North-South top is one of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s most dominant pinning positions, characterized by perpendicular chest-to-chest alignment where you distribute your entire body weight across your opponent’s upper body while your heads point in opposite directions. This position offers exceptional control with relatively low energy expenditure once properly established, making it ideal for recovering stamina while maintaining offensive pressure.
The strategic value of North-South top lies in its dual functionality as both a control position and a submission platform. The crushing chest pressure restricts your opponent’s breathing and movement while your hands remain free to isolate arms, set up chokes, or control the head. Unlike parallel positions like side control, the perpendicular alignment provides unique leverage for specific submissions like the North-South choke while making certain escapes more difficult for the bottom player.
Establishing effective North-South control requires precise weight distribution and arm control. Your chest must create continuous downward pressure across the opponent’s chest and shoulders, not their stomach or hips. The pressure should restrict their rib expansion and breathing while your weight distribution prevents them from bridging effectively. Hand positioning varies based on your control strategy - you can secure underhooks, control arms directly, or establish grips for submission setups.
The position serves as a critical checkpoint during guard passing sequences and transitions between dominant positions. Skilled practitioners flow seamlessly from side control to North-South to mount, using the perpendicular alignment to consolidate control or set up submissions. Understanding when to maintain North-South versus when to transition is crucial - the position excels at control and specific submissions but may not be optimal for all finishing sequences. Mastery requires balancing pressure maintenance with transition timing and submission recognition.
Position Definition
- Top player’s chest maintains continuous downward pressure across bottom player’s chest and shoulder area, with body weight distributed to compress their rib cage and restrict breathing while heads align perpendicular to each other
- Top player’s hips remain relatively low and base-wide to prevent bridging escapes, with weight forward over opponent’s upper body rather than sitting back toward their legs where control weakens significantly
- Top player controls or restricts bottom player’s arms through underhooks, overhooks, or direct arm control to prevent defensive frame creation that would create escape space and reduce pressure effectiveness
Prerequisites
- Bottom player’s back is flat on mat with guard passed or position entered from side control
- Top player has achieved perpendicular body alignment with chest over opponent’s chest
- Top player controls or restricts at least one of bottom player’s arms
- Top player has established base and pressure to prevent immediate escape
Key Offensive Principles
- Distribute body weight across opponent’s chest and shoulders, not stomach or hips
- Keep chest pressure constant while hands work for arm control or submissions
- Maintain low hip position with wide base to prevent bridge and roll escapes
- Control opponent’s arms before attempting major position transitions or submissions
- Use shoulder and head pressure to restrict opponent’s head movement and breathing
- Transition to mount or other positions when opponent creates defensive frames
- Balance between control maintenance and submission hunting based on opponent’s reactions
Available Attacks
North-South Choke → Won by Submission
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 70%
Transition to Mount → Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 45%
- Intermediate: 65%
- Advanced: 80%
North-South to Kimura → Kimura Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 75%
Armbar from Side Control → Won by Submission
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 65%
Transition to North-South → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 50%
- Intermediate: 70%
- Advanced: 85%
Americana from Side Control → Won by Submission
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 20%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 60%
Side Control to Mount → Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 40%
- Intermediate: 60%
- Advanced: 75%
Knee on Belly → Knee on Belly
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 70%
Spinning Armbar → Won by Submission
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 15%
- Intermediate: 30%
- Advanced: 50%
Reverse Armbar → Won by Submission
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 20%
- Intermediate: 35%
- Advanced: 55%
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent maintains flat back with arms controlled:
- Execute North-South choke setup → Won by Submission (Probability: 55%)
- Execute Maintain pressure and control → North-South (Probability: 70%)
If opponent creates frames and begins hip escape:
- Execute Transition to mount → Mount (Probability: 65%)
- Execute Switch to side control → Side Control (Probability: 60%)
If opponent exposes near arm during escape attempt:
- Execute Kimura grip and control → Kimura Control (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Americana lock → Won by Submission (Probability: 45%)
If opponent turns to turtle:
- Execute Take the back → Back Control (Probability: 70%)
- Execute Return to side control → Side Control (Probability: 65%)
If opponent extends both arms for frames:
- Execute North-South choke → Won by Submission (Probability: 50%)
- Execute Armbar setup → Won by Submission (Probability: 40%)
Optimal Submission Paths
Direct North-South choke finish
North-South Top → Arm control → North-South Choke → Won by Submission
Kimura to mount control
North-South Top → Kimura Control → Mount → Armbar from Mount → Won by Submission
Mount transition to submission
North-South Top → Mount → High Mount → North-South Choke or Armbar → Won by Submission
Back take from turtle
North-South Top → Opponent turns to Turtle → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke → Won by Submission
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 50% | 45% | 25% |
| Intermediate | 70% | 65% | 45% |
| Advanced | 85% | 80% | 65% |
Average Time in Position: 60-120 seconds of control before transition or submission
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
North-South top represents an exceptional control position built on fundamental principles of weight distribution and structural pressure. The position’s effectiveness stems from perpendicular body alignment that allows you to distribute your entire body mass across the opponent’s chest and shoulders, creating pressure that restricts both movement and breathing. The key to mastery lies in understanding the relationship between chest pressure, arm control, and base positioning. Your chest must create continuous downward pressure - this is non-negotiable. Your hands work to control arms and set up submissions, but never at the expense of chest pressure. Base positioning prevents bridge and roll escapes through wide, low hip positioning similar to sprawl mechanics. The submission game from North-South centers on the namesake choke and kimura variations, both of which exploit the perpendicular alignment. However, the position’s greatest value may be as a transitional checkpoint during passing sequences - it allows you to consolidate control while deciding whether to advance to mount or maintain the pin. Understanding when to stay in North-South versus when to transition requires reading your opponent’s defensive structure and energy level.
Gordon Ryan
North-South is one of my favorite positions in competition because it lets me recover my breathing while still maintaining dominant control. After a hard passing sequence, I’ll often settle into North-South and just crush the guy while I catch my breath. The pressure is what matters most - if you’re doing it right, the bottom guy should feel like they can’t breathe and every second is miserable for them. I focus on getting my chest heavy on their chest, not their stomach, and I keep my hips low so they can’t bridge me. For submissions, the North-South choke is money if you drill it enough, but honestly I use this position more for transitions. When they start to panic and try to escape, that’s when I take mount or if they turn away, I take the back. The timing is everything - you wait for them to make their move, then you capitalize. In ADCC-style matches where there’s less stalling calls, you can really make people suffer here and drain their gas tank before moving to the finish. Just don’t get lazy and sit up high or they’ll escape. Stay heavy, stay patient, and wait for your opportunity.
Eddie Bravo
North-South is solid for control, but I like to think of it as more of a transitional position than a place to hang out. In 10th Planet we’re always flowing and moving, so when I hit North-South, I’m already thinking about where I’m going next - usually mount or sometimes I’ll switch back to side control if I feel them creating frames. The North-South choke is legit if you drill it a lot, but it’s not as high percentage as people think unless you really commit to it. What I like about the position is that you can really crush people and make them uncomfortable, which is huge in no-gi where everything is more slippery. The key is keeping your chest heavy and not letting them get their frames in - once they establish frames, you’re fighting an uphill battle. I also teach my guys to watch for the lockdown if they’re not careful with their leg positioning, which sounds weird from North-South but trust me, creative guard players will find ways to cause problems. The other thing is don’t be predictable - if everyone expects you to go for the North-South choke every time, mix it up with kimuras or just transition to mount to keep them guessing. The mental game of making them uncomfortable while you’re comfortable is what really breaks people down.