The BJJ Position Where White Belts Go to Die

One of the most common messages I get from you guys, specifically the newer grapplers, is about something in the realm of White Belts having trouble with Side Control escapes.
Regardless of your prior grappling experience, White Belts of all backgrounds tend to struggle pretty often escaping side control and just feel stuck.
The tip that I am going to share with you in this video works for side control, mount, or any defensive position, but can be really useful for side control specifically.
This technique/idea made escaping side control way easier for me, and hopefully for you newer white belts watching, or anyone else, it can also be a useful idea that'll help your game too.
- Chewy
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[@aibjj316]

"they do all this stuff that the coach never told them"😂

[@dustinmartin3549]

I died when I heard this

[@bil-alak3382]

Hahahahaha 😂🤣😂

[@lukehanak]

yeah but he didn't tell me what to do either 😂

[@mikelemay515]

When I would throw my arms up from bottom my coach would yell, "I didn't teach you that!"

[@richardgallagher4880]

"And they know they shouldn't do" 🤣🤣🤣

[@ConradCreel]

07:13 is where the ultimate wisdom lies. Relaxing and keeping things tight is important but "Adam" is key.

[@paxmarc1673]

My girl also tells me not to panic to last longer

[@blondequijote]

Think about baseballl or maybe just trqnsition from closed guard to half guard for a bit

[@dommywantstoknow]

😂😂😂

[@nathanbuhay7065]

When I'm on the bottom I usually wait for the guy in top to move first. It works better than moving right into the position they want you to move into. Instead they have to pick an attack and it's easier to defend an attack you can see coming rather than try and scramble and get caught in something you weren't expecting

[@camonly849]

100%...plus you are conserving way more energy then fighting like your life depended on it.

[@jamestk656]

After a rib injury, anytime anyone even got on my chest was an excruciating time for me even when doing nothing but staying tight. What really helped me out was that I changed my mentality in that I "decided" to never get flattened out in the first place where I have the worst time. Forget about side control escapes altogether and just always be on my side even if that means I need to turn away or even turtle up. I find that even when I'm facing away, as long as I stay tight and don't give them access to a seat belt grip or a top hook, I'm not actually giving them my back, they're just behind me. Even when they do get my back, I find that I have a much easier time defending it compared to flat side control since no one is on top of me (and I can breathe lol) especially if I'm diligent in not letting them get their hooks in. Besides, they usually have to pull me on top of themselves to try to get the choke so most of the time I'm on top of them and I can grind into them myself and make them work for it. When my ribs heal, I'm not even sure I'll go back to how I used to do jiu jitsu since this has been less tiring for me.

[@bryanfontez]

Totally agree. I'd rather give my back and defend hooks than be stuck in side control. Hell I'd rather have both hooks in and defend my neck than be stuck there.

[@urbansamurai261]

​@@bryanfontez wtf it's really not that bad 😂

[@bryanfontez]

@@urbansamurai261 it is for me. And my back defense is VERY good. I really don't have any worries when guys take my back. I never get RNC'd and rarely get Bow and Arrowed.

[@urbansamurai261]

@@bryanfontez just be careful because if someone knows what they're doing you're moving to a very bad position

[@michigan1085]

I got smashed yesterday and my rib is killing me. I’m a new white belt (3 weeks) and it was a brown belt who had no mercy on me lol. I like your comment about changing your mentality… will do the same

[@tonykaze]

I'm 5 sessions in and this is gold, thank you. I'm exactly the white belt you're describing, and will try to keep this advice in my brain on the mat.

[@UnskilledGrappler]

This goes right along with the four part video series from Rener and Ryron Gracie entitled Defend, Escape, Control, Submit. If you haven’t watched it, I can’t recommend it enough. It’s my honest opinion that anyone who has not spent a great deal of time deliberately putting themselves in bad positions so that they can survive and escape has not really mastered the most important part of JiuJitsu.

[@graciescottsdale]

Bingo.

[@bryanfontez]

I'm a blue belt closing in on a purple and this helped me a lot. I still have issues with this position. It's my worst. I'm better than I was but it's still brutal and hell against huge guys. The hand on the head defence is key, I need to incorporate that.

