Side Control

Side control is a simple method of controlling a downed opponent. Use a combination of wedges on both sides of the body, and weight on the chest to keep your opponent pinned. The wedges are more important than the body weight for this pin. Therefore, with the correct body position, it’s possible to hold down a larger, stronger opponent.

The two basic versions of side control are;

Long base side control, legs fully extended, knees off the ground, toes driving your weight forward onto the chest of the bottom player. Your bottom hand should be on the ground forcing your wrist against their hip on the close side. And your other arm should be on the far side, elbow on the ground pulling back into the side of their neck.

And;

Short base side control, knees on the ground one hard against the hip, the other against the ribs. Your bottom arm under hooking their far side arm. And your other arm under the head, bicep against the neck. Hands gable gripped together above their shoulder. In short base side control, the pressure of your wedges is more important than the weight on the chest.

Once you’ve mastered the these two basic versions there are many, many, variations. High or low on the body (High being towards the head, low being on the hips). Hips turned to the head, (scarf hold) or hips turned to the lower body. These variations are used to set up submissions and chokes. There’s a huge variety of both available from side control. It’s a strong attacking position.