Side Control
Side control is about control — don't overthink it. Your goal is to tire your opponent out and not let them escape; with good control you can then progress to a more dominant position like mount. And don't chase submissions: they come from good control. Journey Score data shows most students can hold side control against equals — your goal is holding it against a higher belt.
1. Objectives & Mechanics
Side control is about control. Your goal is to tire your opponent out, deny the escape, and progress to another dominant position like mount when it's there. Don't chase submissions — they come from good control. Mechanically, there are different side controls for different occasions, but the principles stay the same: your partner's escapes come from their ability to move their hips, build frames with their arms, and get at least one shoulder off the mat to relieve pressure. The cross body side control is one of the best ways to negate all three. Secret tip: your passing connects to which side control you land in — keep that in mind as part of your guard passing sequencing.
2. Execution & Awareness
A strong side control means limiting your partner's space and options — create space and they'll fill it with frames or a guard. Control their hip bones, their shoulders, and their ability to turn their head freely. Then stay aware: every escape attempt and frame affords you a submission or a path to mount. Build timing into your game to capitalise on mistakes. Your goal: hold a strong side control and let your partner submit themselves.
3. Dealing with common reactions
Pushing the neck: your weight is the answer — keep your chin in line with their shoulder and put your weight through their wrist, the weakest point of the frame. Bridging: with a good base you go nowhere — widen your legs and stay off your toes. Hip escape (the most common and most annoying reaction): in cross body control, your trailing arm must block their hips — if they can't turn into you, there's no threat.
4. Invisible details
Capitalising on your partner's reactions is essential. From cross body side control, a hip escape attempt hands you the armbar or kimura. The key details: weight distribution, isolating the arm, and never letting them get their back flat on the ground.
5. How to practice
Practise applying pressure and recognising the common escapes. The humming drill: apply pressure on their diaphragm until they struggle to hum — if they can't hum, you're making their life difficult. Learn the directions they can move to escape. Practise cross body control against a live hip escape, and head-and-arm control against a partner rolling away from you.
Drills
- Humming drill: pressure on the diaphragm until humming is hard
- Map the escape directions
- Cross body control vs live hip escapes
- Head-and-arm control vs rolling away
Training checklist
- Can you get to side control?
- Practise applying pressure to your partner's chest
- Practise cross body control
- Practise maintaining control when your partner bridges away and towards you
- Practise isolating the arm for a kimura or armbar
- You can hold side control against a lower belt
- You can hold side control against a higher belt
- You can defend against the common escapes
Frequently asked questions
What is the goal of side control?
Control — tire your opponent out, deny the escape, and progress to mount when it's available. Submissions come from good control, not from chasing them.
How do I stop the hip escape from side control?
In cross body control, block their hips with your trailing arm. If they can't turn into you, the escape has no threat.
What do I do when they push on my neck?
Answer with weight: chin in line with their shoulder, weight through their wrist — the weakest point of the frame.
Where to next
Not sure what to work on next?
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