How to Pass Half Guard and Get to Mount
Half guard is one of the best passing positions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. When you have chest-to-chest control, you’re already in a strong position—you control both their shoulders and hips. Your goal is simple: clear your trapped knee, then your foot, and move into mount.
The key is getting your knee to the ground. Once it’s down, you can slide into three-quarter mount, then transition into full mount. From there, you land in a dominant chest-to-chest position, setting up high-percentage submissions.
Four Ways to Pass Half Guard
Here are four reliable ways to clear your leg, depending on your opponent’s reactions:
- Crossface Pass – If your opponent isn’t framing hard, use a strong crossface to flatten them, slide your knee through, and pass.
- Half Arm Triangle Pass – If they frame against your head, turn their defense into an attack. Wrap their arm like in an arm triangle, then pass to mount or finish the arm triangle.
- Underhook Pass – If they frame against your knee when you try to move to three-quarter mount, get an underhook and switch to a knee slide style pass.
- Double Underhook Pass – If they frame against your hip to stop the underhook pass, get double underhooks, open their elbows, and free your leg.
Check out the video for details on each option!
By understanding these four reactions, you’ll always have a path to mount. Keep practicing, and soon your half guard passing will feel effortless.
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