# Side Control

> A top pin across the opponent's torso that controls the shoulders and hips while opening routes to mount, back control, and submissions.

- **Canonical page:** https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/side-control
- **Markdown:** https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/side-control.md
- **JSON:** https://www.ossmeta.com/api/public/techniques/side-control
- **Category:** position
- **Format:** both
- **Level:** fundamental
- **Aliases:** side mount, cross side, yoko shiho gatame
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-25

## What it is

Side control is a family of pins in which the top player lies across or beside the defender instead of between their legs. Crossface-and-underhook, reverse side control, scarf hold, north-south, and modified judo pins all solve different control problems.

The position works by separating the defender's elbows from their knees and turning the head, shoulders, or hips away from the direction of escape. Good control is mobile: the top player changes pinning configuration as frames appear.

## Key principles

- Separate the near elbow from the near knee.
- Control both shoulder rotation and hip movement.
- Distribute weight through contact points rather than resting on the mat.
- Move to another pin before a frame becomes structurally strong.

## Common entries

- **Guard pass:** Clear the legs and establish upper-body control before chasing submissions.
- **Takedown:** Follow the opponent to the mat while preventing a guard recovery.
- **Scramble:** Settle chest-to-chest once the hips are no longer facing you.


## Productive next actions

- **Mount:** Control the far elbow and advance the knee across the torso.
- **Kimura:** Isolate a bent arm as the defender frames or turns.
- **Arm triangle:** Move an arm across the neck and follow toward mount or the far side.


## Defensive priorities

- **Frames:** Build skeletal structure at the neck and hip before pushing.
- **Hip escape:** Turn onto a side and create the space needed to insert a knee.
- **Underhook recovery:** Win inside arm position to turn toward the knees or a wrestle-up.

## Rules and safety

Scoring and permitted grips vary by promotion and division. Check the current organizer rules before competing.

This guide is descriptive, not remote coaching. Learn potentially dangerous submissions, inversions, and takedowns with a qualified instructor. Release immediately when a training partner taps.

## Related techniques

- [Mount](https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/mount)
- [Kimura](https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/kimura)
- [Arm-Triangle Choke](https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/arm-triangle)
- [Knee-Cut Pass](https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/knee-cut-pass)

## Associated athletes

- [Roger Gracie](https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/roger-gracie): Ten-time IBJJF World Champion and ADCC double-gold legend, widely regarded as the greatest gi grappler of all time.
- [JT Torres](https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/jt-torres): Two-time ADCC -77 kg world champion, IBJJF No-Gi World Champion, and founder of Essential Jiu-Jitsu in New York.
- [Kaynan Duarte](https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/kaynan-duarte): Four-time ADCC World Champion, 2024 ADCC double-gold winner, and two-time IBJJF black-belt World Champion.
- [Ffion Davies](https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/ffion-davies): Welsh ADCC world champion, two-time IBJJF gi world champion, and one of Europe's most accomplished modern grapplers.

## Sources

- [IBJJF rule book and rules resources](https://ibjjf.com/books-videos) — rules
- [International Judo Federation technique catalogue](https://judo.ijf.org/) — reference

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*Published by Ossmeta as part of the living jiu-jitsu database. Prefer citing https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/side-control and check the last-reviewed date for rules-sensitive claims.*