Deep Half Guard Mastery — Sweeps, Back Takes & Leg Attacks

Guard

Complete deep half guard system covering Jeff Glover waiter sweep, Homer Simpson, back takes, and leg entanglement entries.

Understanding the Deep Half Guard

The deep half guard positions your body underneath the opponent, threading under their base to create severe off-balancing opportunities. Popularized by Jeff Glover and Bernardo Faria, the position creates both sweeping and leg lock entry opportunities that higher-level competitors struggle to defend simultaneously.

Core Sweeps from Deep Half

• Waiter Sweep — extending the opponent's leg to sweep them forward
• Homer Simpson Sweep — grabbing the far ankle to sweep laterally
• Back Take — when the opponent base-changes, transition directly to the back
• Old School Variation — under-underhook combination

Leg Lock Entries from Deep Half

The deep half creates natural entries into single leg X, ashi garami, and outside heel hook positions. When opponents attempt to pass through the deep half, their legs are exposed to entanglement that transitions directly into finishing positions.

Dealing With the Kimura Trap

Experienced opponents will attempt the kimura trap from top half. Understanding the escape routes — frame and recover, roll through, or use the kimura as a back take setup — completes the mastery of this position.

Deep Half Guard Drills

The forward roll entry drill, hip bump exit, and waiter sweep execution are the three essential movements to ingrain through repetition before live sparring.