Body Lock Pass from Half Guard

Body Lock Pass from Half Guard is a passing sequence that clears the legs built around a handful of repeatable controls. Top player has body-locked the partner's hips from butterfly but the partner has sticky hooks blocking the leg step-over. Another common starting shape: top player has the body lock secured and the bottom player has retreated to a half guard with one leg trapped. It is worth attempting once comfortable with: Under-over body lock to trap one arm and comfortable with: Setting up the body-lock from open guards. The ideas that hold it together are angle creates the room to clear the hook, sprawl-and-walk-back is what unlocks the half guard, and knee slide.

The body lock pass chain is a sequence of small controls, not one athletic burst. Cut an angle by bringing the inside knee in and shuffling slightly to the side. Drop the same-side hip into the partner's leg and slowly inch the legs back to clear the hook. Aim to land in a 2-on-1 with both knees in front of the partner's near leg as the best outcome. If only half guard is reached, walk forward with the lead knee blocking the partner's knee, then sprawl and walk back until the legs unlock into a leg weave. Walk the trapped knee toward the bottom player's far ear. Use the body lock to keep the chest connected during the slide. Plant the freed leg only after the knee passes the centerline. Try the hip switch first; if the opponent traps the leg, force half guard cleanly rather than fighting it. Top player has cleared the near hook and is in either a 2-on-1 leg position, half guard top working back to a leg weave, or already in a leg-weave.

Later in the body lock pass, lock retention, point of no return, and hip switch vs step over tend to decide whether the position stays on track. Watch for these mistakes: Staying square while sprawling, letting the partner extend and follow. Releasing the body lock to switch grips too early, getting off-balanced. Releasing the body lock to free the leg. Sliding the knee straight back, allowing leg recovery. The high-percentage version of body lock pass from half guard is the one you can still chain when the bottom player recovers a hook.