New York Control from the bottom position represents the pinnacle of 10th Planet Rubber Guard innovation, combining extreme flexibility requirements with systematic submission opportunities that challenge traditional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu defensive frameworks. The position emerges when the bottom practitioner achieves high guard control with one leg wrapped over the opponent’s shoulder while maintaining an overhook with the opposite arm, creating a controlling web that simultaneously defends against passes while setting up triangle, omoplata, and gogoplata finishes.
The technical foundation requires exceptional hip and shoulder flexibility, as practitioners must maintain active leg pressure across the opponent’s back while keeping the overhook engaged to prevent defensive posting. This dual control mechanism creates a systematic framework where every defensive attempt by the top player opens specific submission pathways. The position functions as a critical junction point within the rubber guard system, allowing transitions to Mission Control, Invisible Collar, and other advanced positions when primary attacks are defended.
Offensive effectiveness stems from the position’s ability to nullify standard passing mechanics while maintaining constant submission threats. The leg control prevents the opponent from establishing posture or creating passing angles, while the overhook restricts arm movement necessary for defensive hand fighting. This combination forces top players into uncomfortable positions where traditional base and pressure become liability rather than asset, as driving forward increases submission danger while backing away allows guard retention and position advancement.
Defensive considerations center on understanding that New York Control sacrifices traditional base in favor of submission proximity and control depth. Practitioners must develop comfort with positions that feel precarious to those trained in conventional guard systems, trusting the mechanical advantages created by proper leg and arm positioning. The flexibility requirements make this position unsuitable for practitioners with limited range of motion, emphasizing the importance of dedicated mobility development alongside technical drilling.
Strategic implementation within the 10th Planet system provides clear pathways for position advancement and submission chains. When the opponent defends the initial gogoplata or triangle attempt, systematic transitions to omoplata, back takes, or alternative rubber guard positions ensure constant offensive pressure. This systematic depth prevents the position from becoming a stalling configuration, instead transforming it into an active attacking platform that consistently produces finishing opportunities against opponents unfamiliar with rubber guard defensive protocols.
Competition application demonstrates particular effectiveness in no-gi contexts where traditional grip-fighting becomes unavailable to the top player. The position’s unconventional nature creates psychological pressure as opponents struggle with unfamiliar defensive requirements, often making critical errors while attempting to apply standard passing mechanics. Dedicated practitioners who develop the necessary flexibility and systematic understanding gain access to a submission framework that remains largely unexplored in competitive Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, providing strategic advantages through technical specialization and positional unfamiliarity.
Position Definition
- Bottom practitioner maintains one leg wrapped over opponent’s shoulder and across the back, with the foot positioned near or on the opposite shoulder, creating a high guard structure that controls posture and prevents the top player from establishing vertical base or generating forward pressure through traditional passing mechanics
- Bottom practitioner secures overhook control on the same side as the wrapping leg, with the gripping arm threaded under the opponent’s armpit and hand clasping either the opponent’s shoulder, neck, or own leg, preventing defensive posting and creating the structural foundation for submission attacks while restricting the opponent’s ability to create distance
- Bottom practitioner’s opposite hand maintains active control of the opponent’s free arm or neck, preventing defensive hand fighting and posture recovery while setting up transition pathways to triangle, omoplata, and gogoplata positions through systematic grip manipulation and angle creation
Prerequisites
- Exceptional hip flexibility allowing leg to wrap over shoulder and across back
- Adequate shoulder mobility to maintain overhook while leg controls posture
- Closed guard or high guard position as starting configuration
- Opponent positioned close enough to allow leg wrap without excessive gap
- Understanding of rubber guard system mechanics and submission chains
Key Defensive Principles
- Active leg engagement maintains posture control - passive leg allows opponent base recovery
- Overhook depth determines submission accessibility and defensive restriction effectiveness
- Flexibility limitations prevent proper execution - develop mobility before attempting position
- Position functions as systematic junction rather than isolated submission attempt
- Every opponent defense opens alternative submission pathway through systematic chains
- Constant pressure maintenance prevents opponent from establishing defensive structure
- Competition success requires dedicated drilling of submission chains and transitions
Available Escapes
Gogoplata → Gogoplata Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 15%
- Intermediate: 30%
- Advanced: 50%
Triangle Setup → Triangle Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 70%
Omoplata Sweep → Omoplata Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Triangle to Omoplata → Omoplata Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Omoplata to Back → Back Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 20%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 55%