[@skmfkr2]

blue belt here as well and still would rather be mounted than in side control lol

[@bryanfontez]

Bro. Id rather give my back with full hooks and a seatbelt. I have more confidence in my back defence than my side control escapes.@@skmfkr2

[@SonoraSlinger]

Hey, it's been a few, have you got your purple belt yet?

[@bryanfontez]

I do! Thanks for asking brother. Proud of it and hoping to compete soon.@@SonoraSlinger

[@MartialMind]

Tainan Dalpra had Isaque Bahiense stuck in side control for almost 30 minutes. It is a very tough position to deal with even amongst the absolute best grapplers alive.

[@yurisich]

I've been thinking a lot about this as a "budget" to help me prioritize low cost options in order to avoid gassing out. Frames are low cost, grips cost more.

[@jeanlezak4539]

As a brand new white belt its quite nice seeing this, as this is exactly what we did yesterday at no gi

[@rolandfisher]

Did Adam take a class on how to look like a sociopath? Deadpan stare. Slow, infrequent blinking. Total predator.

[@sk8madman]

amazing jazz hands

[@LockieNZ]

@@sk8madman The jazz hands killed me 😂

[@bradford5681]

This is one of the most important videos out there. And Adam's input at the end was great! 😊

[@TheCockConnoisseur]

Amazing just how accurate this, once i learned to just chill and do nothing the escapes opened up

[@bmstylee]

It gets frustrating for the top guy if you're getting nothing from the bottom guy. It makes you want to make something happen and then if they are even remotely skilled that's where you end up losing.

[@PhysiKarlz]

Or learn how to apply pressure to the floating ribs while stretching uke's arm in hon-kesa-gatame, to the floating ribs and neck in yoko-shiho-gatame and to the xiphoid process or shoulders and face in tate-shiho-gatame. Whether uke knows or not how to get out and does nothing to do so, they will have to tap due to the pressure. I will add, I always tell my students to stop hugging the guy on top, get their arms between themselves and their opponent and to turn onto a side with frames, where they can relax if they need to recover.

[@tjl4688]

Defend. Escape. Control. Submit.

[@Harma224]

Excellent advice! Keep up the good work. This helps us white belts a lot because most of the content on KZbin seems to be geared to more advanced grapplers.

[@cryptrain1271]

Adam.

[@davidwilson8310]

This is really good advice good sir

[@chandrajensen4012]

I've gone to 3 different jiu jitsu schools in my area and not once did any professor teach me frames, had to learn it from KZbin 😂 I wish they had drilled like you mentioned, being in bottom position and seeing how long you can go without getting subbed, instead of just teaching subs...I got upset with my last coach because they would always coach other students through subs on me and never coach me through any movements, I mentioned it and he said, "There's no subs from bottom". Super frustrating when I'm trying to learn better defense. Thanks so much for your videos, they have really helped encourage me and strengthen my mindset! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@FR-ty5vn]

Such great 👍🏼 advice - and you can breathe so much better with those frames, which allows you to relax even more…Thanks ❤

[@ravilangabriel6689]

I've been starting from the side control just to learn how to get out

[@anthonysantana4278]

Good info

[@Fede-xw9zz]

Hello. I started bjj about two months ago... i got on sode control and then mounted by my coach... he made me panic i completely freaked out and started doing all the wrong things... felt i was dying... begged the coach to get off from top of me... he was trying to show me exactly what you are showing here only that he is a kind of rought teachings guy... and im a ... rough teachings learner... really helped me to feel what a panic attack is like... i had never had one

[@Courtside411]

It helps Thanks

[@huskylord123]

This video is so needed. Very nice.

[@kevinomahoney]

This might be your best video.

[@RicoMnc]

I rarely get submitted in side control, I frustrate them by doing what you showed, and make them work for better positions. A lot of little things add up. Get to your side, maintain frames with structure not muscle, disrupt and influence them in multiple places, establish strong base with the ground, get your knee or thigh in close, get one elbow inside their elbow, the other planted on the ground and against their other hip. They usually respond by adjust in a way that creates space and opportunities to execute an escape or sweep.

