Side Control Top is one of the most fundamental and dominant positions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, achieved when the top player pins the opponent from the side with their chest perpendicular to the opponent’s torso while controlling their hips and head. Worth 3 points in IBJJF competition for passing the guard, this position offers exceptional control with minimal energy expenditure when executed correctly. It provides numerous submission opportunities, transitions to even more dominant positions like mount or back control, and presents significant defensive challenges for the bottom player. Side control is often considered the home base of top position work, as it offers stability, control, and offensive options while maintaining relatively low risk of reversal. The position’s effectiveness comes from the mechanical advantage of perpendicular body positioning combined with strategic weight distribution that limits the opponent’s movement while preserving the top player’s mobility. Mastery of side control is essential for all BJJ practitioners, as it represents a critical stage in the positional hierarchy between guard passing and mount. From this position, the top player can methodically work toward submissions, advance to more dominant positions, or simply maintain control to manage energy and score points. The psychological advantage is also significant - being trapped under side control is one of the most uncomfortable experiences in BJJ, and the constant threat of submissions and position advancement forces the bottom player into reactive, often desperate escape attempts that can be countered and capitalized upon.
Position Definition
- Chest positioned perpendicular to opponent’s torso with direct contact across their upper body, creating maximum surface area for control and weight distribution
- Opponent flat on their back with shoulders pinned to the mat, unable to turn into you or create significant angles for escape
- Crossface established with forearm or bicep pressure across opponent’s neck and face, controlling their head position and preventing them from turning toward you
- Hip-to-hip connection maintained with your hips low and heavy against opponent’s hips, eliminating space and preventing guard recovery
Prerequisites
- Successful guard pass completion from any guard type
- Understanding of weight distribution principles and pressure passing mechanics
- Basic submission mechanics from top position including arm isolations and chokes
- Crossface technique fundamentals and head control principles
- Ability to recognize and counter common escape attempts
Key Offensive Principles
- Crossface Control: Forearm or bicep pressure across neck and face prevents opponent from turning into you and creates discomfort that forces reactions
- Hip Pressure: Keep hips low and heavy on opponent’s hips to eliminate space and prevent guard recovery
- Weight Distribution: Strategic placement of weight across torso limits opponent’s movement while preserving your mobility for transitions
- Head Position: Your head positioned opposite the crossface creates additional pressure and prevents opponent from sitting up
- Hip Control: Near hand blocks opponent’s far hip to prevent knee insertion and guard recovery
- Base Management: Appropriate leg positioning with near leg posted and far leg sprawled provides stability against escape attempts
- Chest Pressure: Perpendicular chest contact maximizes control surface and distributes weight effectively
Available Attacks
Side Control to Mount → Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 45%
- Intermediate: 60%
- Advanced: 75%
Transition to North-South → North-South
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 55%
- Intermediate: 70%
- Advanced: 85%
Americana from Side Control → Won by Submission
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Kimura from Side Control → Won by Submission
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 55%
Arm Triangle → Won by Submission
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 20%
- Intermediate: 35%
- Advanced: 50%
Armbar from Side Control → Won by Submission
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 15%
- Intermediate: 30%
- Advanced: 45%
Transition to Mount → Knee on Belly
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 50%
- Intermediate: 65%
- Advanced: 80%
North-South Choke → Won by Submission
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 15%
- Intermediate: 25%
- Advanced: 40%
Paper Cutter Choke → Won by Submission
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 20%
- Intermediate: 30%
- Advanced: 45%
Kimura to Back Take → Back Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 18%
- Intermediate: 30%
- Advanced: 45%
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent’s near arm is extended or pushing against your neck or head:
- Execute Americana from Side Control → Won by Submission (Probability: 50%)
- Execute Kimura from Side Control → Won by Submission (Probability: 45%)
If opponent creates space by bridging or frames with both arms:
- Execute Side Control to Mount → Mount (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Transition to Mount → Knee on Belly (Probability: 55%)
If opponent turns into you attempting to recover guard:
- Execute Transition to North-South → North-South (Probability: 70%)
