BJJ Fundamentals

Lesson 19 – Side Control

Solo Drills

Retention – Hip Switch

Start in side control (short-base)
Uke attempts to elbow escape
Turn your hips forward, closing the space between your hip and uke’s hip
- Ensure your toes stay active on the mat so that you can maintain pressure on uke’s hip
Uke bridges over their shoulder to create space in front of your hip, returning you to short-base side control

Retention – Sit-Through

Continue from side control (hips switched in)
Before uke can return you to short-base side control, grip their elbow and sit your hips through (close to their shoulder)
- Uke’s bridge is less effective as your weight is now much closer to their upper body
Uke off-balances you backwards
- The weakness of the sit through is not being able to base in the direction behind your head
Switch your hips back to their original position, returning to short-base side control

Switching Sides

Start in side control, with a crossface & underhook
Switch to a reverse crossface & hip block
Walk around uke’s body to north-south
- Maintain chest-to-chest contact; keep your shoulders and hips low as you move
Pull uke’s elbow onto their chest to prevent turning, and walk to side control on the other side
Establish a crossface & underhook

Mount Transition – Upper Body

Turn uke fully onto their side, putting your head on the mat for support
Wedge your hips under uke’s shoulder, so they can’t insert their elbow as a frame
Control uke’s far side leg with your arm, further preventing them from turning

Mount Transition – Lower Body

Continue from side control (uke turned on their side)
Slide your knee across uke’s hips into a “shin mount”
1. Hook your foot on uke’s thigh to reduce their leg mobility
Walk uke’s far side elbow upwards so that they cannot use their arm to interfere
Slap out your foot to the mat and establish mount
- Quickly hide your foot by sticking it to uke’s hip, so that they cannot trap it between their legs