In a recent episode of the BJJ Fanatics Podcast, renowned BJJ black belt Henry Akins challenged common perceptions about half guard, particularly its promotion as an ideal position for less athletic practitioners.
Akins, who was the third American to receive a black belt under Rickson Gracie, expressed strong disagreement with how half guard is often taught and recommended. “Half guard means they’re halfway past your guard,” Akins explained, noting that a stronger position would be full guard.
He emphasized that half guard offers very limited submission opportunities compared to full guard, which provides numerous attacking options like guillotines, cross collar chokes, and armlocks. According to Akins, bottom half guard is primarily a transitional position focused on sweeping or reversing position rather than finishing matches.
When asked why many instructors promote half guard as a safe position for smaller practitioners, Akins was direct in his assessment: “Because they don’t understand Jiu-Jitsu.” He elaborated that many instructors have a collection of techniques but lack deep understanding of the art’s fundamental principles.
Akins pointed out that top-level coaches often instruct their students to force half guard when struggling to pass full guard, precisely because half guard is easier to pass. This insight suggests that willingly accepting half guard position means giving up half of one’s defensive capabilities.
The discussion highlights a potential disconnect between modern BJJ instruction and traditional principles. While half guard has become increasingly popular in modern competition, Akins advocates for a more critical examination of its strategic limitations and encourages practitioners to pursue stronger positions when possible.
Through his brand Hidden Jiu-Jitsu, Akins continues to emphasize these often overlooked fundamentals and subtleties of the art, challenging practitioners to think more deeply about their tactical choices on the mat.
