Submission Control Position

Submission Control Position is a high complexity BJJ principle applicable at the Intermediate level. Develop over Intermediate to Expert.

Principle ID: Application Level: Intermediate Complexity: High Development Timeline: Intermediate to Expert

What is Submission Control Position?

Submission Control Position represents the critical phase between achieving a submission setup and securing the finish. This principle addresses the often-overlooked transition period where technical control must be maintained against increasingly desperate defensive reactions. The ability to control an opponent during submission attempts separates successful finishers from those who frequently lose positions while hunting for taps. Understanding submission control requires recognizing that each submission has unique control requirements - maintaining the saddle position during heel hook attacks demands different mechanics than controlling the mount during armbar attempts. The principle encompasses body positioning, weight distribution, grip strategies, and the ability to adjust control in response to defensive movements while maintaining submission pressure. Mastery of submission control position allows practitioners to finish submissions at higher percentages across all skill levels, as proper control negates most common escapes and creates the time needed to perfect finishing mechanics without rushing or losing position.

Core Components

• Maintain position security before increasing submission pressure
• Control the opponent’s escape routes through strategic weight distribution
• Establish multiple control points to prevent explosive escape attempts
• Adjust control mechanics based on opponent’s defensive reactions
• Balance submission pressure with positional stability
• Use connection points to sense and counter defensive movements
• Sequence control improvements before finishing attempts
• Recognize when to abandon submissions to maintain superior position

Component Skills

Weight Distribution Management: The ability to distribute body weight strategically to pin specific body parts while maintaining mobility to adjust to defensive movements. Effective weight distribution prevents shrimping, bridging, and rolling escapes while allowing the attacker to maintain base and respond to counters without compromising the submission setup or losing dominant position.

Multi-Point Connection Control: Establishing and maintaining contact through multiple body parts simultaneously to create a control web that restricts opponent movement. This includes using knees, hips, chest, and head positioning in conjunction with grips to create a control system where losing one connection point doesn’t compromise overall positional dominance during submission attempts.

Escape Route Elimination: Systematic identification and blocking of specific escape pathways available from each submission position. This requires understanding the biomechanical requirements for common escapes and using positioning, grips, and body placement to make those escapes mechanically impossible or highly unfavorable before applying finishing pressure to the submission itself.

Pressure Modulation: The tactical skill of varying submission pressure to maintain control and create reactions rather than immediately pursuing maximum finishing force. Skilled practitioners use graduated pressure increases to identify defensive responses, adjust control points, and ultimately secure tighter finishing positions before committing full force to the submission attempt.

Transitional Control Maintenance: Maintaining dominant control while transitioning between related submission attempts or adjusting position to improve finishing angles. This includes the ability to recognize when initial submission attempts are defended and smoothly transition to alternative attacks while maintaining or improving positional control throughout the adjustment sequence.

Defensive Reaction Reading: Developing tactile sensitivity and positional awareness to feel opponent defensive movements before they develop into successful escapes. Advanced practitioners can sense weight shifts, muscle tension changes, and preparatory movements that telegraph escape attempts, allowing preemptive control adjustments that neutralize defenses before they become effective and create opportunities for submission advancement.

Related Principles

• Control Maintenance (Prerequisite): General control maintenance principles must be understood before applying them specifically to submission positions
• Position-Over-Submission Approach (Prerequisite): The positional hierarchy mindset establishes the foundation for knowing when to maintain position versus pursuing submissions
• Submission Chains (Complementary): Effective submission chains require maintaining control while transitioning between attacks
• Pressure Application (Complementary): Strategic pressure application supports control during submission attempts
• Weight Distribution (Prerequisite): Understanding weight distribution mechanics is essential for maintaining submission control positions
• Base Maintenance (Complementary): Maintaining base while attacking submissions prevents counters and reversals
• Frame Management (Complementary): Understanding frames from both offensive and defensive perspectives informs submission control strategies
• Escape Hierarchy (Complementary): Knowing escape hierarchies allows attackers to preemptively block the highest-percentage defensive options
• Connection Principles (Prerequisite): Connection principles establish how to maintain contact and control throughout submission sequences
• Leverage Principles (Complementary): Proper leverage application enhances control efficiency during submission attempts
• Transition Management (Complementary): Managing transitions between submissions requires maintaining control throughout positional adjustments
• Timing and Rhythm (Advanced form): Advanced control includes timing submission pressure with opponent movements to maximize control and finishing efficiency

Application Contexts

Armbar Control: Maintain hip pressure on opponent’s shoulder, control the wrist with both hands, use legs to pin the head and control the far arm while preventing hitchhiker and rolling escapes

