Half Guard Top — Head & Arm / U-Hook Passing

The Lesson

Last week the pin was Reverse Kesa, and the bottom player's reaction told you whether you'd end up in Side Control or Mount. This week, look one layer earlier — at the pin itself.

Head & Arm and U-Hook aren't two separate techniques you choose between. U-Hook is what happens when Head & Arm gets blocked. You go looking for the cross-face, your partner defends it, and your body finds the next best pinning position almost automatically — if you let it.

All three pins — Reverse Kesa, Head & Arm, U-Hook — lead to the same two places: Side Control or Mount. The pin you end up in isn't the point. Staying connected through whichever pin becomes available is.