Escaping Side Control

Jiu Jitsu Kit is now JiuJitsu.RyanPeterson.me. New domain and look, same author. Enjoy!

In class tonight we learned some side control (also called “kesa gatame”) escapes. Side control is a dominant position in grappling. I like Wikipedia’s definition – here is an abbriged version:

Side control … is a dominant ground grappling position where the top combatant is lying perpendicularly over the face-up bottom combatant in such a way that the legs are free and he or she exerts considerable control over the combatant on the bottom … from there the top combatant can proceed with elbows, knees, various armlocks, or transition into a mounted position.

Escaping side control is tough. The person defending side control (the person on bottom) has a lot work for him or her.

The techniques we learned where considerably awesome, however. This was surprised – but I guess I shouldn’t have been – that bucking the opponent is can be key to escaping form the position.

Anyhow, when I returned home, I was motivated to explore some other techniques online. I impressed by the number of creative ways to escape this position. For example, I especially like the first technique in the video below because of the ability to leverage your back strength as you capture your oponent’s head with your leg.

Here is another technique that looks extremely effective. I can’t wait to give a try next time I’m rolling and find myself the victim of a side control position.