11/12/2019 - Teaching | Half Guard | Deep Half Entry & Outer Roll Sweep

Teaching #923
Artemis BJJ (Easton Road), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 11/12/2019

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Can (Jun) (@slideyfoot) on Jul 8, 2019 at 6:52pm PDT

From half guard, get in as low as possible, curling in towards their leg like you do for the toe grab sweep. Sometimes they keep their foot out of range, which is when I like to try for a position called deep half guard. Shoot your non-underhook hand between their legs, reaching for their opposite bum cheek. Try and get a shallow underhook too, in order to assist with pulling them off balance. The key thing here is to get your shoulder underneath, rather than trying to wrap their leg with your arm. You want to wriggle underneath as you swivel onto your back, your head on their thigh.

You can also push back with your head and neck, to make it tougher for them to step their leg over. Alternatively, for a more secure block, switch your hand from their other leg to their thigh (i.e., next to your head). This will not only prevent them stepping their leg over for a pass, it also acts as a handy entry to the waiter sweep. To get into position, you can just swivel your hips towards them and hook behind their other ankle with your same side hand.



At the same time as you swing under and put your shoulder through, drag their leg towards you, using the leg you have on top. Your aim is to get your entire body underneath their leg, accomplished by your swivelling motion. You may need to push off their hip with your other hand, to help that wriggle underneath them. Once you've swivelled, reach your first hand around the outside of their leg, gripping the inside of their knee. You other hand tucks underneath their leg, so they can't grab it.

Finally, your legs are trapping their one leg. Make sure at least one of your legs is hooked over the top, so they can't just remove their leg and pass. Your other leg could be locking your other, or some people prefer to hook under their opponent's leg, meaning they can lift. You may also want to triangle your legs. Just make sure their leg is stuck, so squeeze your thighs too.



For the outer roll sweep, commonly known as a Homer sweep, walk your legs towards their other leg. This is where it gets the name, due to that scene from The Simpsons where Homer is on his side, running in a circle on the floor. You're doing the same motion (bonus points for 'woot woot woot' sound effects ;D), trying to cut the angle. Once that angle is acute, spin the other way. Continue to hug their leg tightly. They may attempt to triangle, so don't leave any space. You can then either drive your head to the far hip to pass their leg, or alternatively, reach your arm to their far hip and pass the other way.
___________________
Teaching Notes: People still are having trouble when I initially demonstrate, although I made a point of showing the position on top. I also made sure to mention blocking the leg by your head to prevent them stepping over (which also leads nicely into the waiter sweep), I could make more of that by showing the pass quickly too.

09/12/2019 - Teaching | Mount | Escape from technical mount to deep half

Teaching #922
Artemis BJJ (Easton Road), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 09/12/2019

Deep half can be a bit tricky for beginners to get their head around, so I will often show a simple method to get there from under technical mount. This can work as a technical mount escape too. From technical mount, reach your arm behind their leg. Bump, while at the same time pushing their ankle with your other hand to trap their leg between yours.

Protect your neck with your 'bottom' hand, as otherwise they'll have a clear route to choke you. Alternative option to the above is to work on widening any space between the back of their knee and your torso, inserting your top arm into that space. Once you can get your arm through into the gap behind their knee, reach in and grab your gi trousers, by your knee. Start moving your legs towards your head, until there is an opportunity to shove their leg between yours and switch to deep half guard, controlling that leg with both of your own.



Your aim is to get your entire body underneath their leg, accomplished by your swivelling motion. You may need to push off their hip with your other hand, to help that wriggle underneath them. Once you've swivelled, reach your first hand around the outside of their leg, gripping the inside of their knee. You other hand tucks underneath their leg, so they can't grab it.

Finally, your legs are trapping their one leg. Make sure at least one of your legs is hooked over the top, so they can't just remove their leg and pass. Your other leg could be locking your other, or some people prefer to hook under their opponent's leg, meaning they can lift.

_________________
Teaching Notes: The technical mount intro is definitely easier, so I think that works as a simple method for showing deep half. People weren't always staying tight enough, maybe show more of a pass at the end? Though the important part is getting them used to deep half. I could talk more about keeping the legs tight: Faria triangles his legs and squeezes, to prevent them pulling their leg out.

26/04/2017 - Teaching | Back | Escape to Deep Half & Sweep

Teaching #655
Artemis BJJ (MYGYM Bristol), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 26/04/2017

Paul couldn't make it, so I covered instead. As we went through an escape to deep half last week, I decided to explore that by looking in greater detail at the sweep itself. The key thing here is to get your shoulder underneath, rather than trying to wrap their leg with your arm. You want to wriggle underneath as you swivel onto your back, your head on their thigh. You can also push back with your head and neck, to make it tougher for them to step their leg over.

