Need some advice

[shrek_vt]

I keep getting caught in the side-mount where my opponent

 

[Zankou]

That modified scarfhold is the worst pin to get out of. You are stuck. There are ways to get out of it, but if you let it happen, you're pretty much screwed.

In general, I'd start cross facing his throat and bridging into him, fighting to get your near arm down. Once the near arm is down, you have escapes for days, yo.

 

[FLMikeATT]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-585171445469374916&q=abhaya

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6614342910810627430&q=abhaya+scarf+hold+escape


I've gotten both of these escapes to work, but not on experienced guys. These will work against newbies, or people who aren't expecting it. If you do it explosively enough, you might get it to work on a good blue belt, but not much chance of it working against purple/brown/black belts.

 

[Zankou]

Yeah, chaining those two escapes is exactly what you should do for regular scarfhold. Unfortunately a skilled opponent will know that and be ready for them both.

The photo he linked to is the modified scarfhold, which is even worse than scarfhold. If it's modified scarfhold, you gotta start crossfacing to get some space and begin to work.

 

[Jiu-Jitsu Cop]

Those are nice techniques but a good experienced fighter can counter them. Often if you keep going from one technique to another you create the space you need to escape. The trick is not to let your opponent get the scearfe position on you.

 

[FLMikeATT]

Yeah, chaining those two escapes is exactly what you should do for regular scarfhold. Unfortunately a skilled opponent will know that and be ready for them both.

The photo he linked to is the modified scarfhold, which is even worse than scarfhold. If it's modified scarfhold, you gotta start crossfacing to get some space and begin to work.

Ah. From the modified scarf hold I would create some space and throw my leg over his head for reverse triangle or scramble to get good position. What do you do from there Zankou?

 

[Zankou]

Honestly nobody has really put the modified scarfhold on me, even though I use it myself all the time. I rarely lose side control these days since I play so much turtle guard and inverted guard instead. Usually I am fighting off back mount and north/south more than anything as an escape.

If they did, I would try to crossface with my far arm and whip my far leg up to create some space/trouble (like the reverse triangle), all the while working my near elbow to the ground.

I think there is also an escape where you frame both of your arms against his hip/chest, and push as you rotate your legs away. This will cause him to fall on his back. You can alternate that dynamic with the other aspects.

Never let 'em kill your arms. It amazes me how easily people let me hook under their head and kill their arms in side control. Why? I just don't get it. That is go-time, before the lockdown is established. Once both the arms are killed, you're either getting subbed or mounted, realistically speaking.