From the bottom perspective, Mission Control represents the apex of Eddie Bravo’s rubber guard system - a position where flexibility, control, and submission potential converge to create one of the most dominant control positions in modern no-gi grappling. Establishing Mission Control requires the bottom practitioner to achieve an extreme high guard position, threading the inside leg across the opponent’s back while using the outside leg to control and isolate the far shoulder. This configuration creates a structural trap that progressively tightens as the opponent struggles, leading to multiple high-percentage submission opportunities.
The mechanical advantage of Mission Control from the bottom is rooted in hip elevation and shoulder isolation. By driving the hips high and pulling the opponent’s head down aggressively, the bottom practitioner forces the opponent’s weight onto their trapped shoulder, creating severe postural compromise. This positioning not only prevents the opponent from generating effective defensive movements but also exposes the neck for triangle attacks and rotates the shoulder into omoplata range. The high guard leg acts as a lever that amplifies control - any attempt by the opponent to posture up or pull their arm free simply tightens the trap and opens additional submission paths.
Energy management in Mission Control favors the bottom practitioner significantly once the position is established. While the initial entry requires active hip elevation and aggressive pulling, maintaining the position becomes progressively easier as the opponent’s defensive efforts work against them. The structural mechanics force the top person to support their own weight awkwardly, creating rapid fatigue in the shoulder and neck. Advanced practitioners learn to relax into Mission Control while maintaining control tension, allowing the opponent to ‘cook’ under the pressure of their own weight distribution.
The offensive potential from Mission Control bottom is extensive and systematic. The primary attacks include the Mission Control triangle, which uses the shoulder isolation to create perfect triangle angle; the omoplata entry, which becomes available as the opponent attempts to pull their trapped arm free; and the gogoplata when the opponent’s posture is completely broken. Beyond these direct submissions, Mission Control serves as a platform for transitioning to more advanced rubber guard controls like New York (when the opponent defends their arm), Carni (for alternative shoulder isolation), or Invisible Collar (when the opponent attempts to strip grips). This creates a submission chain system where defensive attempts against one attack open opportunities for others, embodying Eddie Bravo’s dilemma-based approach to bottom position.
Success in Mission Control bottom requires specific physical attributes and technical understanding. Hip flexibility is paramount - practitioners must be able to maintain the high guard position without straining, allowing for sustained control and fluid transitions. Grip strength and endurance are critical for maintaining head and arm control against defensive attempts. Technical precision in shoulder isolation mechanics determines whether the position creates genuine submission threats or merely uncomfortable pressure. Most importantly, bottom practitioners must develop the systematic understanding of submission chains that makes Mission Control a true position of dominance rather than just a transitional control.
Position Definition
- The bottom practitioner’s inside leg must be threaded high across the opponent’s back, with the shin or calf creating downward pressure on the shoulder blade while the foot hooks around the opposite side of the opponent’s torso, establishing the foundational high guard position that defines Mission Control
- The bottom practitioner’s outside leg must be positioned over and controlling the opponent’s far shoulder, with the knee or shin applying continuous downward pressure that isolates the shoulder and prevents the opponent from generating upward posture, creating the characteristic shoulder trap of the position
- The bottom practitioner must maintain aggressive downward pulling pressure on the opponent’s head using either one or both hands, breaking the opponent’s posture completely and loading their weight onto the trapped shoulder while exposing the neck for submission attacks
- The opponent’s trapped arm must remain isolated on the inside of the bottom practitioner’s high guard leg, preventing the opponent from establishing defensive frames or creating the space necessary to escape the shoulder isolation trap
- The bottom practitioner’s hips must remain elevated off the mat, creating active upward pressure that maintains the high guard position and prevents the opponent from driving weight down through their hips to collapse the control
Prerequisites
- Active closed guard or high guard position with opponent’s posture already partially broken
- Sufficient hip flexibility to maintain high guard without straining or losing structural integrity
- Strong grip control on opponent’s head or neck to prevent posture recovery during setup
- Opponent’s weight must be managed forward onto their arms rather than back onto their hips
- Inside leg must be mobile enough to thread across opponent’s back without opponent blocking or preventing the movement
Key Defensive Principles
- Mission Control is fundamentally about shoulder isolation - if you cannot trap the shoulder, you do not have the position
- Hip elevation is active, not passive - constantly drive hips up and forward to maintain control tension
- The high guard leg is a lever, not just a hook - use it to amplify pulling pressure and shoulder isolation
- Grip control on the head must be aggressive and unrelenting - any relaxation allows posture recovery
- The position is designed for submissions, not stalling - constantly threaten attacks to prevent opponent from developing escape timing
- Energy efficiency comes from structural position, not muscular effort - let the opponent’s weight work against them
- Mission Control is a transitional hub - be ready to flow to New York, Carni, or submission controls based on opponent’s defensive responses
Available Escapes
Triangle Setup → Triangle Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 75%
Omoplata to Sweep → Omoplata Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 70%
Transition to Omoplata → Omoplata Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 28%
- Intermediate: 48%
- Advanced: 68%
Triangle from Guard → Triangle Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 32%
- Intermediate: 52%
- Advanced: 72%
