. Keep the clamp through the finish, and switch to back takes or deep half when they post or stand.

Related Techniques