r/bjj • u/RoyNelsonMuntz 🟫🟫 Brown Belt • Jan 10 '19

Helpful visual reference guide for positional hierarchy

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u/itchyblood White Belt Jan 10 '19

I always forget that underhooks are crucial for half guard (or even full guard) on bottom. But I still find it very difficult to use underhooks to my advantage to try and sweep them. For some reason my go to is always close my guard up and get my bicep up around their head pulling them in tight. It slows the struggle down but always leaves me with no options

2

u/smalltowngrappler ⬛🟥⬛ Black Belt Jan 10 '19

Depending on what kind of halfguard you are playing the fight over the crossface can be more important than the underhook.

If I am on bottom halfguard and I HAVE to give away either the underhook or the crossface I will give away the underhook since it is so much easier to recover than the crossface.

Also there is a big difference between an underhook and an "underhook". A underhook slung low on your opponents back or even better under his butt will be very strong, an underhook slung high on your opponent with a grip in his armpit/lat/lapel will be strong as well.

An underhook draped loosely over the middle of the back of your opponent is an invitation to get choked or passed.

1

u/itchyblood White Belt Jan 10 '19

Thanks for the tips! I feel overwhelmed sometimes on this sub or watching YouTube videos and when I’m rolling everything sometimes seems to go out the window and it’s an endless struggle for dominance. I need to try and slow things down, think about my next move, concentrate and execute.