[@danomitesBJJ]

Those jazz hands at the top were next level

[@NocoYeti]

This was an excellent video! Hope you put more stuff out like this!

[@erick2853]

As always thank you for the good advice and content sir

[@fuloran1]

Had a guy much bigger than me in top half guard and I just could not get away. All I did was... nothing. After a couple of minutes, he was so tired he just fell over and I took top.

[@Guitarial_arts]

This is great!!! I feel like you’ve been watching me train and made this for me! Thanks chewy!

[@jackdewipper187]

Against a black belt I die in every position. Every movement I make is receiving a new submission.

[@jah96]

Love the title

[@Memofuma]

Step 1 Own your own arms. Step 2. Relax. Step 3. Breathe. Step 4. be patient.

[@cunn1n6ham]

So funny that all the stuff Ryron Gracie had been saying for the last 15 years+ & got ridiculed for, everybody seems to finally be catching up.

[@Sean-tj5cu]

Thanks for this video, Chewi! This can be my downfall, especially against bigger guys!

[@oscarholman]

It’s the bigger guys that I struggle with. I’m 185 and we’ve got lots of 220+ guys that when they pass, crush me.

[@589bluescaledragon]

This makes sense

[@joseaponte2314]

Super helpful stuff.

[@balzonyr4head]

The past few months I've started almost every roll every night from side control, I'm starting in the worst position when we free roll. The end state is my defense is solid and my escapes are beautiful, but my offense is lacking real bad 😂.

[@urbansamurai261]

I learnt most of my submissions by reverse engineering them through defence, you end up understanding not only the submissions but the nature of their control

[@bmstylee]

For me i tend to die in bottom mount. Bottom side doesn't really bother me all that much. When I am losing the battle of passing guard I try to get an underhook before the settle in.

[@centristmiguel8581]

Broken down precisely how my professor did last week and he also kept yelling "Stay Connected", and yup if needed do nothing, breathe, think, wait it out . When that lightbulb goes off of staying connected and breathing, keeping things in tight, taking space away, etc? Your brain starts going "Of course it's obvious". lol. Now need to get 1,000 more reps in before it becomes muscle memory lol.

[@aleclawless7778]

Thanks for the video sir!

[@joejones4181]

Adam is a Rock Star! I am a 67 year old man, that has tried BJJ (recently) and I guess my brain has slowed down. I can watch the instructor show the move (purple belt) and 30 seconds later I cannot recall what I just saw. I think, my time has past. I do enjoy your vids!

[@ThatguyFirst]

You're not alone. Repetition will penetrate the haze - sometimes it just takes a few more repetitions. Hang in there!

[@joejones4181]

@@ThatguyFirst that was kind, thanks

[@wadibison]

❤ more great advice from Chewjitsu💪

[@fangblade360]

I feel personally attacked >.

[@webuilddreambodies]

great advice

[@RicoMnc]

Adam needs to teach the ninja jazz hands defense techniques.

[@sflores1985]

"Just do nothing, do nothing. No well you gotta do something..."

[@wrxstock2820]

Great stuff

[@Jiraiya23]

I've only done 3 trial lessons and 1 with the gym I ended up joining so far. I think I went on the opposite end of the spectrum and got too relaxed when I'm pinned in side control even using it as a rest. But since I've already realized how to stay calm I think that'll be an advantage to think through how to escape, just didn't know the techniques on how to after only a few classes.

[@Ilya.Vasilyev]

Such an actor wasted! "Get there and do nothing!" - "Wait. what?!" :D

[@rich45davis]

Well, I'm trying this 'Iron squirrel' technique in the morning.

[@SonoraSlinger]

Adam- "Adam."

[@bloodline321]

Lol 😂 the guy with the black GI.. he looks so happy. RBF hahahahahha major RBF

[@Stevo_YouTube]

As a noob, where I go to die most is beginner BJJ class.

