Josh “Sloth” Vogel is a Team Balance black belt and author of The Sloth Report, a premium BJJ newsletter devoted to in-depth technical analysis and instruction. In his instructional debut, Josh showcases the thorough and accessible instructional style that forged his reputation as a teacher. Through his underhook half guard system, Josh takes a fundamental position and explores its use with unprecedented depth, giving you a complete strategy for half guard and a roadmap for taking your half guard game from white belt to black belt.
The Artechoke Media Cloud Instructional format gives you a unique learning experience: see the technique in motion from every angle, read in-depth explanations of strategy and tactics, then watch the material taught on video.
New to the Artechoke Media Cloud Instructionals? Enjoy the first chapter as a free sample to see how we’re revolutionizing BJJ instructionals.
Instructional Content
Chapter 1: Half Guard Fundamentals
-
1-A Half Guard Defaults
-
1-1 Weight Bearing Drill
-
1-2 Triangle Leg Position
-
1-3 Outside Foot Frame
-
1-4 Defensive Arm Positioning
-
1-5 Freddie Mercury Underhook
-
1-6 Hand to the Back
-
1-7 Back Take
-
1-8 Recover Closed Guard
-
1-9 Old School Sweep
-
1-10 Head Positioning Troubleshooting
-
1-11 Knee Pinch Lift
-
1-12 The Weasel Hand
-
1-13 Knee Push
-
1-14 Drill: Fight to Your Side
-
1-15 Drill: Freddie vs. Michael
-
1-16 Drill: Crossface Pummeling
- 1-A Half Guard Defaults
- 1-1 Weight Bearing Drill
- 1-2 Triangle Leg Position
- 1-3 Outside Foot Frame
- 1-4 Defensive Arm Positioning
- 1-5 Freddie Mercury Underhook
- 1-6 Hand to the Back
- 1-7 Back Take
- 1-8 Recover Closed Guard
- 1-9 Old School Sweep
- 1-10 Head Positioning Troubleshooting
- 1-11 Knee Pinch Lift
- 1-12 The Weasel Hand
- 1-13 Knee Push
- 1-14 Drill: Fight to Your Side
- 1-15 Drill: Freddie vs. Michael
- 1-16 Drill: Crossface Pummeling
Chapter 2: Underhook
-
2-A: Funneling and Leg Control
-
2-B Options
-
2-C Escape Early
-
2-1 Whizzer Block to Back Take
-
2-2 Whizzer Block to Buddy Grip Sweep
-
2-3 Buddy Grip to Back Take
-
2-4 Old School Sweep
-
2-5 Old School Twist Back
-
2-6 Leite Hip Twist
-
2-7 Cut Pass Counter (Leg Up)
-
2-8 Cut Pass Counter (Leg Down)
-
2-9 Butt Bump Threat to Sweep
-
2-10 Power Mercury Escape
-
2-11 Dog on Fire Hydrant
-
2-12 Backstep to Elevator
-
2-13 Go Slow Rationale
-
2-14 Upper Body Reset
- 2-A: Funneling and Leg Control
- 2-B Options
- 2-C Escape Early
- 2-1 Whizzer Block to Back Take
- 2-2 Whizzer Block to Buddy Grip Sweep
- 2-3 Buddy Grip to Back Take
- 2-4 Old School Sweep
- 2-5 Old School Twist Back
- 2-6 Leite Hip Twist
- 2-7 Cut Pass Counter (Leg Up)
- 2-8 Cut Pass Counter (Leg Down)
- 2-9 Butt Bump Threat to Sweep
- 2-10 Power Mercury Escape
- 2-11 Dog on Fire Hydrant
- 2-12 Backstep to Elevator
- 2-13 Go Slow Rationale
- 2-14 Upper Body Reset
Chapter 3: Crossface
-
3-A The Power of the Lockdown
-
3-B Leite Knee Twist and Butterfly Half
-
3-1 Lockdown to Relieve Pressure
-
3-2 Lockdown Grip Variations
-
3-3 Tonon Chop
-
3-4 Hip-Sit Counter
-
3-5 Drill: Lockdown Off-Balancing
-
3-6 Lockdown to Old School
-
3-7 Electric Chair Sweep
-
3-8 The Dog-Bar
-
3-9 Leite Knee Twist
-
3-10 Inserting the Butterfly Hook
-
3-11 Drew’s Butterfly to Closed Guard
-
3-12 Elevator Sweep
-
3-13 Underhook to Seated Butterfly
-
3-14 Classic Elevator Sweep
-
3-15 Butterfly to X-Guard
-
3-16 Telephone Armlock
- 3-A The Power of the Lockdown
- 3-B Leite Knee Twist and Butterfly Half
- 3-1 Lockdown to Relieve Pressure
- 3-2 Lockdown Grip Variations
- 3-3 Tonon Chop
- 3-4 Hip-Sit Counter
- 3-5 Drill: Lockdown Off-Balancing
- 3-6 Lockdown to Old School
- 3-7 Electric Chair Sweep
- 3-8 The Dog-Bar
- 3-9 Leite Knee Twist
- 3-10 Inserting the Butterfly Hook
- 3-11 Drew’s Butterfly to Closed Guard
- 3-12 Elevator Sweep
- 3-13 Underhook to Seated Butterfly
- 3-14 Classic Elevator Sweep
- 3-15 Butterfly to X-Guard
- 3-16 Telephone Armlock