Inside Position

What it is

Inside position is having your hands, elbows and knees inside your opponent's, between their limbs and their body. Whoever is inside controls the centre line and can push, pull and steer the other person, while whoever is outside has to reach around. Pummeling is the fight to win the inside: swimming your arm or knee inside theirs, again and again.

Where it shows up

• Standing: pummel for underhooks and inside ties before a takedown.
• Playing guard: knees and feet inside their arms and hips keep them away and let you sweep.
• Passing: get your elbows and knees inside their legs to clear the guard.
• Under side control or mount: an elbow inside their hip or a forearm across the neck is the inside frame you escape from.

Key details

• Elbows in. An elbow outside your own knee is an outside position, and it can be pinned or pulled.
• Pummel by swimming: dip your hand, slide it inside theirs along their body, and turn the elbow up.
• When they pummel in, pummel back straight away. Inside position changes hands in a second.
• Inside the hands is close control, inside the knees is guard control. Know which one you are fighting for.

Common mistakes

• Mistake: reaching around their arm to grab the back. They are inside, take the underhook and control you.
• Mistake: letting their knees inside your arms while passing. Their guard comes back and you are swept.
• Mistake: pummeling with strength only. Without the hips close, you win the arm and lose the position.

Gi and no-gi

In no-gi there are no grips to hold you in place, so inside position decides almost everything. In the gi a good grip can sometimes control from the outside.