[@bobbydabutcha]

A really good four stripe white belt that has great transitions from submission to submission, but he always tries to bench press me off or does the same thing when I do an Ezekial choke. Arm bar city lol

[@constantinebodien1887]

I have a question that I would really like answered. I really do understand it can take a different amount of time for a person to get good at ground fighting. But before you can get good you need to learn how to calm you mind, how do you do that. I'm an older practitioner of Judo and at my school we do a lot of ne waza and I just suck at it. I do not compete and feel at a complete disadvantage and it feels to me like trying to knock down a wall with my head.

[@mrhoads7]

What about when top guy transitions to north south when bottom guys hands are in tight?

[@bradford5681]

🙏

[@douggotley7169]

As a white belt, I’d have to say mount is where I die most of the time.

[@eprotasenko]

Adam is intense.

[@naturalianoss]

I dont understand why would you ever panic

[@33iknow]

Excellent advice! And damn man, Adam talks a LOT! Tell him to settle down a bit... J/K

[@stephenroach8033]

Jazz hands!😂

[@whatilearnttoday5295]

What's wrong with the guy on the left? Why does he keep glaring at the camera like he wants to fight it?

[@dontspeak2994]

Adam

[@davidhunter3222]

Why does your sidekick just stand there and stare at the camera like he's contemplating life?

[@danielgrundy4422]

I mean I gave up trying to escape side control and just became aggressive from that position. It's now the biggest part of my game lmao

[@iammandalore]

Adam looks grumpy today.

[@jaydee2982]

Adam Wilson looks like he's about to murder me lol

[@whymikelord]

@chewjitsu where can I buy that gi?

[@mrgibson69]

Wait, what are you doing to my lapel!

[@emifuc1211]

The famous "Michael Jackson" 😅

[@louisowen2799]

Chui I just got my purple belt after 6 years of trianing I’m 19 but I was. Wondering what should I do next on my journey

[@Spiritof_76]

Learn about capitalization and punctuation. It may come in handy one day.

[@graciescottsdale]

Go back to class.

[@Aliens-Are-Our-Friends2027]

nice

[@jayb5958]

I don’t understand why upper belts like to smash white belts. All it does is make for panic attacks and get people to quit BJJ. ESPECIALLY If they’re much heavier. If I were an owner of a BJJ school, I wouldn’t allow smashing because I’d be losing money.

[@aleksandertokarzewski7978]

Adam is looking 🥰😍❤so handsome

[@tommcparland7135]

Hey Chewy! Great video and thanks for coming to the Jersey Shore for that excellent seminar. Speaking of defense-oriented grapplers, what are your thoughts on Priit's system? (FYI it's a long video) - kzbin.info/www/bejne/l2XKZ5mMhM90fZY As an older white belt I've been able to use that system to survive a lot longer than I used to, especially against bigger guys and upper belts.

[@BrMg01]

0:47 what was that ? lol

[@realKlik]

0:54 Guy in black please relax its ok.

[@javednasrati2692]

Yeah, these silly white belt mistakes 😂😂 (pushes purple belt out of sight)

[@mamabearthrives7815]

💪💯🥰

[@dougmartinezjr]

dude look so mean and bout it bout it lmao

[@BodyByBenSLC]

I think beginning grapplers shouldn't spar or free grapple. Myself personally have had serious injuries all from white belts. They don't know the moves, don't defense, don't know how to pace themselves. I think white and blue should be about building good habits, principles and getting the body conditioned. Then if they are interested in going for black belt or competition then introduce open sparring, some people will just want to learn some basic defense and get a sweat on and that's fine.

[@MrCmon113]

That's totally insane. That's like teaching someone musical notation when they've never listened to music. Giving people solutions to problems they never had is the #1 reason people don't learn.

[@rw1567]

Oh jeez, is "white belt" a trigger word now? Lol

[@bmstylee]

As a white belt I am offended by it. 😁

[@rw1567]

@@bmstylee "Did you just assume my belt color!?"

[@ConradCreel]

white belts matter

[@MrCmon113]

You can't say the w-word if you're a higher belt. This word belings to us.

[@KS-jl4zn]

bottom mount is way worse than bottom side

[@apachebeast164]

New Sub, ❤ the vid.

[@jujichop69]

Love the title