Triangle Control: Lock the triangle position before applying finishing pressure, control posture by breaking down the head, angle the body to prevent stacking, secure the arm across while maintaining leg lock integrity

Kimura Control: Establish the figure-four grip before attempting to finish, use body weight to pin opponent’s torso, control distance to prevent opponent standing or rolling, maintain the lock while adjusting position

Back Control: Secure hooks and seatbelt control before attacking the neck, prevent opponent turning into you, use chest pressure to flatten the opponent, maintain control when they defend the choke by hand fighting

Mount: Establish high mount position with knees tight before attacking arms or neck, use weight distribution to prevent bridge-and-roll escapes, maintain base when extending for submissions, control opponent’s defensive frames

Side Control: Pin the near shoulder and control the far arm before transitioning to submissions, use chest pressure to limit movement, maintain connection when transitioning to mount or knee-on-belly for finishing positions

Guillotine Control: Secure the grip and establish guard or mount before applying finishing pressure, control opponent’s posture to prevent them standing or creating space, adjust angle based on defensive reactions while maintaining the lock

D’arce Control: Lock the D’arce grip and secure the position before squeezing, use body weight to prevent opponent rolling or standing, adjust shoulder positioning to tighten control, maintain connection throughout finishing sequence

Omoplata Control: Establish leg control over the shoulder and secure the arm before attempting to finish, use hip pressure to prevent forward rolls, control opponent’s base to stop them standing, maintain position while adjusting to sweep or submit

Kneebar Control: Trap the leg securely with arms and legs before extending, control opponent’s hips to prevent them sitting up or escaping, use body positioning to prevent heel exposure and counter-attacks, maintain leg isolation throughout

Anaconda Control: Secure the anaconda lock and establish top position before finishing, use body weight to flatten opponent and prevent turning, adjust shoulder pressure based on defensive movements, maintain grip integrity when opponent attempts to swim arms

North-South: Establish chest-to-chest pressure and control both arms before attacking submissions, prevent opponent from recovering guard or turning to side, maintain weight distribution when transitioning to kimura or choke attacks

Knee on Belly: Balance pressure application with mobility to maintain the position during submission attacks, control opponent’s near arm to prevent frames, use far hand to set up collar attacks while maintaining balance and position

Saddle: Establish leg entanglement and inside position control before attacking heel hooks, prevent opponent extracting the leg by controlling the knee line, maintain hip positioning to keep the heel exposed, use upper body control to limit mobility

Crucifix: Secure both arm controls before attacking the neck, use body weight to pin opponent to prevent rolling or standing, maintain arm isolation when transitioning between choke attacks, control distance to prevent head slips

Closed Guard: Break opponent’s posture and maintain broken posture throughout submission attempts, control sleeves or wrists when setting up attacks, use legs to prevent opponent creating space, maintain hip position for triangles and armbars

Turtle: Establish seatbelt or harness control before rolling opponent or attacking submissions, prevent opponent standing by controlling hips, maintain connection when opponent attempts to turn in or roll, secure position before transitioning to back control

Ashi Garami: Control the leg with inside position and proper angle before attacking ankle or heel, prevent opponent sitting up by controlling upper body, use leg configurations to trap the foot, maintain entanglement when opponent attempts to clear the leg

Decision Framework

1. Assess if positional control is sufficient to pursue submission: Verify that you have established dominant position with multiple control points before transitioning focus from position to submission - if positional control is questionable, prioritize consolidating position over attacking
2. Identify primary escape routes available to opponent: Recognize the most common and highest-percentage escapes from current submission position and systematically block these pathways using grips, body positioning, and weight distribution before increasing submission pressure
3. Establish submission-specific control requirements: Secure the unique control points required for the specific submission being attempted - each submission has distinct control needs that must be met before applying finishing force
4. Monitor opponent’s defensive reactions and energy expenditure: Feel for defensive movements, weight shifts, and explosive escape attempts, adjusting control points proactively to counter these movements before they develop into successful escapes
5. Evaluate if control improvements are needed before finishing: Determine whether current control allows safe finishing or if positional adjustments are required - if opponent can still create significant movement, improve control before committing to finish
6. Decide between finishing current submission or transitioning to alternative attack: Based on opponent’s defensive reactions and control quality, choose to either proceed with the current submission finish or maintain control while transitioning to a different attack that exploits their defensive positioning
7. Assess risk-to-reward ratio of pursuing submission versus maintaining position: Evaluate whether the potential to finish the submission justifies the risk of losing dominant position - if the control is marginal or the opponent is defending successfully, abandon the submission attempt and consolidate superior position
8. Execute finishing mechanics while maintaining positional control: Apply submission finishing pressure while simultaneously maintaining all critical control points, prepared to abandon the finish if positional control becomes compromised during the attempt

