Being under side control is a drag…. Let’s discuss how to get out of this unfavorable position by breaking it down into 2 categories: 1 – The Bridge, and 2- Re-Establishing (a better position for yourself). In the following example, your opponent is on your right, on top of you.

The Bridge:
You will be bridging twice, once to get your opponent off of you and a second time to create more space for yourself. There are 3 options, depending on where your outside arm is: Underhooking your opponent, Inside your opponents underhook, and finally inside your opponents underhook and pinned by your opponents head

1st Bridge:
One important purpose of the first bridge is to get your inside arm elbow down on the mat. If your opponent has this arm up off the mat, you must maneuver until it’s free and touching the mat. Once the inside hand is free, cup your opponents bicep and block their top arm from reaching around the back of your neck. When you’re under side control is really starts to be awful when your opponent traps your neck and immobilizes you and makes you uncomfortable.

IF you have an underhook that is great. You may be able to heave them forward so far that you can take the back. Often, however, your opponent will be tight on you, pinning your under hook very close to your side. Instead of trying to lift them up with your bridge, start your bridge moving your arm out to your side (like you’re making a jiu jitsu snow angel).

IF you are underhooked then bridge up and crossface the top of their head. Hitting their head at the top will give you the most leverage to direct their head and body away from you.

IF you are underhooked and your arm is being pinned and they are keeping their head down tight to your body (they may be back-turned at this point) then grab their collar and edge your elbow under their chin and then bridge by throwing the elbow up, pushing their head away and over your shoulders.

2nd Bridge:
After you’ve moved their weight a bit, follow with another bridge to get enough space to re establish. Straighten your inside arm and push your opponents hip as you bridge again and scoot your hips back a second time. (There can be more bridges, but it’s good if you can do this fast, so 2 is a good target number. If you can do it in one, even better.)