Dog Fight Position | BJJ Technique Guide
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Complete guide to the Dog Fight position in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu — mechanics, sweeps, back takes, and counters from this critical half guard scramble position.
The Dog Fight is a dynamic scramble position arising from half guard where both practitioners battle on all fours. The person with the underhook controls the outcome — sweeping, taking the back, or standing up safely.
⚙️ Step-by-Step Guide
The dog fight begins when you successfully get the underhook from your knee shield. Come up to one knee first, then the other, pointing your head to the inside of your opponent's body to prevent them from reaching you with their far arm.
Drive your underhook shoulder up into their armpit. Keep your head low and close to their body. High hips or a raised head will give them leverage to counter with a whizzer (overhook counter) or trip you.
Your next move depends entirely on what your opponent does. If they base wide to stop the sweep, angle to their back. If they stay square, attack the trip. If they flatten out, take the back or return to half guard on top. The dog fight is about reading and reacting.
Step your outside leg behind their near leg (the one you were trapping in half guard). Drive your shoulder into their armpit while kicking their leg out. They fall and you come on top to a dominant passing position.
When your opponent steps their near leg wide to avoid the trip, this opens their back. Pivot around their outside hip, shoot your free arm for the seat belt, and hook in with your legs to establish back control.
🔑 Key Concepts
The underhook is everything: In the dog fight, whoever has the underhook calls the shots. If you lose the underhook, immediately fight for the whizzer and look to re-establish or drop back to a guard.
Head position is critical: Your head should always be lower than your opponent's head or at the same level. A head that's too high lets them use upper body strength against you and gives them leverage for a whizzer counter.
Lower your level on the sweep: When executing the trip sweep, dip your level — bend your knees and drop your hips. This creates the driving force that takes them off their feet.
Don't rush to stand up: Many grapplers rush to stand up from the dog fight, which exposes their back. Stay patient, maintain the underhook pressure, and let the sweep or back take develop naturally.