Kurt Osiander's Move of the Week - Deep Half-Guard Defense

I always wondered about the defense against the deep half guard. Justin told me to play heavy top, especially on the knee by the head, watch out for your leg sticking out, and attack their arm, but that's when they already have deep half. Kurt shows how to prevent the deep half and turn it into an attack, very sick stuff.

Things To Think About

• How to defend against Luis' deep half guard? Everything I get on top, he grabs deep half and sweeps me.
• How to maintain a better side control? Some people when I have in side control and shrimp out really easily. What do I need to improve my control over them? Better pressure? Control the head? Knee to butt?
• I need to improve on my single leg takedowns. I usually can grab a single leg, but I can't seem to get them down. Maybe I need to improve my lower back muscle?

Deep Half Guard to Back

More Tips to Improving My Game

Thumb in first Front Choke (Opponent is in your guard):

• Start with cross-face arm, thumb in first and goes all the way to the back of opponent's collar.
• Opposite first grabs opposite collar about halfway down.
• The key to this choke is to flair out the elbow with the thumb in and pull down on the fist halfway down.
• This choke works slowly, so be patient and doesn't give up and readjust.

Positional Training - Back:

• The interesting thing I learned was that Brian turtles up to defend this position.
• When a person turtles and does this, I must follow them and replace my hooks.

Positional Training - Mount:

• Base out with my knees more.
• Apply more body pressure.

Positional Training - Side Control:

• From Top -
• Control your opponent's elbow so they can't bridge.
• From Bottom -
• Fist/Wrist under opponent's armpit and elbow to their throat.

Positional Training - Deep Half Guard:

•   From top - 
• Needs to apply heavy pressure on the knee near opponent's head.
• The opposite leg needs to stretch out to avoid opponent from grabbing for a sweep.
• Body needs to be heavy and close to avoid X-Guard.
• Attack the far arm. (Kimura, straight arm bar laying down, straight arm bar against my shouder).
• From bottom - 
• The legs need to wrap high around opponent's knee to prevent them from advancing to mount.
• Should grab leg in the guard to sweep.
• Transition to X-Guard.

Think about turning in for a single leg takedown; the options are there.