The Secret to a World Class Side Control

This video I overview the key aspects of a strong side control. I focus primarily on the key principle of using your chest weight to pin your opponents shoulders to the mat. Not only does this have a huge effect in side control but in all pinning positions in general strong chest pressure is so powerful.
More content on my website at
www.jonthomasbjj.com/collections
Kimonos
www.vitalkimonos.com
0:00 Core Goal of Side and Common Mistakes
1:10 Chest Pinning Mechanic
2:25 Countering The Neck Frame
3:57 Countering The Hip Frame
5:07 Chest Pressure and Mount Transition
8:04 Countering The Underhook
8:52 Closing Principles

[@nn-tz7yw]

your ability to capture, organize and convey information is truly amazing. wish my college professors were all like this 😅

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Thank you so much buddy! I try my best to make things organized. It’s honestly just how my head works I can’t really do techniques well when I don’t fully understand it

[@16thChemical]

@@JonThomasBJJ Sounds like you're an INxx.. probably INTJ? Sorry for being an MBTI nerd though.😂

[@dnozzie]

100% agree.

[@Revenant2010]

Concur. Jon’s stuff has helped my game so much.

[@fuloran1]

Professor Jon, solving problems I didn't know I had. Awesome stuff!

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Yeah this was something I didn’t know for a long time!

[@theticoboy]

Underrated comment!

[@bradleyleon6037]

Great reinforcement of the concept of chest to chest for the objective of keeping shoulders pinned

[@unboundnomad1924]

As a bigger guy, with 3 stripes on my white belt, I'm just learning how to use my weight and pressure properly. It's been a frustrating journey, but I'll be working to use these principles as I grow.

[@codystaples3260]

This is EXACTLY what I needed to watch. Excellent content

[@Bladejiujitsu]

This video speaks to me as a wrestler lol I always end up in side control but would fail to submit the opponent because I didn’t know what to do once I had the shoulders pinned. Thanks for making the next steps clear 🙏🏾

[@JonThomasBJJ]

No problem! Also check out Roger Gracie’s video with Bjj fanatics on mount, it was excellent and gave me a lot of new ideas

[@elliottexplodes]

Excellent articulation. Using my arm to push out the near side knee to start introducing knee on belly is my go to, especially for bigger guys that will bench press me off while I'm trying to secure side body.

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Yeah that works great too I enjoy using knee on belly a lot!

[@lxbui]

I like that your videos focus on tenants and principles.

[@LIRCB]

I loved the beauty of knee on belly making an opening to mounted triangle

[@nicolofurlan2278]

You're a great teacher I love your way to explain and the attention to details thank you coach

[@philpoma2055]

Really great video, especially the points about pressure vs position - which is often overlooked. Thanks for putting out this consistent content, it has helped me a lot in my BJJ journey!

[@JonThomasBJJ]

No problem buddy really happy it has helped you a lot. Pressure over position is huge, people usually try to keep the exact position they are in but that’s less important than being able to maintain heavy pressure

[@martinw3474]

Crazy detail and information, all for free, people like you make the BJJ world a better place (and it's a pretty great place already!)

[@benpedersen360]

Great class.

[@mzigliara]

Excellent video, as usual!

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Thank you so much!

[@Sroknroll]

Love your concepts. You make things give that aha moment!

[@Alexableizationable]

Loving these videos. I really appreciate you sharing your knowledge and time Jon. Big fan!

[@Paladin1776a]

Excellent, thank you Jon

[@JonThomasBJJ]

No problem happy to share

[@florecista1]

So good. Bravo 👏

[@25davidhenry]

This is a great explanation of really what to focus on for control. Thank you!

[@fupasaan]

Keep the pressure I like it 👌 this will be what I'm thinking about while on top.

[@lukesnyder4183]

So much of this information slots perfectly into things that I knew subconsciously, but had never put together into a coherent system. Your instruction is phenomenal, my friend!

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Yeah sometimes a lot of this stuff you subconsciously get but can’t articulate and it takes a long time to really find the core foundation principles

[@lukesnyder4183]

@@JonThomasBJJ Literally the day after watching this video, I was able to pin and keep pinned in side control someone much better than me. This is great, haha.

[@amitabhapalmer5085]

Man, this is the best explanation of side control I've ever heard. Thank you.

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Thanks so much that means a lot! Really try to break things down to the core ideas

[@maddog56200]

Great stuff !

