Nivaldo de Oliveira gets and underhook on William Martins at the 2012 Brazilian National Championship. Photo by Gustavo Aragão/GRACIEMAG.

The half-guard is today a weapon taking front and center at Jiu-Jitsu competitions. It is from there that Marcus Bochecha has won numerous matches on his march to world absolute stardom in 2012. Nivaldo de Oliveira, his CheckMat teammate, also made good use of half-guard sweeps in becoming the absolute champion of Brazil.

How up to speed are you on the subject? Even if you’re still a big closed guard buff, you need to get clued in, to not get swept when on top.

And remember: don’t let your opponent get a hold of your head, flatten your back on the ground or get an underhook on you.

In this video selected by GRACIEMAG.com, Professor Pete Roberts, our GMA in Farmington, Maine, shows how to put your opponent off balance and sweep him from half-guard.

What do you think?

Nivaldo de Oliveira ganha a esgrima na meia-guarda contra William Martins, no Brasileiro 2012. Foto: Gustavo Aragão/GRACIEMAG

A meia-guarda hoje é uma arma em evidência no Jiu-Jitsu de competição. A partir desse recurso, Marcus Bochecha foi capaz de vencer diversas lutas em sua campanha no absoluto do Mundial 2012. Nivaldo de Oliveira, seu companheiro de CheckMat, também fez uso das raspagens de meia para ser campeão brasileiro absoluto.

Como anda seu estudo sobre o assunto? Mesmo se você continua um fervoroso adepto da guarda fechada, é preciso ficar atento, para não ser raspado ao cair por cima.

Lembre-se sempre: não deixe o adversário abraçar sua cabeça, nem chapar você de costas no chão ou ganhar a esgrima, por baixo de sua axila.

Neste vídeo selecionado pelo GRACIEMAG.com, o professor Pete Roberts, nosso GMA em Farmington, Maine, mostra como desequilibrar e raspar seu oponente da meia-guarda.

O que achou?

Rafael Formiga (standing) against Daniel Martins at New York Open / Photo by Dan Rod

Rafael “Formiga” Barbosa is one of the most dynamic modern day BJJ players. The NY Open winner brings fresh ideas and slick techniques used in today’s competition scene. Formiga is not just a world-class competitor, he is also one of the coaches of the brown belt absolute world champion, João Gabriel Rocha, and UFC fighter Glover Teixeira, to name a few.

Andre “Dedeco” Almeida is a fourth degree black belt under Ricardo Liborio, and he is known as “The Maker of Champions”. Every year you see his students standing on the podiums at the world’s largest BJJ and MMA events.

Pete wanted to make this camp affordable to EVERYONE: “For $650 all you have to do is bring yourself and we will take care of the rest. The rest includes a new Origin limited edition gi if registered by July 15, 2012.”

Register here.

Origin founders Pete Roberts and André "Dedeco" Almeida / Publicity photo

GRACIEMAG supporter Origin burst onto the scene last year with some innovative products that include the OrangaHang grip training system. Origin’s COMP 550 gi was ranked the number-five gi in the 2011 Aesopian Gi Survey, opening a lot of eyes in a very short time. Well, keep your eyes open because Origin just launched their 2012 product-lineup video, and this year they are gunning for the number-one spot. As seen in the video, Origin is pushing the technology of their gis and gear. The video was shot in the foothills of Western Maine, where Origin is headquartered. Origin is owned by Pete Roberts and Andre “Dedeco” Almeida – both active competitors.

This is an opportunity to learn from a fourth-degree black belt while working on the parts of your game that need the most focus. Spend time not just in training, but also socializing with top-notch Jiu-Jitsu players – hearing their thoughts on training, technique, conditioning – and having fun at the same time. And all of this in Point Lookout Resort, a 400-acre mountainside retreat tucked along the Maine coast, in Northport.

For more information and to sign-up, click here.