What comes next from side control, bottom player with an underhook
The top player is in side control, but the bottom player has an underhook (an arm under the armpit). The top player is still a little ahead. The bottom player wants to come up or get the guard back.
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Learn the position itself: Side Control in the library ›
If you are the top player
Good Works well with the right setup.
- Whizzer and re-establish the crossface
Wrap your arm over their underhook (a whizzer) and drive the crossface. They are flat again.
Leads to side control with crossface › - Switch to kesa gatame
Sit through to the side of their underhook. Their underhook becomes a trapped arm in kesa gatame (scarf hold).
Leads to kesa gatame › - Spin to north-south
Walk around their head to north-south (chest to chest, head to hips). Their underhook now holds nothing.
Leads to north-south › - Settle your weight and breathe
Keep your hips heavy and your hands calm. Wait for them to make a mistake.
You stay in this position.
Mistake Avoid this: it usually makes things worse.
- Chase the far-side armbar
Reaching for an armbar from loose side control usually fails. They escape back to guard.
Usually goes wrong. Choose a better option above.
If you are the bottom player
Best The choice that works most often here.
- Come up to your knees (escape to the knees)
Use the underhook, turn into them and drive up to your knees. You are back to an even position, with nobody pinned.
Leads to standing ›
Good Works well with the right setup.
- Hip escape and recover guard
Use the space the underhook made: shrimp (move your hips out) and bring your knee in. You are back in open guard.
Leads to open guard › - Keep the underhook and frame
Hold your underhook and keep your frames. Do not give it back for nothing.
You stay in this position.
Risky Can work, but often goes wrong.
- Underhook to the back
If they lean forward over your underhook, go under their arm and climb behind them. If they are not leaning, they crossface you flat again.
Leads to back control ›
Train it on the Path
The language of control unit turns this into short lessons: you see a position and pick the best move.
The Path goes in order: start free from lesson one and you reach The language of control on the way. With Rolla Plus you can jump straight here.