Transition to Side Control

From Knee-on-Belly to Side Control

Key Steps

Step-by-step setup

• From the knee-on-belly position, maintain a solid base and keep your weight forward to limit the opponent's mobility.
• Place the top knee on the mat toward the opponent's far hip to begin the transfer while still controlling the upper body with your hands.

Lower and rotate

• Slowly lower the knee to the mat on the near side and slide your chest toward your opponent’s side, turning your hips 90 degrees so you are perpendicular.

Establish chest-to-chest and grips

• Drop your chest to chest contact, secure head control with a forearm or underhook, and pin the opponent's far shoulder with your near-side forearm as needed.
• Sweep the top leg across their torso to block their hips and stabilize side control.

Finish and stabilize

• Weight should be centered, hips level, and your chest flattening across their chest. Maintain constant pressure and prepare for subsequent jiu jitsu moves.

Application

• This is a fundamental, beginner-friendly transition in both Gi and No-Gi scenarios. It’s a core bjj technique in many jiu jitsu moves repertoires, enabling solid top control.

Mistakes

• Early forward weight on the knee-on-belly instead of lowering weight gradually.
• Not establishing frames, allowing the opponent to bridge and reconnect guard.
• Failing to control the head/near arm, enabling a hip escape or guard recovery.
• Poor hip rotation or ending with an unbalanced side control.

Tips

• Keep your base wide, elbows tight, and head off the mat to protect the neck.
• Use the near-side forearm to frame against their neck/shoulder; the far arm can underhook the far arm.
• Move smoothly with the hips; a step-by-step tempo prevents escapes.