[@tomtrader6559]

Really good video - exactly what I needed:)

[@RadicalTrivia]

Great details!

[@theticoboy]

So awesome to see this channel steadily growing. I remember when I subscribed it only had a few thousand subscribers. Great content!

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Thanks a lot buddy, trying to make the content better for algorithm but also not lose the main focus of high quality informative instructional

[@dynamitehopper]

Wow such an amazing video. I consumer a lot of bjj content (currently a blue belt getting smashed) and I can truly say this was top notch. Can't wait to try some of this out in practice tomorrow.

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Thanks buddy means a lot! Hope you check out more of my videos, and that this helps you in class

[@adamkennedy3800]

Thank you!

[@Leopar525]

You’re the man ! Thanks

[@spalax7954]

Awesome video, thank you 🔥🔥

[@liam9587]

Awesome video

[@abdelhamid6674]

Nice tips. Thanks for that

[@HankusMaximus]

Incredible lesson. I think one of your best!

[@seanmoffitt1190]

Good stuff. I dig these instructionals. Thanks!

[@timothylee5824]

Terrific content, thank you. Been sick and skipped a few days of BJJ, discovered your channel and have been psyched to go back.

[@chrisjamez00]

Great detail and teaching. Your channel holds so much value!

[@rxplusplates646]

Love these instructional videos and the great details you emphasize. I am struggling with keeping pressure as a whitebelt.

[@gkurosaki]

Boom, im starting bjj, this video has been helpful, thx guys.

[@trentr5366]

Thank you for this!!

[@JonThomasBJJ]

No problem happy to help!

[@mwright65]

Another great video!

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Thank you so much!

[@billstube3003]

Love your thorough videos!

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Thanks a lot! Trying to find balance between technique breakdowns and big principle overviews

[@gegaoli]

awesome instruction. Thank you

[@JonThomasBJJ]

No problem happy to help!

[@celticanglotx313]

Thanks!

[@amtad9786]

Thanx fo sharing your point of view. Very important details!

[@JonThomasBJJ]

No problem buddy happy you liked it!

[@waelharp4060]

Awesome thank you learning a lot from your videos.

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Thanks! I enjoy making them!

[@McLovin_123]

Wow I love seeing you work your magic I truly am a fan!

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Thanks you so much it means a lot!

[@vjensen56]

Great video, very helpful! Do you have one on mount control and mount attack systems?

[@alanhaine644]

I like the conceptual lens, helps soak in the information, thanks!

[@JonThomasBJJ]

I think conceptual first then specific as the video goes on is the best way to go.

[@alanhaine644]

Hi Jon. I rewatched this video today before class after struggling earlier in the week to maintain side control. It clicked for me and I was able to keep bigger and more experienced opponents in side control, I also coincidentally got my first stripe on my white belt. Thanks again for posting!

[@chopper84a]

useful vid for escaping side control too, as obs its just the opposite side of the same position

[@Trephining]

Gold, will use

[@MrRitmu]

Gold, bro, gold! Thanks ssa lot for thus!

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Happy it helps!

[@Blinkz]

You just blew my fucking mind with the take mount when they get the undertook. I’m so slow.

[@vinceraineing]

Pure gold

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Thanks so much!

[@jdmj0]

That hip-frame counter is 👍🏻👍🏻

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Yeah it’s really useful!

[@wmunny2152]

Thanks for all the great content! One of the few times, if any, where you'll actually see Espen on bottom side control! lol

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Yeah not often you see that lol

[@grigelkotten]

Absolutely amazing, per usual. So looking forward to a in-depth video on controlling mount!

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Will definitely make one soon, want to work on a few more things before posting that

[@yogsothoth-tz2bu]

The triangle attack was bonkers.

[@scootertribeg1708]

Great material. Do you have something similar for N/S position? Thank you!

[@JonThomasBJJ]

I don’t but I can definitely cover it soon, realistically north south is not a position I stay in long is more transitory to other spots.

[@JustinGarfield1]

I always used chest pressure and it worked so well. For mma, can you do knees to body while in side control?

[@cristianaguilar5088]

Bad Ass video thank you

[@LeviPage]

I would love to see a video about avoiding leg locks when playing closed guard (entering, exiting, etc.) I can't find anything on this.

[@Deadward1113]

Good morning!

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Morning!

[@badxradxandy]

Hell yes

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Thanks!

