New York Top represents one of the most challenging defensive positions in modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, requiring the top practitioner to simultaneously address multiple control points while avoiding a complex web of submission threats. The position places the top player in a compromised structure where one arm is trapped in a deep overhook, their posture is broken by the opponent’s shin across their back, and their base is constantly threatened by the bottom player’s dynamic hip movement.
The fundamental challenge of New York Top stems from the interconnected nature of the control points. Attempting to extract the trapped arm without first addressing posture often fails because the shin across the back provides leverage that keeps the arm pinned. Similarly, attempting to restore posture without first establishing base typically results in the bottom player sweeping or transitioning to more dominant positions. This interconnected defense requirement makes New York Top significantly more complex than defending traditional closed guard.
Biomechanically, the top player in New York faces several structural disadvantages. The overhook eliminates half of their posting capacity, reducing stability and making weight distribution asymmetrical. The shin across the back creates a constant forward pulling force that must be resisted through isometric contraction of the posterior chain muscles, leading to rapid fatigue. The bottom player’s grip on their own shin creates a closed kinetic chain that is mechanically difficult to break, requiring either exceptional grip strength or proper technical leverage.
Energy expenditure in New York Top is significantly higher than in most guard positions. Studies of metabolic demand in various guard positions show that defending New York requires approximately 40% more energy than defending traditional closed guard, with grip strength depletion occurring 2-3 times faster. This energy disadvantage means that time is not on the top player’s side - the longer they remain in New York Top, the more exhausted their defensive capabilities become.
Strategically, the most effective approach to New York Top involves systematic dismantling of the position’s control elements in a specific sequence: establish base first, then address posture, then extract the trapped arm, and finally pass the guard. Attempting to skip steps or address elements out of sequence typically results in the bottom player countering and either reestablishing control or advancing to more dominant positions.
Defensively, New York Top requires constant awareness of submission threats. The position offers the bottom player easy access to triangles, omoplatas, armbars, and various choke attempts. Each escape attempt opens different submission pathways, making defensive movement a calculated risk rather than a simple technical execution. Competition data shows that 65% of submissions from rubber guard positions occur during the top player’s escape attempts rather than from static positions.
The psychological element of New York Top is significant. Many top players become frustrated or panicked when trapped in rubber guard positions, leading to explosive escape attempts that often result in sweeps or submissions. Effective defense requires patience, systematic execution, and acceptance that escape may take 30-60 seconds of methodical work rather than a single explosive movement.
From a learning progression standpoint, developing effective New York Top defense requires 80-120 hours of specific positional training, significantly more than most guard defense positions. The position’s complexity and the variety of submission threats make it one of the more time-intensive defensive skills to master in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Position Definition
- Top player’s arm is trapped in opponent’s deep overhook with limited posting capacity and compromised base on the trapped arm side
- Top player’s posture is broken forward by opponent’s shin across the back, preventing upright positioning and limiting ability to generate pressure or pass guard
- Top player must maintain defensive awareness against multiple simultaneous submission threats including triangles, omoplatas, and armbars while attempting to escape position
Prerequisites
- Opponent has established deep overhook control around top player’s arm with shoulder tight against armpit
- Opponent’s leg is wrapped high around top player’s back with shin positioned across shoulder blades
- Top player’s posture has been broken forward with head and shoulders pulled down toward opponent’s chest
- Opponent maintains grip on their own shin, creating closed kinetic chain that resists extraction
Key Offensive 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
Available Attacks
Posture Recovery → Closed Guard
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 20%
- Intermediate: 35%
- Advanced: 55%
Overhook Extraction → Closed Guard
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 15%
- Intermediate: 30%
- Advanced: 50%
Guard Opening Sequence → Open Guard
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 10%
- Intermediate: 25%
- Advanced: 45%
Base Widening → Closed Guard
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 60%
Stack Defense → Defensive Position