Common Mistakes

• Mistake: Rushing to finish submissions before establishing sufficient positional control
  • Consequence: Opponent escapes the submission and often reverses position or returns to neutral because the attacker sacrificed positional stability for premature finishing attempts
  • Correction: Adopt a position-first mentality where control is systematically established and improved before increasing submission pressure - use checkpoint system to verify control requirements are met before committing to finish
• Mistake: Maintaining static control without adjusting to opponent’s defensive movements
  • Consequence: Opponent systematically improves their position through small incremental movements that eventually create escape opportunities because the attacker failed to respond to defensive adjustments
  • Correction: Develop constant tactile awareness of opponent movement and proactively adjust control points in response to defensive efforts - treat submission control as dynamic rather than static positioning
• Mistake: Focusing exclusively on grips while neglecting body positioning and weight distribution
  • Consequence: Strong grips become ineffective as opponent uses leverage and movement to overcome grip strength through superior positioning and body mechanics
  • Correction: Use body positioning and weight distribution as primary control mechanisms with grips serving as supplementary control - position your body to make escapes mechanically difficult regardless of grip strength
• Mistake: Abandoning base and stability to increase submission pressure
  • Consequence: Opponent successfully counters or escapes by attacking the weakened base, often achieving sweeps or reversals when the attacker becomes unbalanced during aggressive submission attempts
  • Correction: Maintain structural integrity and base throughout submission sequences - if increasing submission pressure compromises balance or base, the control position is insufficient and must be improved first
• Mistake: Failing to block high-percentage escapes before attacking submissions
  • Consequence: Opponents consistently escape using predictable methods because the attacker neglected to address common defensive pathways before committing to the submission
  • Correction: Study common escapes from each submission and systematically eliminate these options through positioning and control before applying finishing pressure - use escape hierarchy knowledge to prioritize which routes to block first
• Mistake: Applying maximum submission force immediately upon achieving setup
  • Consequence: Opponent has opportunity to defend and escape while submission is not fully locked because the attacker rushed the finish without perfecting control and positioning
  • Correction: Use graduated pressure approach where initial submission pressure is moderate, allowing time to read defensive reactions, improve control, and adjust positioning before committing full force to the finish
• Mistake: Holding onto failed submission attempts instead of transitioning to better attacks
  • Consequence: Energy depletion and eventual position loss as opponent successfully defends and begins to improve their situation while attacker remains committed to a low-percentage finishing attempt
  • Correction: Develop submission awareness to recognize when attacks are no longer viable and immediately transition to alternative submissions or return to positional control - use submission chains to maintain offensive pressure while abandoning defended attacks

Training Methods

Positional Submission Sparring (Focus: Developing the habit of prioritizing positional control throughout submission sequences and recognizing when to abandon attempts that compromise position) Start in submission setup positions with the rule that the attacker must maintain or improve position while pursuing the finish - any position loss results in restart

Control-Point Drilling (Focus: Building systematic approach to control establishment and developing checklist mentality for submission-specific control requirements) Practice establishing submission positions with partner providing specific defensive movements - attacker must identify and establish all necessary control points before applying any submission pressure

Escape Negation Training (Focus: Understanding escape mechanics from offensive perspective and developing proactive control that addresses defensive options before they are attempted) Study specific submission escapes then drill positioning that makes those escapes impossible - partner attempts known escapes while attacker focuses solely on positioning to prevent them

Graduated Pressure Sequences (Focus: Developing pressure modulation skills and breaking the habit of rushing to maximum force, while building awareness of control quality at each pressure level) Apply submissions using 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% pressure stages with mandatory pause at each level to assess and improve control before increasing pressure

Submission Chain Flow Drilling (Focus: Building ability to transition between submissions while maintaining or improving control, developing fluid offensive sequences that keep opponent consistently defensive) Practice flowing between related submissions with emphasis on maintaining consistent control quality throughout transitions - never allow position to degrade when switching attacks

Mastery Indicators

Beginner Level:

• Rushes to apply submission pressure immediately upon achieving setup position without establishing control
• Loses position frequently when attempting submissions due to inadequate control point establishment
• Uses primarily grip strength rather than body positioning for control
• Struggles to maintain submission positions when opponent provides resistance or defensive movement
• Abandons submissions only when completely escaped rather than recognizing early warning signs of position loss

Intermediate Level:

