BJJ Tips: Best Side Control Offense and Roger Gracie Purple Belt Can "Slideyfoot" Sönmez visits The BJJ Labs @ Fighting Fit Manchester

The focus of last night's fundamentals session at the BJJ Labs* was "How to best control someone from the side mount position". To best convey this, we looked at what the bottom person would need to do to survive and eventually escape the side mount and the different ways to deny them those necessities.

Conceptually speaking the best way to control someone from side mount is the one that most efficiently keeps them flat on their back, gives you control over their limbs and (preferably) neck while putting them at a discomfort. A great example of this is the Barbed Wire hold demonstrated below on my coach BJJ brown belt Martyn Cahill.

The torso and body alignment keep Martyn's back flat, while isolating his near-side arm with my arm, his far arm with my chest and his neck with my cross face grip. As for discomfort, well, just look at my red face when it's Martyn's turn (which seemed to draw many smiles!)



13 people having a nice smile at my missery. That's Jiu Jitsu!



Are people escaping your side control too easily for your liking? Ask yourself these vital BJJ / Grappling questions:

1. How am I keeping them flat on their back?
2. How am I isolating their limbs and neck?
3. How am I causing them discomfort?
4. Am I doing all of the above in the most efficient way I can?

As a Part Time Grappler your best bet is to always rely on fewer routes but master them well by always refining for more efficiency.

*We also had a visitor, none less than Can Sönmez aka Slideyfoot (if you haven't read Can's blog yet you don't know what's good for you!) and contributor to the UK's own BJJ dedicated magazine: Jiu Jitsu Style. Don't miss Can's article "THE HISTORY OF THE CARLSON GRACIE ACADEMY" in this month's number of Jiu Jitsu Style.

Slidey was visiting the North West from his new home in Bristol and we were very happy to have him at the BJJ Labs. First visit of many I hope.

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