The 50/50 is a leglock entanglement and guard position that’s pretty unavoidable in modern jiu-jitsu.
With the gi it’s a powerful sweeping and backtaking position, and in no gi matches it leads to a TON of leglock submissions.
The 50/50 is a seemingly symmetrical position where, superficially at least, it looks like both people have the same set of options.
People mistakenly think of it like a Wild West duel where you and another cowboy standing at close range, blazing away at each other with a pair of six-shooters. Whoever is faster, crazier, or luckier wins.
But that’s really not the case IF you know what you’re doing. There are specific tactical and positional changes you can make in the 50/50 that’ll HUGELY skew the odds in your favor.
With those modifications it goes from a shoot-out scenario to a situation where your opponent is a cowboy armed with a Colt Single Action, and you’re a sniper a mile away with the best scope and sniper rifle that money can buy.
That wouldn’t be a fair fight at all, which is exactly how you want it.
The single best resource I’ve seen on the 50/50 is in the Cutting Edge Leglocks instructional I did with Rob Biernacki (which covers a lot more than the 50/50 position).
But if only want to focus on the 50/50 then I suggest you grab the free Grapplearts BJJ Master App (click here for Apple or click here for Android).
Specifically, check out modules 5 and 6 in the Cutting Edge Leglocks section of the app…
There’s a ridiculous amount of value in those two modules, including an amazing section on the backside 50/50, one of the most dominant positions in all of leglocking.
Check it out for free in the Master App. Click one of the buttons below to download it to your phone for free right now.
There’s a ridiculous amount of value in those two modules, including an amazing section on the backside 50/50, one of the most dominant positions in all of leglocking.
This is probably the best deal in jiu-jitsu right now!
Stephan