• Consistently establishes primary control points before attempting to finish submissions
• Recognizes and blocks 1-2 common escape routes from submission positions
• Adjusts control in response to obvious defensive movements but may miss subtle positional improvements
• Successfully maintains position during most submission attempts but occasionally sacrifices position for finish attempts
• Demonstrates basic submission chain ability by transitioning to one alternative when primary attack is defended
• Uses combination of grips and body positioning for control rather than relying exclusively on grip strength

Advanced Level:

• Systematically establishes multiple control points and verifies control quality before increasing submission pressure
• Proactively blocks high-percentage escape routes before opponent attempts them
• Feels subtle defensive movements and adjusts control preemptively to maintain dominant positioning
• Rarely loses position during submission attempts due to consistent position-over-submission mentality
• Flows between multiple related submissions while maintaining or improving control throughout transitions
• Uses graduated pressure approach to create reactions and identify optimal moments for finishing attempts
• Recognizes when to abandon low-percentage submission attempts to consolidate superior position

Expert Level:

• Achieves submission setup and immediately establishes perfect control configuration specific to each submission type
• Eliminates all viable escape routes through positioning before opponent recognizes submission threat
• Senses defensive preparation before movement occurs and adjusts control to nullify escapes before they are attempted
• Never sacrifices positional dominance for submission attempts, maintaining position-first approach under all circumstances
• Executes complex submission chains seamlessly while continuously improving control quality throughout sequences
• Uses submission pressure strategically to create specific reactions that open higher-percentage finishing opportunities
• Finishes submissions at exceptionally high rates across skill levels due to superior control maintenance
• Teaches submission control principles effectively by breaking down control requirements for each submission systematically

Related Content

• Armbar Control (Position) - Specific application of submission control principles to armbar positions
• Triangle Control (Position) - Specific application of submission control principles to triangle choke positions
• Back Control (Position) - Dominant position requiring control maintenance principles during submission attacks
• Kimura Control (Position) - Specific application of submission control principles to kimura lock positions
• Mount (Position) - Primary attacking position requiring control during submission attempts from top
• Submission Chains (Principle) - Complementary principle for maintaining control while transitioning between attacks
• Position-Over-Submission Approach (Principle) - Foundational philosophy supporting submission control position principles
• Control Maintenance (Principle) - General control principle that applies specifically to submission scenarios
• Rear Naked Choke (Submission) - High-percentage submission requiring excellent back control throughout finishing sequence
• Armbar Finish (Submission) - Common submission demonstrating importance of control during extension phase
• Danaher Leg Lock System (System) - System emphasizing control-first approach to leg lock finishing

Expert Insights

• John Danaher: The critical error most athletes make in submission grappling is confusing submission setup with submission control. Achieving the initial configuration for a submission represents perhaps thirty percent of the work required to finish - the remaining seventy percent involves systematically eliminating defensive options through precise control before applying finishing mechanics. Each submission has specific control requirements that must be met before finishing becomes viable. In the case of the armbar, you must control the wrist with both hands, establish hip pressure on the shoulder to prevent the hitchhiker escape, use your legs to pin the head and trap the far arm, and only then begin hip extension for the finish. Attempting to extend the hip before these control points are established results in predictable escapes. The principle extends across all submissions: identify the control requirements, establish them systematically, verify their quality, and only then pursue the finish. This approach transforms submission success from hope-based to mechanical certainty.
• Gordon Ryan: In competition, finishing submissions consistently comes down to one thing: never giving up position to hunt for the tap. I’ve seen countless matches where someone has dominant position, goes for a submission without proper control, and ends up in a worse position or even losing the match. My approach is simple: establish control so completely that the opponent has zero escape options before I even think about finishing. When I have someone in the saddle for a heel hook, I make sure the leg is fully entangled, my hip position prevents them from sitting up, and I have upper body control before I touch the heel. That’s why my finish rate is so high - I’m not gambling on catching something, I’m systematically removing every defensive option first. The best part is when they know what’s coming and still can’t stop it because the control is perfect. Position and control first, submission second - that’s non-negotiable.
• Eddie Bravo: The rubber guard system taught me that control during submissions is about creating positions where your opponent literally cannot move effectively. When I lock up the rubber guard and go for the omoplata, I’m not just holding the arm - I’m using my leg over the shoulder to control their entire upper body while my hips are positioned to prevent them from rolling forward. The whole 10th Planet submission system is built around this: create crazy control scenarios that people don’t train to escape from because the control is so unconventional. The twister is the perfect example - by the time you’ve established twister control with the body triangle, the lockdown, and the arm control, they’re not escaping. The submission becomes inevitable because the control position is so dominant. That’s the secret: don’t look for submissions, create positions where submissions become unavoidable because the control is so overwhelming they can’t defend properly. Make them play your weird game where your control system dominates.