THE GREAT ESCAPE

One of the most common questions I am asked – at all levels (including Black Belt) is – how to effect a good escape from Side Control – as applied by someone who knows how to do so effectively. It's one thing to escape the Side Control of someone who has virtually no skills - but then again, how would such a person establish a solid Side Control on an experienced grappler in the first place? Unlikely.
We should understand from the very outset - that escaping Side COntrol is not necessarily an easy task. If the person who has you pinned in Side Control is good – and presumably they are because they have passed your Guard and have you pinned – then we shouldn’t expect this to be all that easy. But I will demonstrate a simple variation on the basic method in the attached video clip; one that might make our efforts more fruitful. Pay careful attention to the ‘not so obvious’ detail here – is in the ANGLE at which we apply our BRIDGE, before we hip away and insert the TIP of our knee. Please watch closely; I am sure it will help.
From a broader perspective, it is also a good idea to think of our escapes in terms of 'problem solving' - and the way to solve problems is to slice them up into manageable portions. Trying to solve complex problems with a SINGLE DEFINITIVE SOLUTION is usually ineffectual. Problems that have a high level of complexity almost always require a multi-step solution.
Whether it's a rock-climbing problem, a financial problem, a relationship problem or a BJJ problem ... start out with the notion that we will need to invest ourselves in the process of the solution as opposed to looking for a single, easy trick to fix things. The key to a good solution is almost always in the fine details.
Best wishes
JBW