5050

The 50/50 guard is a very specialized area where all participants' legs become enmeshed, resulting in both being tightly interwoven with the same or a mirror position on each other, using a control-based base. This setup, while on your base, means that either fighter using any method of entry into this configuration has very complex limb interactions in positions with similar grip-type strategies. It is done by forcing your lower legs wrapped completely around your opponent's far limb to restrict all range or motion, with equal controls in place (which gives that position its namesake 50/50) as the lock areas, and movement control becomes far more mutual to each. As such, these styles are a common strategy for takedowns, as they work for sweeping techniques and transitional movement into the leg-locking control type submissions while using strategic counter methods. To become good with 50/50, one should gain a solid understanding of counter-attack types using transitions and sweeping skills, and, of course, leg-locking positions. The 50/50 has historically been one of the most controversial techniques in jiu jitsu. However, it has become more accepted with recent innovations.