half guard top pressure passing

top pressure from half guard. slicing through knee shields and z guards to get to kesa gatame, with hip mobility, underhook control, and leg attack entries when opportunities open up.

Flow outline

  1. Top Half Guard

    • When it happens, Establish heavy shoulder pressure with your north-side elbow posted outside their far ear. Control underhook and work to flatten their hips while maintaining base. Timing over strength

  2. Kesa Gatame

    • Secure head and arm control with your underhook hand walking out for base. Drive your shoulder into their jaw while maintaining hip pressure to control position

  3. Quarter Guard

    • Step your trapped leg up into a lunge position with their legs suspended high. transitional position allows for knee slicing opportunities and pressure passing

  4. Knee Shield (Z Guard)

    • when opponent frames with their knee, maintain distance and look for sleeve grips or knee posting opportunities to collapse their guard structure. angle matters

  5. Knee Slice

    • Slice your knee across their hips from quarter guard, using hip mobility and pressure to pass to side control or mount. Look for leg entanglements as you pass

  6. Circle Pass

    • If it shows up, When they post their knee shield, circle around their back while maintaining chest pressure. creates opportunities for back takes or passing to opposite side

  7. Knee Slice Around Front

    • From here, Slice your knee around front of their knee shield, using hip torque and pressure to collapse their guard and establish side control positions

  8. Toe Hold

    • if it shows up, from top half control, attack far leg with a toe hold when they extend their leg. use your underhook to control their upper body while isolating foot

  9. Knee Lock

    • When it happens, When they bridge or extend their legs from half guard, transition to knee bar attacks. Control their hips with your pressure while isolating knee joint. Timing over strength

Branch conditions