Developing the Half-Guard in MMA - A Mixed Martial Arts Personal Training Report

Dynamic MMA Training: A couple’s journey through mastering the half-guard technique during their weekly personal training sessions is highlighted in our latest blog post. Explore the evolution of their skills in the exciting world of mixed martial arts.

Mixed Martial Arts Personal Training

My long-time couple clients returned for their weekly Mixed Martial Arts Personal Training session on Monday (23.02.2026), where we explored the use of the half-guard in MMA. We are on their second lesson of this particular course. The half-guard has had an interesting journey in this particular sport. Back in the 2000s, when I was first formally introduced to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA, the idea of electing to use a half-guard from the bottom in an activity that involved striking seemed hazardous, to say the least. However, as with many techniques, tactics, and strategies, later exponents began finding very effective ways to work this position. Whereas it is still extremely risky to choose a deep half-guard in MMA, knee-shields, Z-guards, and even traditional half-guards open up strong counter-offensive options.

As always, safety comes first in our training. Striking contact is controlled, minimal, and aligned with my clients' consented level. When not sparring with them, I am there to closely monitor their sparring. Sparring is not approached as a contest, although the live nature means that it tests techniques and individual abilities, and is a very productive and enjoyable way to learn. The constraints-led approach means practitioners get to focus on specific areas while gaining ownership of what is being learned.

Asymmetrical Ground Fighting

Tonight we looked at using the half-guard in asymmetrical ground fighting. For the sake of clarification, "asymmetrical ground fighting" describes contests where one fighter is standing and the other is seated, kneeling, or on their back.

We sparred with each other under the following two constraints-led games:

1. The grounded fighter's objective is to attain half-guard against the standing fighter. The standing fighter's objective is to pass guard or land five uninterrupted strikes to the grounded fighter's head.

2. Beginning with the standing fighter and grounded fighter locked in half-guard. The grounded fighter seeks to take down the standing fighter. The standing fighter seeks to break the hold or land five uninterrupted strikes to the grounded fighter's head.

Conclusion

My couple left the lesson with a better understanding of achieving and using the half-guard position against a standing opponent, as well as defending against this strategy.

Next Lesson

We will continue with half-guard, but this time the fight will be against the wall.

MMA Personal Training