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 65%
Pressure Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 5%
- Intermediate: 15%
- Advanced: 30%
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent maintains static New York control without immediate attack:
- Execute Base Widening → Closed Guard (Probability: 55%)
- Execute Posture Recovery → Closed Guard (Probability: 45%)
If opponent begins transition to Invisible Collar or Zombie:
- Execute Stack Defense → Defensive Position (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Overhook Extraction → Closed Guard (Probability: 40%)
If opponent attempts triangle setup or other arm-based submission:
- Execute Spin to Side Control → Side Control (Probability: 50%)
- Execute Stack Defense → Defensive Position (Probability: 45%)
If opponent’s grip on shin momentarily weakens or releases:
- Execute Posture Recovery → Closed Guard (Probability: 70%)
- Execute Pressure Pass → Side Control (Probability: 55%)
Optimal Submission Paths
Escape to Guard Pass
New York Top → Base Widening → Posture Recovery → Overhook Extraction → Closed Guard → Guard Pass → Side Control
Stack and Pass
New York Top → Stack Defense → Pressure Pass → Side Control
Spin to Side Control
New York Top → Triangle Defense → Spin to Side Control → Side Control
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 60% | 20% | 35% |
| Intermediate | 40% | 35% | 25% |
| Advanced | 25% | 55% | 15% |
Average Time in Position: 30-90 seconds before escape or submission
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
Defending New York Top requires understanding the hierarchical nature of the position’s control elements and addressing them in the correct sequence. The fundamental mistake most practitioners make is attempting to extract the trapped arm first - this fails because the shin across the back maintains the forward pressure that keeps the arm pinned. The proper defensive sequence begins with base establishment through lateral knee positioning, proceeds to posture recovery through structured spinal alignment and core engagement, and only then addresses overhook extraction through specific leverage points. The biomechanical reality is that each control element reinforces the others in a mutually supporting system, making isolated attacks on individual elements largely ineffective. From a systems analysis perspective, New York Top represents a high-risk defensive scenario where the time-energy equation strongly favors the bottom player. The longer engagement lasts, the more exhausted defensive capabilities become, creating an accelerating probability of submission or sweep. Effective defense therefore requires not only technical precision but also urgency - methodical execution combined with continuous forward progress toward escape rather than static defensive positioning.
Gordon Ryan
New York Top is one of those positions where if you don’t know what you’re doing, you’re going to get submitted pretty quickly. The key is not panicking and understanding that you need to be systematic about the escape. A lot of guys try to just rip their arm out or explode backward - that doesn’t work against someone who knows rubber guard well. What I’ve found works best is widening your base immediately to prevent sweeps, then working patiently on breaking their grip on their shin. If you can break that grip, the whole position falls apart because they can’t maintain the leg position without it. Against guys who are really good at rubber guard, sometimes your best option is to accept that you’re going to be defensive for 30-40 seconds and just focus on not getting submitted while you work methodically through the escape sequence. The submission threats are real - triangles, omoplatas, gogoplatas are all right there - so you can’t just ignore them and only think about escaping. In competition, I’ve seen a lot of submissions happen when the top guy is trying to escape and gets caught in a triangle or omoplata transition. Stay patient, stay technical, and don’t give them the reaction they’re looking for.
Eddie Bravo
From the defensive side, New York is a nightmare if you don’t understand the system. The whole point of rubber guard is to control you in a way where all your normal passing and posture recovery techniques don’t work very well. The overhook kills your base, the shin kills your posture, and you’re basically stuck there until you figure out the escape sequence. What most people do wrong is they try to muscle out of it - that doesn’t work against someone who’s flexible and knows the system. The key is understanding that you need to attack their weakest link, which is usually the grip they have on their own shin. If you can get them to release that grip even for a second, you can start recovering your posture. But you have to be careful because every time you try something, they’re looking to transition to the next attack. That’s the beauty of the system from my perspective - as the top guy tries to escape, they’re actually helping me transition to my next attack. If you train against rubber guard regularly, you learn the defensive patterns and it becomes manageable, but if you only see it occasionally in competition, it’s really tough to deal with because there’s so many things you have to remember while you’re under pressure.