How to Get an Opponent in a Half Guard Position

The half guard position is somewhat of a neutral position for both fighters in a MMA fight. It allows the fighter on the bottom to maintain some control of the opponent's body weight, but it gives the fighter on top more leverage to throw strikes or look for submissions. Getting an opponent into half guard is still much better than some other alternatives.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• MMA Gear
• Training Partner

1. Maintain as much control as you can over your opponent at all times. This is done by wrapping both of your legs around one of his. Also, keep your hands gripped or wrapped around the other fighter.

2. Create friction between yourself and your opponent. This allows you to feel his motions and slows down all movement.

3. Clinch your legs tightly around one of the other fighter's legs. This in essence is a half guard position.

4. Work to get the fight back into a full guard position. This gives you more control and is a better overall position.

5. Use your hands to control the opponent's arms and upper body. You can also push against your opponent's legs to help manipulate his body weight.

6. Keep your head tucked to the opponent's chest when they are trying to strike you. This will not allow them to get any leverage into the strikes.

7. Maintain as much control as you can over the other fighter's arms and hands. This sets up other jujitsu techniques and saves you from getting hit in the face.

Tips & Warnings

• Find a gym where the instructors teach respect and discipline. If you walk into a gym and they put you in the ring with an experienced fighter the first day, you may want to reconsider your membership. MMA is not something that you can learn in a short period of time so you should not be thrown to the wolves immediately.
• MMA gym membership fees are generally higher than a normal weight or physical fitness gym. They can be very expensive depending on if you want individual instruction or a class setting.
• Be ready for injuries. Grappling is all about inflicting pain and damage on your opponent. It is very difficult to go a long period of time without sustaining some type of injury.

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