BJJ Technique Library: Master Ground Fighting with The Dojo

The John Wayne sweep is a classic half guard escape for when your opponent has a strong underhook. We show you how to use your knee as a lever to disrupt their base and either complete the sweep or recover a better position.

From the quarter guard, a lapel grip can be a powerful tool. Here, we demonstrate how to use the lapel and a knee kick to off-balance your opponent, allowing you to come up and finish the sweep.

Using the lapel from half guard opens up many attacks. This video shows how to use an underhook on the leg combined with a lapel grip to come up into a single leg takedown, a technique we call "running the pipe."

When your opponent tries to backstep out of your half guard, you can counter with this effective sweep. We teach you how to use a lapel feed and a butterfly hook to elevate and reverse the position.

Defending the half guard from the top is about neutralizing the underhook. This instructional shows how to use a backstep to negate your opponent's advantage and begin to establish your own guard pass.

The deep half guard is an advanced position for sweeping. This video demonstrates a fundamental sweep, using a rocking motion to off-balance an opponent whose weight is fully committed, allowing you to come on top.

Entering the deep half guard requires specific timing. We show how to transition into the position when your opponent sprawls, using a leg swing and lifting their thigh onto your shoulder to establish control.

BJJ is a game of action and reaction. This sequence shows how to chain attacks from the half guard: attempt a sweep, and when your opponent defends by basing out, use that moment to come out the back door and take their back.

The Coyote Guard can lead to powerful submissions. Here, we transition from a sweep attempt directly into a knee bar, demonstrating how to control the opponent's leg and use a bridging motion to apply pressure for the finish.