Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Reference/Side pins

thumb|400x400px Controls and Variations of Side pins (top) Position High on body (close to head) Lower on body (close to hip) Switch Hips facing towards head + High/Low on body (Kesa gatame/Scarf hold) Switch Hips facing towards legs + High/Low on body (Ushiro Kesa Gatame) Leg Configuration Knees on mat (Standard, ideal) One leg extended, one leg on knee (for any of both sides) (Not ideal) Two legs extended (Not ideal) Arm Configuration Crossface-Underhook (most common control) Reverse Crossface-Underhook (common when attacking the arm) Double-Underhooks Pulling near elbow up and Underhook Pulling near elbow up and Far side crossface (used in Scarf hold) Main Understandings The battle for inside position: The one who controls the majority of inside position with wedges and frames has the advantage in their goal (recovering/escaping or controlling/searching submission) Offense (top) Control goals Leg Close to head crowding the near elbow of bottom player Leg Close to hip crowding Hip bone (High on body) or with (near) top knee-elbow connection (Low on body) Crossface pressure Head hidden in shoulder preventing bottom player far elbow cross-shoulder frame Defense (bottom) Standard side control Bottom Insertion points Far arm cross-shoulder frame (best if behind top player elbow) Near elbow inside hips Near leg inside hips Inserting Cross-shoulder frame Waiting for opponent to move Weak connection of opponent head and shoulder: Just pummel in Can insert hand but not entire frame: use some small bridges to drive frame in Bridge in and pummel with bicep push and arm circle Bridge out with back slightly towards opponent and insert hand thumbs up Escapes options overview