This Weeks Focus

This week is all about mastering BJJ half guard basics from the bottom position. As a white belt, your two main goals here are:

  • Recover your closed guard — a fundamental skill often skipped in favor of flashy open guards.

  • Develop strong frames — allowing you to control distance, protect yourself, and set up escapes or sweeps.

By sticking to these basics, you force your opponent to defend against losing position instead of relentlessly passing, giving you more breathing room and opportunities.

Flowchart Overview

Key Concepts

Concept 1: Closed Guard Recovery Is Priority

  • Why forcing closed guard keeps your opponent defensive.

  • How to stop them from controlling your bottom leg.

Drill: Closed guard pull from half guard — partner starts in top half, you secure underhook or knee shield, recover to closed guard.

Concept 2: Frame Development for Survival

  • Defending the cross face in half guard.

  • Using your knee shield effectively.

Drill: Frame-to-hip escape drill — partner applies pressure, you maintain frame and recover to guard.

Common Mistakes White Belts Make in Bottom Half Guard

  • Forgetting to Recover Closed Guard: Chasing advanced sweeps before learning the basics often leaves you stuck under pressure.

  • Losing the Knee Shield: Allowing your opponent to collapse your knee shield removes your primary frame.

  • Not Defending the Cross Face: Once your head is controlled, your hips and shoulders are easier to pin.

  • Flat on Your Back Too Long: Staying flat makes it impossible to build frames or create movement.

  • Holding Half Guard Too Long in MMA/Self-Defense: In striking scenarios, you’re vulnerable if you don’t quickly recover or stand up.

Weekly Checklist

By the end of Week 12, you should be able to:

  • Recover closed guard from half guard under light resistance.

  • Maintain a knee shield without losing frame.

  • Defend the cross face and prevent head control.

  • Recognize when to use the underhook to escape.

Reflect & Review

Ask yourself:

  • Do I feel comfortable recovering closed guard under pressure?

  • Am I consistently using my frames, or letting them collapse?

  • What situations cause me to lose half guard fastest?

Related Blog Posts & Next Steps

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