BJJ Fundamentals

Lesson 20 – Side Control Elbow

Solo Drills

Short-Base Escape – To Half Guard

Start in short-base side control
Insert your elbow in uke’s (near) hip pocket and frame with the middle of your forearm
Bridge into uke to expand the space in front of their far side hip
Insert your knee in uke’s (far) hip pocket and frame with the middle of your shin (making a ‘V’ shaped frame together with your forearm)
- Ensure your knee points down and goes in at the hip pocket, where there is enough space
Punch your knee forwards and lever your knees out to pull uke into half guard

Short-Base Escape – To Closed Guard

Continue from half guard
Bring your lower knee up into uke’s hip, so that your shin acts as a frame
Use a hip escape motion to square your hips to uke’s body
Hip escape once more to the side of your trapped foot
- For realistic drilling, uke should bring their knees forwards and have a stable base
Extract your trapped foot and cross your ankles behind uke to establish closed guard

Kesa-Gatame Escape – Early

Start in short-base side control
Uke sits through with their hips to the mat and pulling up on your elbow
Before uke can complete the transition, slide your elbow firmly to the mat
Frame against uke’s upper body and hip escape to make space in front of uke’s hips
Connect your knee and elbow and extend your body away from uke to complete the escape
- Note the ‘V’ shaped frame of your knee and elbow connection is the same as that of the short-base escape

Kesa-Gatame Escape – Late

Start in short-base side control
Uke sits through with their hips to the mat and pulling up on your elbow
To free your trapped elbow, thumb post on uke’s bicep with your other arm and pull your elbow to the mat
- Be careful not to extend your top arm further than it needs to go; uke may attempt armlocks on it
Complete the kesa-gatame escape as in the previous section