A video posted by Artemis BJJ (@artemisbjj) on Dec 9, 2016 at 5:57am PST

At the same time, drag their leg towards you, using the leg you have on top. Your aim is to get your entire body underneath their leg, accomplished by your swivelling motion. You may need to push off their hip with your other hand, to help that wriggle underneath them. Once you've swivelled, reach your first hand around the outside of their leg, gripping the inside of their knee. You other hand tucks underneath their leg, so they can't grab it.

Finally, your legs are trapping their one leg. Make sure at least one of your legs is hooked over the top, so they can't just remove their leg and pass. Your other leg could be locking your other, or some people prefer to hook under their opponent's leg, meaning they can lift.

For the outer roll sweep, commonly known as a Homer sweep, walk your legs towards their other leg. This is where it gets the name, due to that scene from The Simpsons where Homer is on his side, running in a circle on the floor. You're doing the same motion (bonus points for 'woot woot woot' sound effects ;D), trying to cut the angle. Once that angle is acute, spin the other way. Continue to hug their leg tightly. They may attempt to triangle, so don't leave any space. You can then either drive your head to the far hip to pass their leg, or alternatively, reach your arm to their far hip and pass the other way.

There is also the option of shifting your grips. This can sometimes happen anyway when they try to grab your knee to begin their pass. As soon as they do, use the hand you have on top of their leg to grab that sleeve. Kick your leg free, then pass the sleeve you're still holding to your other hand, which should be hiding underneath their leg. This makes the sweep more powerful, as you're now controlling their arm. Alternatively, you can pull out their lapel and do the same, passing it to your underleg hand.
_____________________

Teaching Notes: I like doing deep half more in the intermediate, but that does still have quite a few beginners. Not too much to change here, but it is worth noting that body type can make a big difference on this one, so it's handy to be able to match those up. I'll think about this more when it comes around in half guard month again, must check previous notes too (given my goal here was combining it with a back escape).

14/12/2016 - Teaching | Half Guard | Deep Half Pass (Paul Schreiner)

Teaching #610
Artemis BJJ (MYGYM Bristol), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 14/12/2016

A video posted by Artemis BJJ (@artemisbjj) on Dec 16, 2016 at 12:14am PST

For a simple deep half guard pass, I again turned to the Paul Schreiner Precise Pressure Passing app I've been reviewing. Grab their knee and drive it to the ground. That then means you can turn the knee of your trapped leg downwards as well. This enables you to bring your free leg over their head. Slide that down, so your hip on the trapped leg side is next to their hip. Get a strong cross-face on their head, then use your free hand to re-grab their leg (ideally, hooking it with your arm to prevent any rolling towards you). You can then wriggle your leg out, switching to side control.
________________

Teaching Notes: Emphasise the angle you're sliding through, as people can get confused and point their foot, ending up facing the wrong way.

12/12/2016 - Teaching | Deep Half Guard | Outer Roll Sweep (lapel variation)

Teaching #608
Artemis BJJ (MYGYM Bristol), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 12/12/2016

For a variation on the outer roll sweep, commonly known as a Homer sweep, you're going to shift your grips. This can sometimes happen when they try to grab your knee to being their pass. As soon as they do, use the hand you have on top of their leg to grab that sleeve. Kick your leg free, then pass the sleeve you're still holding to your other hand, which should be hiding underneath their leg. This makes the sweep more powerful, as you're now controlling their arm. Alternatively, you can pull out their lapel and do the same, passing it to your underleg hand.

A video posted by Artemis BJJ (@artemisbjj) on Dec 14, 2016 at 3:13am PST

The sweep then continues as before, walking your legs towards their other leg. This is where it gets the 'Homer sweep' name, due to that scene from The Simpsons where Homer is on his side, running in a circle on the floor. You're doing the same motion (bonus points for 'woot woot woot' sound effects ;D), trying to cut the angle. Once that angle is acute, spin the other way. Continue to hug their leg tightly. They may attempt to triangle, so don't leave any space. You can then either drive your head to the far hip to pass their leg, or alternatively, reach your arm to their far hip and pass the other way.

As you have either their arm or their lapel under their leg, your pass becomes stronger. They will have a harder time trying to block the pass due to that wrap.
________________

Teaching Notes: Straightforward for everybody that had already done the normal version. I guess this would come up more once people are used to passing the deep half by shoving the legs down. Again, one for the intermediate class.

09/12/2016 - Teaching | Deep Half Guard | Waiter Sweep

Teaching #607
Artemis BJJ (MYGYM Bristol), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 09/12/2016

A video posted by Artemis BJJ (@artemisbjj) on Dec 12, 2016 at 4:35am PST

You're going for the outer roll sweep, but they block it, either from good base or raising up. You can then switch to the waiter sweep. Your arm that was holding their knee goes behind to their hip (near your head). Kick your legs up above their knee and start to swivel, so your bum points in the same direction as their bum. The hand your hand underneath their leg scoops behind their trapped ankle.

You are aiming to keep scooping, in order to turn their knee back and eventually get their ankle into the crook of your arm (your hand looks a bit like a waiter holding a dish at this point, hence the name of the sweep). Kick your top leg forward and roll through. Maintain the tension and grips to stop them closing their legs back up, then turn through to pass into side control.

