Standard Side Control
The foundational variation. Place your near hip against the opponent's hip, crossface their far cheek, and post your near arm under their near armpit. Keep your weight low and connected.
Kesa Gatame (Scarf Hold)
A Japanese Judo-derived hold where you sit beside your opponent and control their head with an underhook and their near arm with your armpit. Excellent for arm attacks and chokes.
Reverse Side Control
Face toward their feet with your chest on their chest. This variation opens up heel hook entries, back takes, and leg attacks your opponent may not see coming.
North-South Position
With your head at their hips and their head between your legs, this variation enables the north-south choke, kimura, and clock choke β all difficult to escape.
Transition Flow
Elite side control players flow between these variations fluidly. Moving from standard to north-south prevents the opponent from building an escape plan against a single position.
Step 1: Establish Chest-to-Chest Contact
Immediately after passing, lower your hips and establish chest contact. The moment you rise up, your opponent has space to replace guard.
Step 2: Crossface and Hip Control
Drive your near forearm across their face (crossface) and block their far hip with your other arm. This prevents the bridge-and-roll escape.
Step 3: Attack Position
Identify which variation fits: standard for kimura entries, kesa gatame for arm isolation, north-south for the NS choke. Transition toward that position.
Step 4: Maintain or Advance
Apply constant pressure and look to advance: mount, back take, or submission. Side control is a transit point, not a destination.