William Martins, on bottom playing half-guard, tries to sweep Nivaldo Oliveira at the Brazilian Nationals 2012. (Photo by Gustavo Aragão/GRACIEMAG)

When you’re a white belt, there’s nothing worse than having an opponent in your half-guard, bearing his weight down on you and not giving you room to breathe.

That’s why today GRACIEMAG.com is showcasing a basic sweep that comes in handy in precisely such situations: to open up room and relieve the pressure.

In the following video, Professor Adino Souza teaches that the first trick to pulling it off is the underhook.

Note how at 23 seconds in the video he sticks his hand under his student’s armpit, sinking an underhook, and consequently opens up space to work with.

So he locks up his sparring partner’s arm, grabs his shoulder and loops his other arm around the outside of the leg.

Then he opens his half-guard and does a seesaw to invert the position, using minimum effort and maximum efficiency.

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Jacob Mackenzie on Ed Ramos’s back during Brazilian Team Nationals in Rio (Photo by Gustavo Aragão/GRACIEMAG)

Canadian black belt Jake Mackenzie is another one of the aces confirmed for combat at the European Jiu-Jitsu Championship to take place Jan. 24-27 in Lisbon, Portugal.

The middleweight, who is now training in London alongside Vinícius Marinho and Gabriel Ratinho at GFTeam England, spoke with GRACIEMAG.com about what he expects to find in Portugal.

“The European Open is always a fun tournament. I’m really excited about competing there at the end of the month,” said Jake, before offering his breakdown of his weight division. “I just moved to middleweight at the end of last year, so I haven’t had a chance to compete against all the top guys in the division yet. I know the competition in Portugal is going to be really stiff. That’s why I’m anxious to test myself out against everyone in the weight class.”

Known for his versatile half-guard game, the Canadian taught us an intricate back attack.

“In half-guard the game has to be really aggressive, with a series of variations; otherwise the guy will pass. It’s vital that you have a bunch of options so you’ll be able to confuse your opponent,” said Jake.

With the help of the decorated black belt Roberto Cyborg, Jake first pummels an underhook (minute 0.50) under Cyborg’s arm and loops his other arm around his buddy’s leg. Next he grabs the lapel and passes it under his opponent (minute 0.54). The trick is to be careful when lifting your body, because the opponent may roll out (minute 1.15). Upon pulling the lapel, make sure to unbalance the opponent (1:46 min), to next do the final roll (1:58 min) and make it to the back.

Gabriel and Rafael Marangoni / Personal archive photo

Rodrigo Cavaca-black belt brothers Rafael and Gabriel Marangoni teach at the Mogi das Cruzes, São Paulo chapter of team CheckMat, where they lecture to over 200 students. Last August, Gabriel taught a series of seminars in Greece and took the opportunity to compete at the ADCC Trials in Romania, winning the absolute division, despite weighing a mere 65 kilos (143 lbs).

For further proof that little guys are indeed tough, GRACIEMAG.com asked Marangoni to share some tricks for Jiu-Jitsu fans.

Rafael starts off the lesson, teaching an effective transition from omoplata to armbar starting from closed guard.

The trick is to at first control the collar and sleeve on the same side, and when moving to omoplata, putting the foot on the ground instead of fastening the figure four. After that, just slide the knee down and pull the arm, which is left extended and vulnerable.

Now, Gabriel teaches a half-guard pass ending on the back.

With a grip deep on the opponent’s pants, he puts his knee in and moves his grip to the side of the opponent’s knee.

Next, at 2:13 min, he changes the direction of his hips, switches grips and pummels for the underhook. Gabriel makes it to the side, from where he controls his opponent’s movements with a hand on the collar.

When his opponent tries turning on all fours, he sticks in a hook, as at minute 2:55 minutes. With his arms on his chest, he hangs on firm and opens up room to fit in his second hook.

Guilherme Caju teaches a half-guard sweep in Fortaleza. Photo by Junior Samurai/GRACIEMAG.com

Stuck on bottom playing half-guard? Well, what you need to do now is make sure your opponent doesn’t hug your head and weigh on you.

The trick to avoiding that is to always keep positioned on your side and with an underhook. In the following video, Guilherme Caju, a black belt on Ribeiro JJ team, teaches an exclusive reversal for GRACIEMAG.com.

He warns not to let the opponent get his head inside on you, and then advises to grab the opponent’s wrist as though sinking a keylock. The other hand goes to the belt, and that’s where the main detail comes in: the sideward bridge, simultaneous leverage using the arm and the belt.

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Florida and was a student of the legendary Rolls Graice, not to mention having trained and helped Rickson Gracie and Carlos Gracie Jr.

Here Simas teaches how to safely pass butterfly-guard. The trick is to neutralize the underhook and grab the opponent’s collar before taking a firm grip on the enemy leg. Next it’s just a question of passing to the side you have locked down.

Flavio Almeida, on top, at 2010 Las Vegas Open / Photo: John Cooper

The helicopter sweep is a position as surprising as it is efficient, and the whole world marvels when they get to see one carried out in Jiu-Jitsu.

On the Gracie Barra,

website, Professor Flavio “Cachorrinho” taught a class on how to put it to practice starting from open or butterfly guard.

But we’ll translate the secrets for you right here on GRACIEMAG.com.

Concede, to win

According to the teacher at Gracie Barra Dana Point, California, one of the primary details is to give up the underhook, clearing the way for your hand to go just where you want it.

The other key point is to keep a hook on your opponent’s calf, which is vital in performing the intricate maneuver.

Check it out and let us know what you think. If you don’t get something in particular, just ask us and we, or one of our savvy readers, will break it down for you.