BJJ Pathfinder
Illustration of side control from the bottom: the player in orange is flat on their back with their opponent lying across their chest
Position 05 / 11

Side control

They are across your chest, past your legs. Build frames first, make space, then get your guard back.

What do you want to do?

10 moves
EscapesShrimp to guard recovery · Bridge and shrimp to half guard · Underhook to knees · +212 videosControlsFrames2 videosDefencesBlocking the mount · Americana / kimura defence · Arm triangle defence · +16 videos

About Side control, bottom

Side control bottom is one of the first bad spots every beginner gets stuck in. They are past your legs and across your chest, and their weight makes it hard to breathe. The good news is that the escapes are some of the most reliable techniques in jiu-jitsu.

Don't push with straight arms: you will tire out and give up an armbar. Build frames with your forearms against their neck and hip, then use small bridges and shrimps to make space and bring a knee back inside. Recover your guard, or come up to your knees.