3 Ways to Recover from Smashed Half Guard when Your Opponent Has the Crossface and Underhook

Getting smashed in half guard when your opponent has the cross face and underhook sucks! Here are 3 of my favorite responses to this situation, including 1) the Kamikaze Sweep, 2) the Butterfly Lift, and 3) the Twist Sweep.

Each of these techniques has an aggressive option ending in a sweep where you get to the top, and a less aggressive option where you use the threat of the sweep to re-establish a good guard position. You can also chain these threats together making it extremely difficult for your opponent to hold you down.

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And, most importantly, good luck with your training!

Stephan

[MWes]

Came for the smashed half guard recovery, stayed for the moustache

[Adz]

Always end up here. Saved straight to favourites, thanks again Stephan 🤙

[Docinaplane]

I think the saying "It's easier to stay out than to get out" applies very nicely here :-) Great video, thank you!

[JonnyNonsenseUK]

This is just what I needed! Thanks Stephan

[danielashman]

Thanks for the video! Exactly what i was looking for

I was able to “escape” from being underneath someones mount only to get smashed for five min nonstop in this position. Excited to try these techniques out

[nickcalash]

Great video! Especially because you raise the point that failing these sweeps can still result in getting your frames in. Might not get the sweep, but they can get you in position for better sweeps.

[rflrwok]

Exactly what I've been looking for. Thank you from South Korea!

[sway]

Don't know how I missed this video when my gym was open (pre-corona), but I'm glad I finally found it! I actually used something similar to the sweep variation of the butterfly lift once when someone put all their weight across me to go for the americana. It's great to see how versatile that same technique is, and I look forward to applying that a lot more once I get back to the mats. Thank you!

[Jake-mjmc]

Oh nice. I like this series. And at 5:03 I see an opportunity to use this as a counter to someone trying to go to mount from half guard. Wait for the pass and hook that foot in.

[Dreaming-]

I tried the first one and it really worked! Thank you

[theinvertedprotagonist]

So the Twist Sweep is basically John Wayne Sweep?

[locohomicida]

Dude reminds me of Lemmy Kilmister. Good stuff though.

[MrJraper]

Great video and I have never seen you with facial hair. Badass handlebars. 👍

[francisconeto]

Good stuff, but if the guy on top is able to twist his hips at 6:17, the wrist lock is right there. I never feel confident in cupping the guy's hip when my elbow is based on the floor like that. Almost got my wrist broken like that.

[ChickenAndACanOfCoke]

Who else is here after getting smashed in halfguard yesterday?

[zannibunny]

One thing we practiced in my class: start the kamikaze pass, but once you push your opponent’s head out of the way, sneak your hand back across your body and come around back and grab his belt. Easy way to get up into the dog fight position.

[nicocontreras]

I didn´t know it was called Kamikaze, is so logical to use, second one is old school, I like it too.

[chillalien]

I can never get the twist to work. I can't seem to point the knees to the outside. Any tips ?

[martinfernadez]

Hello stephan, my question is how do i fight against someone that i clearly better than me, should i go aggressive or going in to guard ? I ve come up with this question because i don’t know how to start properly.
Pdt : love your videos !!

[ravirohilla]

Israel Adesanya should have watched this before today's fight.