Side Control

Side Control is a dominant top position in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu where the practitioner positions their chest across the opponent’s torso, pinning them to the mat. This position allows the top player to control the opponent’s hips and shoulders while remaining mobile enough to transition to submissions or other dominant positions like Mount Top or North South.

Key Characteristics of Side Control

Chest-to-Torso Contact

  • Your chest is pressed against the opponent’s torso, applying Pressure to restrict their movement and breathing.

Head and Arm Control

  • Use your arms to control their head, shoulders, or near-side arm, preventing them from framing or escaping.

Hip Control

  • Keep your hips heavy and close to theirs to limit their Hip Movement and ability to recover Guard.

Goals of Side Control

Maintain Control

  • Use Frames, Weight Distribution, and grips to pin the opponent and prevent their escapes.
  • Stay mobile to adjust to their defensive movements.

Advance Position

Set Up Submissions

  • Use the position to isolate their arms or attack their neck, leading to submissions such as the Arm Triangle or Kimura.

Advantages of Side Control

Positional Dominance

  • The opponent has limited offensive options, while the top player can control, transition, or attack.

Submission Opportunities

  • Side Control provides access to a variety of chokes and joint locks.

Flexibility

  • Offers multiple paths to transition into more dominant positions or reset control.

Common Submissions from Side Control

Kimura

  • Trap the opponent’s arm, secure a Figure-Four Grip, and rotate their shoulder for the lock.

Arm Triangle

  • Use your shoulder to apply choking pressure while isolating their far-side arm.

Americana

  • Pin their near-side arm and use a Figure-Four Grip to twist their shoulder joint.

Paper Cutter Choke

  • Use their gi collar to apply a scissor motion choke across their neck.

North South Choke

  • Transition to North South and use your shoulder to apply pressure to their neck.

Transitions from Side Control

Mount Top

  • Slide your knee over their torso, pinning their hips and establishing Mount Top.

North South

  • Rotate your body over their torso, aligning your head with their hips for the North South position.

Knee on Belly

  • Lift your chest and slide one knee onto their torso, maintaining pressure and mobility.

Back Control

  • If the opponent turns to their side, follow their movement to establish Back Control.

Control Points in Side Control

Crossface and Underhook

  • Use your near-side arm to crossface (pressure their head) and your far-side arm to underhook their arm or torso, maximizing control.

Hip Control

  • Use your knee, hand, or hip to block their hips and prevent them from creating space for escapes.

Weight Distribution

  • Keep your weight distributed evenly over their chest, making it difficult for them to bridge or turn.

Common Mistakes in Side Control

Poor Weight Distribution

  • Leaning too far forward or backward reduces control and makes you vulnerable to sweeps or escapes.

Neglecting the Hips

  • Allowing their hips to move freely gives them space to escape or recover Guard.

Overcommitting to Submissions

  • Rushing submissions without maintaining control can lead to losing the position.

Advancing Side Control

Tip

In Side Control, maintain Pressure and control over the opponent’s Hips and Frames while staying mobile. Use their defensive movements to create opportunities for submissions or transitions to more dominant positions.

Transitions from Side Control

Mount Top

  • Slide your knee across the opponent's torso while maintaining chest pressure, establishing Mount Top for a more dominant position.

North South

  • Shift your weight and pivot your body over their torso to align your head with their hips, transitioning into North South.

Knee on Belly

  • Lift your chest slightly and place one knee onto their torso while maintaining control of their upper body.

Back Control

  • If the opponent turns to their side to defend, follow their movement, insert hooks, and secure Back Control.

Technical Mount

  • As the opponent defends, transition into Technical Mount by adjusting your knee and leg positioning.

Submissions from Side Control

Kimura

  • Trap their arm, lock a Figure-Four Grip, and apply shoulder rotation for the submission.

Arm Triangle

  • Use your shoulder to apply choking pressure to their neck while isolating their far-side arm.

Americana

  • Pin their near-side arm to the mat and use a Figure-Four Grip to crank their shoulder joint.

Paper Cutter Choke

  • Use their gi collar to apply a scissor motion choke across their neck.

Straight Armlock

  • Isolate their arm and extend it with controlled pressure to hyperextend their elbow.

North South Choke

  • Transition to North South and apply shoulder pressure to compress their neck.
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Sweeps from Side Control (If Reversed)

Momentum Sweep

Leg Hook Sweep

  • Hook their leg with your foot as they bridge or shrimp, using leverage to roll them over.

Passes into Side Control

Toreando Pass

  • Clear their legs to the side, step around, and establish control by pinning their hips and shoulders.

Knee Cut Pass

Over-Under Pass

Leg Drag Pass

  • Drag their leg across your body, clear their hips, and establish Side Control Top.

Escapes from Side Control

Shrimp Escape

  • Frame against their hips or shoulders, perform a shrimp motion, and recover Guard or Half Guard.

Bridge and Roll Escape

  • Explosively bridge to disrupt their Base and roll them off, transitioning into a neutral or advantageous position.

Underhook Escape

Knee-Elbow Escape

Takedowns Leading to Side Control

Double Leg Takedown to Side Control

  • Complete the takedown by passing their legs and landing directly in Side Control Top.

Body Lock Takedown to Side Control

  • Use a body lock to take them down, advancing to Side Control Top by controlling their hips.

Snapdown to Side Control

  • Snap their head down, circle around their body, and establish Side Control Top.

Trip Takedown to Side Control

  • Use a trip to destabilize them and immediately transition into Side Control Top.

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