________________

Teaching Notes: I think deep half is too complex for beginners, but I'll do a couple more classes on it. People were getting confused on the right direction to turn, which leg to grab, where to put their head and so on. It's a good technique, but one that needs understanding of deep half guard first. I'll save it for the intermediate class (at the moment, we just have one of those with Paul teaching, but I'd like to put on another one at some point too, especially as there are quite a few people now with two or more years of training under their belts).

07/12/2016 - Teaching | Half Guard | Deep Half Entry & Outer Roll Sweep

Teaching #606
Artemis BJJ (MYGYM Bristol), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 07/12/2016

From half guard, get in as low as possible, curling in towards their leg like you do for the toe grab sweep. Sometimes they keep their foot out of range, which is when I like to try for a position called deep half guard. Shoot your non-underhook hand between their legs, reaching for their opposite bum cheek. Try and get a shallow underhook too, in order to assist with pulling them off balance. The key thing here is to get your shoulder underneath, rather than trying to wrap their leg with your arm. You want to wriggle underneath as you swivel onto your back, your head on their thigh. You can also push back with your head and neck, to make it tougher for them to step their leg over.

A video posted by Artemis BJJ (@artemisbjj) on Dec 9, 2016 at 5:57am PST

At the same time, drag their leg towards you, using the leg you have on top. Your aim is to get your entire body underneath their leg, accomplished by your swivelling motion. You may need to push off their hip with your other hand, to help that wriggle underneath them. Once you've swivelled, reach your first hand around the outside of their leg, gripping the inside of their knee. You other hand tucks underneath their leg, so they can't grab it.

Finally, your legs are trapping their one leg. Make sure at least one of your legs is hooked over the top, so they can't just remove their leg and pass. Your other leg could be locking your other, or some people prefer to hook under their opponent's leg, meaning they can lift.

For the outer roll sweep, commonly known as a Homer sweep, walk your legs towards their other leg. This is where it gets the name, due to that scene from The Simpsons where Homer is on his side, running in a circle on the floor. You're doing the same motion (bonus points for 'woot woot woot' sound effects ;D), trying to cut the angle. Once that angle is acute, spin the other way. Continue to hug their leg tightly. They may attempt to triangle, so don't leave any space. You can then either drive your head to the far hip to pass their leg, or alternatively, reach your arm to their far hip and pass the other way.
_____________________

Teaching Notes: I added the technical mount escape entry as a drill, hopefully helping people get used to deep half. One of the problems I keep forgetting when teaching more complex techniques like this is that the person on top may not react as you'd expect. A number of people were leaning way forward, in which case you'd try and pop out the back. I guess I could teach that as a technique too at some point, but it is based around a mistake.

Next time I'll continue to emphasise getting the shoulder all the way under, as well as keeping your back down so they can't try crawling onto it. Though the more I teach deep half, the more I think it's better suited to the intermediate class rather than all levels. It probably requires some prerequisites to work as a class.

10/08/2015 - Teaching | Half Guard | Entry Into Deep Half

Teaching #370
Artemis BJJ (MYGYM Bristol), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 10/08/2015


From half guard, get in as low as possible, curling in towards their leg like you do for the toe grab sweep. Sometimes they keep their foot out of range, which is when I like to try for a position called deep half guard. Shoot your non-underhook hand between their legs, reaching for their opposite bum cheek. The key thing here is to get your shoulder underneath, rather than trying to wrap their leg with your arm. You want to wriggle underneath as you swivel onto your back, your head on their thigh.

At the same time, drag their leg towards you, using the leg you have on top. Your aim is to get your entire body underneath their leg, accomplished by your swivelling motion. You may need to push off their hip with your other hand, to help that wriggle underneath them. Once you've swivelled, reach your first hand around the outside of their leg, gripping the inside of their knee. You other hand tucks underneath their leg, so they can't grab it.

Finally, your legs are trapping their one leg. Make sure at least one of your legs is hooked over the top, so they can't just remove their leg and pass. Your other leg could be locking your other, or some people prefer to hook under their opponent's leg, meaning they can lift.

_____________________

Teaching Notes: I had been intending to show the entry then progress to the Homer sweep, but almost everybody was having trouble getting the concept of swivelling underneath. That was compounded by the people on top not being familiar with the position either, so they were sometimes just falling over. Now, that would be great in sparring, as you'd have the sweep, but it makes it tough to drill deep half.

Next time, I'll leave this until later in the month, when people should hopefully be more familiar with balance in half guard and have played with the toe grab sweep a fair bit. I'll be emphasising scooting underneath, which leg you're reaching under and the possibility of using a push on their hip to help your wriggle. Tweaking the leg out like Jason Scully might make it easier too.

On the plus side, there were a few people who got it, including Milka. That made me happy, as she's still quite new, so my instruction can't have been totally unclear. ;)