Cross-Side Control Fundamentals

The instructor establishes the foundational positioning for cross-side control by emphasizing tight knee placement—one knee positioned by the partner's hip and the other by their shoulder line. The cross-face arm is placed under the partner's head with the bicep preventing chin rotation, while the second arm creates an underhook beneath the partner's arm with a palm-to-palm grip. Proper head positioning near the hands is critical for controlling space and preventing the bottom player from utilizing their arms effectively.

Three Arm Position Variables

From cross-side, three distinct arm configurations exist based on grip dominance. The underhook position—where the top player controls underneath the partner's arm—represents the optimal scenario for the top position. The over-arm position, where the bottom player secures the underhook, is suboptimal and typically leads to scissor escapes and back-take attempts. A neutral mid-range position exists when hands are locked but neither player has a clear underhook advantage, creating ambiguity in control dynamics.

Underhook Arm Lock Sequence

When controlling the underhook, the instructor attacks the trapped arm by drawing the partner onto their side and transitioning the elbow from top placement to underneath the partner's arm. The trapped arm is controlled by positioning the chest over it and wedging it between chest and wrist while maintaining a low head position. The top player then walks around to a north-south position before rotating the body—critically maintaining low hips and head position—and landing in a half-guard configuration to finish the arm lock.

Inverted Katakatami from Underhook Loss

When the bottom player secures the underhook, the top player transitions into wizard position to attack the inverted katakatami (also called the darce). The instructor dips the shoulder and reaches behind the partner's neck, then places the tricep against the partner's head to prevent bridging escape. After capturing the position, the top player sits through to capture the leg, creating a high-percentage submission hold that remains effective even if the partner's arm positioning is not ideal.

Mid-Range Elbow-Armpit Submission

In the gray-area position where the partner's elbow rests beneath the armpit without a full underhook, the top player maintains the cross-face while addressing the primary escape threat: the knee-elbow escape. The instructor turns into a kesigatami position to block the partner's legs, then uses the shoulder and deltoid to control the elbow, walking the arm upward to elevate it. By moving hips into the partner's legs and securing chin-over-hands position, the top player can transition into a sprawled kai guitar position for the final submission.

3 Arm Positions // 3 Submissions from Cross-Side (No Gi BJJ)

Brian Glick

Standard Inversion Recovery

2 min read·5 key moments·PT6M51S video

Key Takeaways

•Cross-Side Control Fundamentals
•Three Arm Position Variables
•Underhook Arm Lock Sequence
•Inverted Katakatami from Underhook Loss

Cross-Side Attacks: when we’re attacking from top of cross-side, we commonly encounter 3 different arm positions from the defensive person: an overhook, an underhook or a frame. We need to be able to address each of these in turn, which is why this video focuses on highest-percentage submissions from each of these arm positions. The three key submissions we cover are juji gatame (the straight armlock), inverted katagatame (the D’arce) and the standard katagatame (head and arm triangle) - all of which we can enter right from the cross-side. ⭐ ➡️ MY BIO (by J. Danaher): https://bit.ly/3gUMU5R Like this video? Please subscribe! === PLEASE CHECK OUT ⬇️ 🚨 INSTAGRAM: http://www.instagram.com/bzglick 🚨 FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/bzglick 📹 THEDOJO.COM : https://www.thedojo.com 🥋 SHOYOROLL: https://shoyoroll.com/ 🙇🏻 BROOKLYN BJJ: https://www.brooklynbjj.com

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this video teach about standard inversion recovery?

This video covers cross-side control fundamentals, three arm position variables, underhook arm lock sequence. It provides detailed instruction from Brian Glick.

How long does it take to learn standard inversion recovery?

The basic mechanics can be understood in a single session, but developing reliable execution requires consistent drilling over weeks of practice. This 5-part breakdown helps structure your training by isolating each phase of the technique.