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Blue belt · Control · Core

Half guard top: crossface & flatten

On top in half guard, you crossface and drive their shoulders flat so they can't use an underhook. Flatten first, then pass.

Half guard top Half guard top

Setting A Crossface - A Crucial Skill of Half Guard Passing by John Danaher · BJJ Fanatics · YouTube

Step by step

  1. Get your head on their far side and drive your shoulder into their jaw (crossface).
  2. Win the far underhook, or pin their near arm.
  3. Drive their shoulders flat to the mat with chest pressure.
  4. Keep your free leg back and wide for base; don't let them come up onto their side.

Details that make it work

  • A flat opponent can't sweep or come up on the underhook.
  • The crossface turns their head away; the body follows the head.

Common mistakes

  • Letting them get the underhook.
  • Sitting back on your heels.

Drill it

Positional: half guard top, keep them flat. 3 × 1 min.

If it fails, or what comes next

Set it up from

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