Side Control is one of those positions you might not feel too afraid of. „Sure, I’m in a defensive position, but it isn’t so bad“, you rationalize to yourself… As your opponent isolates your arm, sets up that Baseball Choke or gets ready to Mount you.
That is to say, there’s no way around it; you must escape Side Control as soon as you can and recover into a more dominant position in order to stay in the fight.
When the opponent is holding you down in a tight side Control, it also usually means that they are not laying too heavily/tightly over your hips centerline. This means that they are susceptible to a Bridge Sweep/Reversal.
Against an experienced opponent, you may not be able to recover your knee(s) inside to recompose guard due to them monitoring your hip closely with their far knee in Side-Control with Underhook & Head Control.
3rd degree black belt Adem Redzovic of Redzovic BJJ academy in Chicago shows how he likes to escape from side control.
Get Out Of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s Worst Positions, Gi Or No-Gi, With Lachlan Giles’s Insights Into Escaping.
The 2019 ADCC Absolute Medalist Teaches How To Get Out Bad Grappling Positions With Narrated Live Rolling Of Him Performing The Techniques.
