North-South control from the top perspective represents one of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s most dominant pinning positions, offering exceptional control through distributed weight, multiple submission opportunities, and strategic position advancement options. The perpendicular body alignment creates devastating chest pressure that restricts the opponent’s breathing and movement while simultaneously isolating their arms for attacks. Mastering this position requires understanding the nuanced balance between maintaining crushing pressure and transitioning to submissions or improved positions.
The strategic power of top North-South lies in its control mechanics: by positioning your chest perpendicular across the opponent’s torso with your head near their hips and your hips near their head, you create a weight distribution that is extremely difficult to escape. Your wide base, formed by your knees and feet, provides stability against bridge attempts while your chest pressure keeps the opponent flat and defensive. This configuration allows you to control without relying primarily on arm strength, making it a sustainable position even against larger opponents.
From a tactical perspective, North-South serves multiple purposes in your positional game. It functions as a powerful pinning position when you need to control an opponent and drain their energy, as a submission hub offering access to chokes, kimuras, and armbars, and as a transitional position connecting side control to mount or back control. The position rewards patience and systematic pressure application—rushing into submissions before establishing solid control often results in the opponent escaping during your attack.
The key to maximizing North-South effectiveness is understanding the relationship between pressure maintenance and offensive action. Every submission attempt or transition creates a window where your opponent might escape, so your attacks must be timed precisely to minimize these opportunities. Advanced practitioners learn to feel their opponent’s defensive intentions through subtle weight shifts and adjust their pressure or attacks accordingly, creating a constant dilemma where the opponent’s defensive reactions open new offensive opportunities.
Position Definition
- Top player’s torso is positioned perpendicular across bottom player’s chest, with continuous downward pressure through the sternum. The chest-to-chest contact must remain constant to prevent the bottom player from creating escape angles or establishing defensive frames.
- Top player’s base is established through wide knee positioning on either side of the bottom player’s head and shoulders, with feet providing secondary stability. This wide base creates a stable platform that resists bridging attempts while allowing weight to be concentrated through the chest.
- Top player’s head is positioned near bottom player’s hips while maintaining enough elevation to observe the opponent’s arms and respond to defensive movements. This positioning allows for quick transitions to submissions or positional advancements while maintaining control.
Prerequisites
- Transition from side control, mount escape, or passing sequence has created perpendicular positioning
- Bottom player’s shoulders are flat on the mat with limited ability to create frames
- Top player has established initial chest contact and base positioning before full pressure application
Key Offensive Principles
- Distribute weight through chest to create sustainable pressure without exhausting arm strength
- Maintain wide base with knees to resist bridge attempts and provide transitional stability
- Isolate near-side arm as primary control mechanism and submission setup
- Time transitions and submission attempts to coincide with opponent’s defensive movements
- Keep chest pressure constant even while attacking to prevent escape during submissions
- Read opponent’s bridge timing and adjust weight distribution to nullify escape attempts
- Use head position to monitor both arms and anticipate defensive reactions
Available Attacks
Transition to Mount → Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 50%
- Intermediate: 65%
- Advanced: 80%
North-South Choke → Won by Submission
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 55%
Kimura from North-South → Kimura Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Armbar from North-South → Armbar Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Transition to Side Control → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 60%
- Intermediate: 75%
- Advanced: 85%
Reverse Mount Transition → Reverse Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 40%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 70%
Gift Wrap Control → Gift Wrap
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Arm Triangle Setup → Won by Submission
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 20%
- Intermediate: 35%
- Advanced: 50%
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent is flat and not actively defending:
- Execute Establish Kimura Grip on Near Arm → Kimura Control (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Set Up North-South Choke → Won by Submission (Probability: 45%)
If opponent is actively bridging and attempting escape:
- Execute Follow Bridge to Mount → Mount (Probability: 65%)
- Execute Redirect to Side Control → Side Control (Probability: 70%)
If opponent turns to side during escape attempt:
- Execute Take Back Control → Back Control (Probability: 55%)
- Execute Establish Gift Wrap → Gift Wrap (Probability: 50%)
Optimal Submission Paths
Kimura Control Path
North South Control Top → Isolate Near Arm → Kimura Control → Kimura → Won by Submission
Direct Choke Path
North South Control Top → Arm Configuration → North-South Choke → Won by Submission
Mount Advancement Path
North South Control Top → Follow Bridge → Mount → Armbar from Mount → Won by Submission
Back Take Sequence
North South Control Top → Opponent Turns → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke → Won by Submission
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 60% | 45% | 25% |
| Intermediate | 75% | 60% | 40% |
| Advanced | 85% | 75% | 55% |
Average Time in Position: 30-90 seconds before submission or position advancement