- Execute Darce Choke → Won by Submission (Probability: 35%)
If opponent’s far arm crosses their own neck while defending:
- Execute Arm Triangle → Won by Submission (Probability: 55%)
- Execute Paper Cutter Choke → Won by Submission (Probability: 40%)
If opponent attempts to insert knee for half guard recovery:
- Execute Underhook Pass → Half Guard Pass (Probability: 65%)
- Execute Side Control to Mount → Mount (Probability: 50%)
Optimal Submission Paths
Highest Percentage Path
Side Control Top → Americana from Side Control → Won by Submission
Advancement to Dominance Path
Side Control Top → Side Control to Mount → Mount → Armbar from Mount → Won by Submission
Reaction-Based Path
Side Control Top → Transition to North-South → North-South Choke → Won by Submission
Arm Isolation Path
Side Control Top → Kimura from Side Control → Kimura to Back Take → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke → Won by Submission
Opportunistic Choke Path
Side Control Top → Arm Triangle → Won by Submission
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 40% | 35% | 20% |
| Intermediate | 60% | 55% | 35% |
| Advanced | 80% | 70% | 50% |
Average Time in Position: 1-3 minutes for controlled work, 10-30 seconds for dynamic transitions
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
Side control represents a critical junction in the positional hierarchy where mechanical advantage meets strategic decision-making. The fundamental principle is perpendicular body alignment - your longitudinal axis crossing their longitudinal axis creates maximum control surface while minimizing their leverage options. The crossface is not merely a control point but a systematic removal of their ability to generate rotational force toward you, which is their primary escape mechanism. Your hip pressure serves a dual purpose: preventing guard recovery inferiorly while creating the downward force that makes their bridging attempts biomechanically inefficient. The common error I observe is practitioners treating side control as a static position when it should be understood as a dynamic platform for systematic advancement. Every escape attempt the opponent makes should be met with a predetermined counter that either maintains position or advances to a more dominant configuration. The submission opportunities from side control - Americana, kimura, arm triangle - are not random attacks but systematic responses to specific defensive postures. When the opponent extends their near arm, the kimura becomes mechanically available; when they defend with their far arm across, the arm triangle presents itself. This is not opportunistic submission hunting but rather the systematic exploitation of biomechanical vulnerabilities created by their defensive choices.
Gordon Ryan
In competition, I view side control as a decision point where I choose between submission hunting and advancing to mount based on the opponent’s defensive patterns and the match situation. If they’re defending with good frames and I’m not getting immediate submission opportunities, I’ll typically transition to knee on belly or mount to score additional points and create new submission angles. The Americana and kimura from side control are my highest percentage attacks, particularly in gi, because they’re difficult to defend without exposing the arm or creating mount entry opportunities. In no-gi, I focus more on head and arm chokes and quick transitions to mount or back, as the lack of grips makes static submissions from side control more difficult to finish. The key is recognizing when to stay heavy and when to be mobile - against flexible opponents who can recover guard quickly, I maintain crushing pressure and work for submissions; against less mobile opponents, I use side control as a launching point for position advancement. My approach is always to maximize points while creating submission opportunities, so I’m constantly transitioning between side control, knee on belly, and mount to keep them guessing and defending multiple threats simultaneously.
Eddie Bravo
Side control is where I teach students to develop the truck mentality - constantly looking for ways to isolate limbs and take the back. The traditional side control is effective, but I emphasize variations like reverse kesa gatame and twister side control that create immediate entry points to the truck position and calf slice submissions. The key innovation is recognizing that side control doesn’t have to be a static crushing position - it can be a dynamic platform for creative attacks that opponents don’t see coming. When they’re defending the traditional Americana and mount threats, you hit them with inverted attacks and back takes that bypass their prepared defenses. The lockdown principles apply even from top side control - I teach creating dilemmas where every defensive choice they make opens up a different attack path. If they turn in to recover guard, you’re already setting up the darce or anaconda; if they try to push you away, you’re transitioning to mount or taking their arm for the kimura. The beauty of the 10th Planet approach to side control is that we’re not just holding position for points - we’re using it as a launching pad for the most devastating submissions in the game, and we’re getting there through paths that traditional training doesn’t prepare people to defend.