BJJ Side Control

[shamster]

One of the things I still struggle with a lot is escaping out of the side control when I'm on the bottom. The worst is when big guys get all their weight pinned right on my chest (I'm pretty light at about 140 lbs). I have learned the basic escapes for most of the side control positions, such as shrimping in and recovering the guard, etc. My problem is I can't seem to execute them quick enough when rolling full speed and when the guy has me locked in pretty tight. The only thing I feel that I can do is defend from submissions, which I am doing pretty decently.
Also, with the scarf control (or whatever position it is when the guy is facing you) and the position where he's facing away from you (just prior to him going for a full mount), I get stuck there a lot too.
Here's an example. Say a guy has the scarf control on me, on my right side. He has his hip planted well on top of mine, while he lifts up my right arm with his left arm to control my right side and prevent me from rolling a bit to my right. I know one option is to actually hip towards and under him, while pulling/pushing him towards my left side. Eventually, I will have completely moved under him to the right while he falls over on my left side and I then have an opportunity to gain side control on him. However, what do I need to do with my arms to achieve this? In this case, he has my right arm raised up, so the most I could probably do is grab his gi on his upper back or shoulder. What about the left arm?
Hope I am making sense. Thanks for any help!

[danfaggella]

Very hard to follow those details, but heres what I like to do when I'm scarfed.

Saw away with my elbow into his arm until I can free it, along with my head (and take his back).

or

Grip him tightly around the torso, bridge strait up, and then roll him over my back (and take side contol myself).

[shamster]

Thanks. I've tried your 2nd suggestion about bridging him over my head/shoulders. Problem is I have a very hard time pulling this off on a big guy. I don't know if it's because he's following me and centering his weight on my well or if I'm doing something wrong. Any tips on how to pull this off successfully, especially for a lighter guy?

[aseepish]

My problem is I can't seem to execute them quick enough when rolling full speed and when the guy has me locked in pretty tight.

If the guy has the control position locked in pretty tight, you're going to have a very difficult time escaping, no matter your level. The key to side-control escapes is to start escaping as soon as you realize that they are going to pass your guard. You have to get your hips moving BEFORE they get their hips down, pushing with your arms BEFORE they get their arms into position.

Once they get the position locked, your only hope is that they create an opening for escape when they attack you, or that they don't have their body weight centred properly so that you can bridge and take them over.

[blitz]

For the scarf pos.
If his head is close to you, bump sideways to his direction put your legs beside his, grab him from the waist and flip him him on the opposite side. He will lose some space when you bump and its quite easy. There is also another one where you bump make him go closer to your head then grab his leg and flip to the other side. The 2nd one takes a little bit of strength but the first usually goes of smoothly.

If his head isn't close, just push his head away a little and put his legs on top of him push him away and either choke him or go for an armbar. I'd rather go for the choke with the legs.

As for sidemout, the only thing I can think of is the shrimp to guard pos.
And the one where you try and sneak your hand under his arm bump and turn him around. That dosen't work much for me though..

[SamuraiGuy]

If a bigger guy gets the sidemount on you, and holds you in tight, and just holds you there, theres really not much you can do. It isnt too hard too hold someone down in side control, as a whitebelt I've held down purples with 50 pounds on me just by keeping them pinned.

They can destroy me in all aspects, side control too, but until I take the weight off to mount/submit/knee on belly/new grip.. whatever.. theres very little you can do.

The key is to wait until they take the weight off you, once they move, you have to explode with your escape so they dont have time to recover. Something as simple as them changing arm position can be enough for you to slide your outside arm in for an underhook and work from there, turn to your side with the underhook. Wait till they move, then explode is my advice.

[danfaggella]

I usually just blow up as soon as they move, by either pulling gaurd or turtling up. Turtling is often easier to do, and many times you can just spin from turtle into gaurd or half gaurd.