The lockdown position in half guard is a very powerful way to secure your opponent when you are in half guard bottom. Getting the lockdown from half guard bottom opens up sweeps, submissions, and prevents your opponent from passing to mount or side control. Getting stuck in the lockdown can be frustrating and like many positions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, spazzing and trying to muscle your way out of lockdown can lead to injuries.
These are three great ways to use Jiu-Jitsu to escape the half guard lockdown safely.
Half Guard Lockdown Escape 1: Lift Off
Start: Half guard top, opponent has lockdown
Step 1: Shift weight as low onto opponent’s hips as possible
Step 2: Switch hips and face towards your trapped leg, posting free foot at an angle and pinching free knee in to trap opponent’s free leg
Step 3: Lift trapped heel up and towards your butt
Step 4: Post formerly trapped foot out away from opponent’s legs to prevent them from restoring lockdown
Finish: Half guard top
Half Guard Lockdown Escape 2: Knee Cut
Start Half guard top, opponent has lockdown
Step 1: Get arm underhook on lockdown side and overhook on other side
Step 2: Switch head to free side of opponent’s head and sprawl out, flattening yourself onto mat
Step 3: Use free foot to pry opponent’s inside leg down and away from lockdown
Step 4: Pull trapped knee forward past opponent’s knee into knee cut pass
Step 5: Slide knee over opponent’s thigh and past their half guard
Finish: Side control top
Half Guard Lockdown Escape 3: Donkey Kick
Start: Half guard top, opponent has lockdown
Step 1: Shift weight as low onto opponent’s hips as possible
Step 2: Tilt to free side and shoot free-side hand through underneath opponent’s thighs
Step 3: Grips hands together and pinch opponent’s knees together
Step 4: Move hips back and sprawl free leg out
Step 5: Sprawl or kick trapped leg back
Finish: Scramble
Curious about the lockdown? Check out How To Do the Half Guard Lockdown in BJJ, How To Do a Half Guard Lockdown Arm Triangle Choke in BJJ, and How To Do a Half Guard Lockdown Calf Slicer in BJJ.