[@AleksandrBrener]

Year wasted on hard cross facing:) A few judo practitioners advised me to pin the shoulders. If only they had your ways of explaining... Thanks for the great video.

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Yeah everyone is excited about the cross face but it’s really the pinning that makes them not able to move. Happy you liked the video!

[@user-ts1xi6xh8c]

I'm getting better overall just stay focuse& consistent

[@johnteds4761]

Another part of heavy chest pressure from side control is active toes. A lot of people keep the top of their foot down (like in wrestling sprawls), but you need to have active toes in jiu jitsu.

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Yeah I use active toes a lot, but I have seen some other high level people say they don’t mind using it, I’ll play with it in the gym and see how much it makes a different for me.

[@Somethingsomethinglol]

Regarding the chest pinning mechanic - are your legs spread out as wide as possible? It feels like if I don't do that then I lose chest pressure.

[@irishawthorne7784]

Question: I’m a pretty light person so if I use chest pressure to counter the neck frame doesn’t that open me up to being sweeped since my weight is leaning so far on one side?

[@JonThomasBJJ]

I’m really light as well and I hold down 200lb people all the time. As long as you counter base by opening your knees wide and are quick with adjusting it’s fine. Its just enough to keep them pinned but not so far you get tossed over

[@TheAsCOTthursday]

i have this question: traditionally we are thought to have a far underhook and gable grip it with the crossface hand(aka top head and arm) To get to mount(shown in this video @6:20), you generally want to hike the opponent's far elbow up to the shoulderline (prevents knee escapes on the far side). Does that mean we should not join our hands together? Just finger walk the underhook upwards so i can go to mount?

[@JonThomasBJJ]

You can do either one it’s not problem. There is multiple good ways to finish and threaten progression in the positions, but all the good ones should focus on maintaining the chest to chest and shoulder pin mechanic.

[@richardcranston5160]

Kosen Judo does similar as does catch wrestling

[@RaveyDavey]

👍

[@bowenduan4419]

support

[@MK-ev6ov]

Does this mesh with or oppose Danaher’s idea of controlling with “wedges” around the body as opposed to body weight?

[@JonThomasBJJ]

I haven’t watched his video but I don’t see why it would need to conflict. I think it’s 100 percent true that you need to keep your opponents shoulders pinned to the mat, so everything else to me is a toll to help maintain that goal. I think chest pressure is the most important component for accomplishing this as a lot of other things can be in place and if you don’t have that, the position will fall apart.

[@PandasRViolent]

Are we gonna ignore the fact he flicked us off at 1.25.... otherwise as always great material

[@colincharles9034]

👌🤙

[@nebnostunk9325]

This stuff looks very useful but it’s hard to remember it all

[@maksymkharkavyi3563]

you know that this is a legit tutorial if you see Espen as an Uke.

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Haha yeah has been so great training with espen this month. Gonna post some content with him again soon too!

[@marat304]

Espen hole time: where should I look? I don't want to make eye contact

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Lol

[@mrtravelhub4313]

Espen Berimbolo guy

[@rc-1983]

In short: dont procrastinate the next move, eventually your oponent will escape the pin.

[@jeremycointin1996]

Was this topic inspired by Gordons recent soul sucking match? ... that made his opponent look like he was glued to the mat? ....... because if it was I appreciate it. Because i was going to ask why on Earth that guy looked like he never even attempted a elbow knee escape.

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Actually it wasn’t I had already filmed it just not posted yet, but I did think about it a lot when I saw the fight.

[@joefran619]

his left hand can attack your eyes

[@edwinserrano1070]

"Heavy like a whale!"

[@TheGrapplingNinja]

How does camera man not have sore back

[@JonThomasBJJ]

We have the camera on a gimble with a handle so it’s really easy to hold that way and get close shots.

[@mrnigel4271]

Don’t be so nice to your training partner. Apply pressure.

[@hasanagic96]

coaches always just do 3 techniques and rolling. not such details, not basic stuff to make ur techniques work and concepts. it sucks because u train for a long time and the drills are usually useless for my progress.. i just wish more coaches did what you do

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Yeah the really deep understanding it what motivates me to keep training, I always want to break things down as much as I can to understand.

[@hasanagic96]

Keep on it, u n coach bryan got some of the most well disected, n easily understood videos on youtube. I basically just get coached by u guys n roll at the gym or try these things out

[@ivangovea9237]

Thank you !