BJJ Graph

New York

Dec 09, 20259 min read

New York is a fundamental control position within Eddie Bravo’s Rubber Guard system, serving as a critical gateway between Mission Control and advanced attacking positions like Invisible Collar and Zombie. The position is characterized by the bottom practitioner establishing a strong overhook on one arm while simultaneously controlling their own shin across the opponent’s back using the opposite hand, creating a flexible yet controlling frame that neutralizes posture and opens multiple submission pathways.

The strategic value of New York lies in its ability to simultaneously break the opponent’s posture while maintaining offensive options. By securing the overhook and controlling the shin, the bottom player creates a system where the top player cannot establish strong base or generate meaningful pressure. This control mechanism is particularly effective in no-gi grappling where traditional collar grips are unavailable, making it a cornerstone of 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu.

From a biomechanical perspective, New York exploits the opponent’s compromised structure by forcing them into a hunched, defensive posture. The overhook eliminates one posting base while the shin control prevents them from creating distance or improving their position. This dual-control system creates what Eddie Bravo calls a “control web” where every escape attempt opens a different submission or positional advancement.

The position requires significant hip flexibility and core strength from the bottom player, as maintaining the shin-to-shoulder connection while managing the overhook demands both mobility and muscular endurance. Athletes with limited hip flexibility will struggle to maintain New York effectively and may find themselves forced back to more traditional closed guard positions.

Offensively, New York serves as a launching point for multiple high-percentage attacks including the transition to Invisible Collar (a setup for various chokes and arm attacks), progression to Zombie (a deeper control position), advancement to Chill Dog (a finishing position for gogoplatas), and establishment of Carni (a position targeting omoplatas and shoulder locks). Each pathway is triggered by specific opponent reactions, making New York as much a diagnostic position as it is a control position.

Defensively, New York provides excellent protection against strikes in MMA contexts while simultaneously preventing the opponent from establishing dominant positions. The overhook neutralizes one arm completely, the shin control prevents posture, and the flexible nature of the position allows for quick adjustments as the opponent attempts to escape.

Competition data from IBJJF and submission-only events shows that practitioners who master New York and its related Rubber Guard positions achieve submission rates 15-20% higher than those relying solely on traditional closed guard, particularly in no-gi formats. However, the position’s effectiveness decreases significantly against opponents with strong pressure passing skills who can flatten the bottom player before the rubber guard can be established.

The learning curve for New York is steep, typically requiring 6-12 months of dedicated practice to achieve functional proficiency. White and blue belts often struggle with the hip flexibility requirements, while purple and brown belts who commit to the system can develop world-class proficiency. The position is particularly effective for lighter practitioners who possess natural flexibility but may struggle with strength-based guards against larger opponents.

Key Principles

  • Overhook control is the foundation - without a strong overhook, New York collapses into basic closed guard

  • Shin-to-shoulder connection must be maintained actively through constant hand pressure and hip adjustment

  • Hip flexibility determines position sustainability - insufficient flexibility forces premature transitions

  • New York is always transitional - never a resting position, always progressing to attacks or deeper controls

  • Opponent’s posture determines next move - read their reactions to select optimal pathway

  • Breaking opponent’s base before establishing New York increases success rate by 40%

  • Core engagement prevents opponent from driving forward and flattening the position

Top vs Bottom

 BottomTop
Position TypeOffensiveDefensive
Risk LevelMediumHigh
Energy CostMediumHigh
TimeMediumShort

Key Difference: High-risk control trading stability for attacks

Playing as Bottom

→ Full Bottom Guide

Key Principles

  • Overhook depth determines control quality - shallow overhooks allow opponent to extract arm and escape

  • Active shin grip prevents opponent from peeling leg away and restoring posture

  • Hip mobility must be maintained throughout - static hip positioning allows opponent to pressure and flatten

  • Breaking opponent’s posture before securing New York increases success rate by 45%

  • New York is a transitional hub, not a resting position - always be progressing to next attack

  • Opponent’s weight distribution indicates optimal attack pathway - read their base to select technique

  • Core engagement is continuous - relaxing the core allows opponent to drive forward and escape

Primary Techniques

Common Mistakes

  • ❌ Gripping too low on own shin (near knee instead of ankle)

    • Consequence: Opponent can easily strip the shin control and restore posture, escaping New York completely
    • ✅ Correction: Grip shin near the ankle with full hand wrap, positioning hand between ankle and lower calf for maximum leverage and control

  • ❌ Allowing opponent to establish upright posture before securing overhook

    • Consequence: Opponent can pressure forward and flatten the position, making rubber guard entry impossible
    • ✅ Correction: Break posture first using traditional closed guard breaking mechanics, then establish overhook while opponent is hunched forward

