What is the deep half-guard sweep?

It is a sweep from the deep half-guard position where the bottom player burrows underneath the opponent's hips and uses leg-extension and arm-grip mechanics to topple the opponent backward or sideways.

Who made the deep half-guard sweep a competitive specialty?

Bernardo Faria systematized the deep half-guard as a primary competitive specialty during his IBJJF and ADCC career.

How do you execute the mechanics of the sweep?

From deep half-guard, grip the opponent's near ankle or pant cuff, extend your legs upward to dump them backward, and simultaneously pull the captured-leg grip downward to produce rotational toppling.

What are common mistakes when performing this sweep?

Common errors include burrowing too shallow, failing to secure the leg grip before extending, releasing the grip during the sweep, allowing a whizzer to disrupt the configuration, and not following through to top position.

How can the deep half-guard sweep be defended?

Defensively, it can be countered by maintaining a strong base with wide knees to deny the burrowing entry, establishing a whizzer on the bottom player's near arm, or sprawling backward when the bottom player attempts to come up.

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DEEP HALF-GUARD SWEEP

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In Short

The deep half-guard sweep is a high-percentage technique where the bottom player burrows under the opponent's hips to execute a rotational toppling using leg extension and arm grip. It was systematized as a competitive specialty by Bernardo Faria and is countered by maintaining a strong base or establishing a whizzer.

Also known as: Deep Half Sweep, Faria Deep Half

The deep half-guard sweep is the canonical sweep from the deep half-guard position in which the bottom player has burrowed underneath the opponent's hips and uses leg-extension and arm-grip mechanics to topple the opponent backward or sideways. The technique is one of the highest-percentage half-guard sweeps in modern competition and was made into a competitive specialty by Bernardo Faria's IBJJF and ADCC career.

The mechanics begin from deep half-guard with the bottom player's body underneath the opponent's hips, the bottom player's head positioned to one side of the opponent's body. The bottom player grips one of the opponent's legs (typically the near ankle or pant cuff) and uses the captured leg as the structural lever. The sweep comes from extending the bottom player's legs upward to dump the opponent backward, simultaneously pulling the captured-leg grip downward. The combined leg-extension and grip-pull produce the rotational toppling that lands the bottom player on top.

The deep half-guard was systematized by Bernardo Faria as a primary competitive specialty. Notable practitioners include Faria, Tom DeBlass, and various Alliance and other half-guard specialists. Defensively the deep half-guard sweep is countered by maintaining strong base with wide knees (denying the burrowing entry), by establishing whizzer on the bottom player's near arm before the sweep launches, or by sprawling backward when the bottom player attempts to come up.

KEY POINTS

01Burrow underneath the opponent's hips from half-guard.
02Position head to one side of the opponent's body.
03Grip the opponent's near ankle or pant cuff.
04Extend legs upward to dump the opponent backward.
05Pull the captured-leg grip downward simultaneously.

COMMON MISTAKES

✕Burrowing too shallow — must reach under the opponent's hips.
✕Failing to secure the leg grip before extending.
✕Releasing the grip during the sweep extension.
✕Allowing whizzer to disrupt the configuration.
✕Not following through to top position.

TRAINING DRILLS

→Burrowing entry drill from half-guard.
→Leg-grip securing drill from deep half.
→Slow deep half-guard sweep reps with cooperative partner.
→Sweep against progressive resistance.
→Live rolling from half-guard with deep half sweep as primary goal.

Frequently Asked

What is the deep half-guard sweep?: It is a sweep from the deep half-guard position where the bottom player burrows underneath the opponent's hips and uses leg-extension and arm-grip mechanics to topple the opponent backward or sideways.
Who made the deep half-guard sweep a competitive specialty?: Bernardo Faria systematized the deep half-guard as a primary competitive specialty during his IBJJF and ADCC career.
How do you execute the mechanics of the sweep?: From deep half-guard, grip the opponent's near ankle or pant cuff, extend your legs upward to dump them backward, and simultaneously pull the captured-leg grip downward to produce rotational toppling.
What are common mistakes when performing this sweep?: Common errors include burrowing too shallow, failing to secure the leg grip before extending, releasing the grip during the sweep, allowing a whizzer to disrupt the configuration, and not following through to top position.
How can the deep half-guard sweep be defended?: Defensively, it can be countered by maintaining a strong base with wide knees to deny the burrowing entry, establishing a whizzer on the bottom player's near arm, or sprawling backward when the bottom player attempts to come up.