Armbar from Guard → Armbar Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 42%
- Advanced: 62%
Transition to Truck → New York
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 20%
- Intermediate: 38%
- Advanced: 58%
Hip Bump Sweep → Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 18%
- Intermediate: 32%
- Advanced: 50%
Omoplata Sweep → Back Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 22%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 60%
Transition to Omoplata → Carni
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 15%
- Intermediate: 30%
- Advanced: 50%
Closed Guard to Triangle → Gogoplata Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 10%
- Intermediate: 22%
- Advanced: 40%
Triangle to Omoplata → Invisible Collar
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 12%
- Intermediate: 25%
- Advanced: 45%
Omoplata to Back → Zombie
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 8%
- Intermediate: 18%
- Advanced: 35%
Decision Making from This Position
Opponent maintains broken posture with head down and weight on trapped shoulder:
- Execute Triangle Setup → Triangle Control (Probability: 75%)
- Execute Transition to Omoplata → Omoplata Control (Probability: 70%)
Opponent attempts to posture up by driving weight back and lifting head:
- Execute Triangle from Guard → Triangle Control (Probability: 70%)
- Execute Transition to Truck → New York (Probability: 55%)
Opponent drives forward with stacking pressure attempting to collapse high guard:
- Execute Transition to Truck → Zombie (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Omoplata Sweep → Back Control (Probability: 58%)
Opponent pulls trapped arm back attempting to free shoulder from isolation:
- Execute Omoplata to Sweep → Omoplata Control (Probability: 68%)
- Execute Transition to Omoplata → Invisible Collar (Probability: 45%)
Opponent successfully extracts arm and begins to open guard:
- Execute Hip Bump Sweep → Mount (Probability: 50%)
- Execute Guard Replacement → Closed Guard (Probability: 45%)
Escape and Survival Paths
Direct Triangle from Mission Control
Mission Control → Triangle Setup → Triangle Control → Triangle Choke
Omoplata Sweep to Back Take
Mission Control → Omoplata to Sweep → Omoplata Control → Omoplata Sweep → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke
Triangle to Armbar Chain
Mission Control → Triangle Setup → Triangle Control → Triangle to Armbar → Armbar from Guard
New York to Triangle Transition
Mission Control → Transition to Truck → New York → Triangle Setup → Triangle Control → Triangle Choke
Gogoplata from Broken Posture
Mission Control → Closed Guard to Triangle → Gogoplata Control → Gogoplata
Omoplata to Triangle Switch
Mission Control → Omoplata to Sweep → Omoplata Control → Triangle to Omoplata → Triangle Control → Triangle Choke
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 40% | 35% | 30% |
| Intermediate | 65% | 58% | 52% |
| Advanced | 85% | 78% | 72% |
Average Time in Position: 45-90 seconds before submission attempt or position change
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
Mission Control represents a fascinating case study in biomechanical advantage through extreme joint positioning. The position creates what I call a ‘structural cascade’ - the high guard leg position forces the opponent’s shoulder into internal rotation while simultaneously preventing external rotation recovery, which in turn compromises neck positioning and makes the head vulnerable to pulling control. The beauty of the position is that opponent defensive efforts actually tighten the trap rather than loosening it. When they attempt to posture up, they drive into the triangle. When they attempt to pull the arm back, they expose the shoulder to omoplata. The position creates a true mechanical dilemma where every defensive action opens an offensive opportunity. However, the position demands significant hip flexibility and core strength to maintain the structural integrity necessary for effective control. Without these physical attributes, practitioners will find themselves expending enormous energy to hold a position that should be relatively efficient once properly established.
Gordon Ryan
In competition, Mission Control is one of the highest percentage bottom positions for finishing submissions, but only if you understand the timing and transitions. The position itself doesn’t finish - it’s the transitions from Mission Control to specific submissions that get the tap. I use Mission Control primarily as a platform to threaten triangle chokes, and the opponent’s defense to the triangle is what opens up the omoplata or the sweep. The key is understanding that you need to be constantly attacking - if you just hold Mission Control without threatening submissions, good opponents will eventually find the timing to escape. In my matches, I’m looking to enter triangle within 15-20 seconds of establishing Mission Control. If the triangle isn’t there, I’m immediately transitioning to New York or threatening the omoplata. The position is extremely effective in no-gi because you can’t use gi grips to break it down - the high guard leg is the primary control, and without gi grips, opponents struggle to strip that control effectively. Train Mission Control as a transitional hub, not a destination, and your submission rate from bottom will increase dramatically.
Eddie Bravo
Mission Control is the heart of the rubber guard system - it’s where everything connects and flows from. When I developed the position, I was trying to solve the problem of bottom control in no-gi where traditional closed guard grips don’t exist. Mission Control gives you multiple submission threats from one position: triangle, omoplata, gogoplata, armbar, all while maintaining strong control. The position works because it violates what opponents expect from bottom guard - instead of trying to create distance and sweep, you’re pulling them in tight and attacking their neck and shoulder. Most people don’t train to defend this type of attack pattern, so they make mistakes that open up submissions. The key is understanding that Mission Control is just the beginning - you need to know the entire rubber guard system to make it work at high levels. When they defend the triangle, you go to New York. When they defend New York, you go to Carni or Invisible Collar. It’s a system of dilemmas where their defense to one attack sets up the next attack. But it all starts with establishing clean Mission Control - if your high guard isn’t tight and your shoulder isolation isn’t solid, the whole system breaks down. Focus on the fundamentals of the position first before worrying about advanced transitions.