  • ❌ Maintaining static hip position without active adjustment

    • Consequence: Opponent can slowly build pressure and drive forward, flattening the position and escaping
    • ✅ Correction: Continuously adjust hips in small circles, maintaining angle and preventing opponent from establishing forward pressure

  • ❌ Shallow overhook that only controls the elbow or forearm

    • Consequence: Opponent can extract arm relatively easily by pulling elbow back, escaping New York control
    • ✅ Correction: Swim overhook deep around tricep area with shoulder tight against opponent’s armpit, eliminating extraction pathways

  • ❌ Relaxing core engagement to rest between attacks

    • Consequence: Opponent drives forward immediately, flattening the position and forcing return to basic closed guard
    • ✅ Correction: Maintain constant core engagement throughout, resting only after transitioning to more stable position or achieving sweep

  • ❌ Forcing rubber guard entry on opponent with strong posture and base

    • Consequence: Wastes energy fighting against opponent’s structure, ultimately failing to establish position
    • ✅ Correction: Set up posture breaks using grips and off-balancing first, then enter New York when opponent is already compromised

  • ❌ Remaining in New York for extended periods without attacking

    • Consequence: Opponent adapts to control, builds defensive structure, and eventually finds escape pathway
    • ✅ Correction: Use New York as transitional hub only, constantly cycling through attack progressions every 5-10 seconds

Playing as Top

→ Full Top Guide

Key Principles

  • Base establishment is the first priority - without stable base, all escape attempts fail

  • Posture recovery must precede overhook extraction - attempting extraction without posture is ineffective

  • Calm systematic approach outperforms explosive escape attempts by 60% in success rate

  • Grip fighting on opponent’s shin-grip hand can create opening for posture recovery

  • Widening base laterally reduces opponent’s ability to off-balance and sweep

  • Every escape attempt opens submission threats - defensive awareness must be constant

  • Time pressure favors bottom player - prolonged defensive engagement leads to exhaustion and submission

Primary Techniques

Common Mistakes

  • ❌ Attempting to explosively extract trapped arm without first establishing base and posture

    • Consequence: Bottom player easily sweeps with hip bump or advances to triangle/armbar submission
    • ✅ Correction: Widen base first using free hand and knees, establish stable platform, then methodically work on posture recovery before attempting arm extraction

  • ❌ Pulling backward to create distance while overhook is still secured

    • Consequence: Bottom player uses pulling motion to sweep forward or transition to more dominant attacking position
    • ✅ Correction: Address overhook control through grip fighting and leverage before attempting any backward movement

  • ❌ Focusing exclusively on one control point while ignoring others

    • Consequence: Successfully addressing one element (e.g., gaining posture) fails because other elements (e.g., overhook) remain intact
    • ✅ Correction: Use systematic approach addressing base, then posture, then overhook in sequence rather than focusing on single element

  • ❌ Maintaining narrow base with knees together

    • Consequence: Bottom player easily off-balances and sweeps with minimal hip movement
    • ✅ Correction: Widen base significantly with knees apart, creating stable triangular structure that resists sweeping attempts

  • ❌ Becoming static and accepting prolonged engagement in New York Top

    • Consequence: Energy depletion leads to weakened defensive capabilities and eventual submission or sweep
    • ✅ Correction: Work methodically but continuously toward escape, never accepting static position for more than 3-5 seconds

  • ❌ Panicking and attempting multiple random escape techniques rapidly

    • Consequence: Each failed attempt opens different submission pathways, overwhelming defensive capacity
    • ✅ Correction: Remain calm, select single escape pathway based on opponent’s position, execute methodically with full commitment

  • ❌ Ignoring submission threats while focusing purely on positional escape

    • Consequence: Gets submitted during escape attempt because defensive awareness was insufficient
    • ✅ Correction: Maintain constant awareness of submission threats, protecting against attacks while simultaneously working toward escape

  • Mission Control - Primary entry point to New York - establishes initial rubber guard control

  • Invisible Collar - Advanced progression from New York - deeper attacking position

  • Zombie - Alternative progression - maintains overhook while deepening leg control

  • Chill Dog - Finishing position accessed from New York via specific leg threading

  • Carni - Shoulder attack position reached by rotating from New York control

  • Closed Guard - Fallback position if New York cannot be maintained

  • Rubber Guard - Parent system encompassing New York and all related positions

  • Triangle Control - Alternative attack pathway if overhook is compromised

  • Omoplata Control - Submission control available from New York via Carni pathway