Triangle to Back → Back Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Transition to Mission Control → Mission Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 40%
- Intermediate: 60%
- Advanced: 75%
Transition to Invisible Collar → Invisible Collar
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 70%
Transition to Zombie → Zombie
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Armbar from Guard → Armbar Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 20%
- Intermediate: 35%
- Advanced: 50%
Kimura from Guard → Kimura Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 55%
Hip Bump Sweep → Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent maintains strong defensive posture with chin tucked and elbows tight to body:
- Execute Triangle Setup → Triangle Control (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Gogoplata → Gogoplata Control (Probability: 45%)
If opponent attempts to create distance by pulling back and widening base:
- Execute Omoplata Sweep → Omoplata Control (Probability: 65%)
- Execute Hip Bump Sweep → Mount (Probability: 55%)
If opponent drives forward with pressure attempting to stack or pass:
- Execute Triangle to Back → Back Control (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Omoplata to Back → Back Control (Probability: 55%)
If opponent successfully escapes overhook but leg control remains intact:
- Execute Transition to Mission Control → Mission Control (Probability: 70%)
- Execute Transition to Invisible Collar → Invisible Collar (Probability: 65%)
If opponent begins extracting leg from shoulder control:
- Execute Transition to Zombie → Zombie (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Armbar from Guard → Armbar Control (Probability: 50%)
Escape and Survival Paths
Direct Gogoplata Path
New York Control Bottom → Gogoplata Control → Gogoplata
Triangle Chain Path
New York Control Bottom → Triangle Control → Triangle Choke Front
Triangle to Back Path
New York Control Bottom → Triangle Control → Triangle to Back → Back Control
Omoplata Sweep Path
New York Control Bottom → Omoplata Control → Omoplata to Back → Back Control
Triangle to Omoplata Path
New York Control Bottom → Triangle Control → Triangle to Omoplata → Omoplata Control → Omoplata
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 50% | 40% | 25% |
| Intermediate | 65% | 60% | 45% |
| Advanced | 80% | 75% | 65% |
Average Time in Position: 45-90 seconds before transition or submission attempt
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
New York Control represents a fascinating study in the trade-offs between traditional base maintenance and submission proximity within guard systems. The position sacrifices conventional posting opportunities and defensive frames in favor of what I term ‘offensive depth’—the ability to place the opponent in immediate submission danger through structural control rather than spatial management. The biomechanical efficiency stems from the dual control mechanism where the leg restricts vertical posture while the overhook prevents lateral posting, creating a control web that nullifies traditional passing mechanics. The systematic brilliance lies in understanding New York not as isolated technique but as junction point within submission chains where every defensive option opens alternative finishing pathways. Practitioners must develop exceptional flexibility alongside technical understanding, as insufficient range of motion prevents the structural depth necessary for effective implementation.
Gordon Ryan
New York Control proved particularly effective in my competition experience against opponents unfamiliar with rubber guard defensive requirements. The position creates immediate psychological pressure as traditional base and posture become liabilities rather than assets—driving forward increases submission danger while backing away allows position advancement. I found the triangle and omoplata chains most reliable in high-level competition, as these submissions maintain effectiveness even when opponents understand the basic defensive requirements. The key competitive advantage comes from forcing opponents into unfamiliar defensive scenarios where their trained responses become counterproductive. However, the flexibility requirements mean this position suits specific body types and training backgrounds—practitioners without dedicated mobility work will struggle to achieve the structural depth necessary for high-percentage finishing. I recommend developing the position as systematic specialization rather than attempting to force implementation without proper physical preparation.
Eddie Bravo
New York Control exemplifies the core philosophy behind 10th Planet innovations—challenging traditional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu assumptions about what constitutes effective guard structure. I developed this position recognizing that exceptional flexibility could be weaponized into offensive advantage rather than viewed as mere supplementary attribute. The beauty lies in creating submission systems that remain largely unexplored in competitive contexts, giving dedicated practitioners strategic advantages through technical specialization. The gogoplata finish represents the signature attack, but the real power comes from understanding the systematic chains connecting New York to Mission Control, Invisible Collar, and Zombie positions. Too many practitioners attempt the position without adequate flexibility development or systematic understanding—this is critical mistake. Dedicate months to mobility work and drilling submission chains before attempting implementation in live sparring. The position rewards patience and systematic training with access to finishing mechanics that consistently surprise even experienced black belts unfamiliar with rubber guard systems.