The north-south position is a dominant and, in many cases, an underutilized position in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It offers stable control over your opponent and opens up numerous opportunities for strikes, transitions, and submissions. This position is achieved by lying on top of your opponent, with your head pointing towards the direction of their hips. The position minimizes your opponent’s ability to move effectively, allowing you to maintain control while setting up devastating attacks. In this article, we’ll explore 7 effective attacks from the north-south to add to your game.
What Is The North-South Position?
The north-south position is a grappling technique in BJJ which has been widely used for decades. In this position, the top player positions their body parallel to their opponent’s body, with their head near the opponent’s hips. The north-south position is often achieved after passing the guard or transitioning from side control.
This position is a staple in BJJ because of its strong and controlling nature. By keeping the opponent’s back pinned to the mat, you can neutralize movement, create submission opportunities, and apply significant pressure. Additionally, the position allows you to stay safe from strikes in an MMA setting, making it a popular choice in both sport grappling and combat scenarios.
Benefits Of The North-South Position
The north-south position offers several benefits, making it a highly favored position for many BJJ practitioners. First, it provides stable control over the opponent. By staying close to their body and using proper weight distribution, you can limit the opponent’s ability to escape or mount an effective defense. This control allows you to dictate the pace of the exchange.
Second, the north-south position opens up numerous submission opportunities. From chokes to joint locks, the position provides access to multiple attack angles. You can target the neck, arms, or even the wrists, making it a versatile attacking position. For competitors in MMA, the north-south provides the additional benefit of allowing safe ground-and-pound strikes without exposing one to counters.
Finally, the position is excellent for energy conservation. Unlike other dominant positions that require constant adjustments to maintain control, the north-south relies heavily on weight distribution and positional control. This means you can maintain dominance without expending unnecessary energy.
North-South As A Pinning Position
As mentioned above, the north-south position is not only an attacking platform but also a powerful pinning position. Pinning your opponent effectively in BJJ or MMA prevents them from launching counterattacks or transitioning to more advantageous positions. The key to using the north-south as a pin relies on correctly positioning your torso and limbs.
By keeping your hips low and chest aligned with the opponent’s upper body, you can create immense pressure that keeps them glued to the mat. This limits their ability to bridge or shrimp out, which are common escape methods in BJJ. Additionally, using your arms to control their shoulders or hips further enhances your ability to pin them effectively.
As a pinning position, the north-south can also be used strategically in competitions that award points for positional dominance. Holding your opponent in north-south for an extended period demonstrates control and can frustrate opponents, forcing them to make mistakes. Its robust pinning ability makes it highly practical in both sport and fighting situations.
North-South In BJJ And MMA
In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the north-south position is frequently used to set up submissions and maintain control. It is particularly effective in neutralizing explosive opponents who rely on athleticism to escape from side control or mount. The ability to transition fluidly between north-south and other dominant positions, such as side control or knee-on-belly, adds to its utility in grappling.
In MMA, the North-South position offers additional advantages. While traditional BJJ practitioners might focus on submissions, MMA fighters often use this position to land ground-and-pound strikes. The angle and proximity to the opponent’s body make it difficult for them to defend against punches, elbows, or short hammer fists. Additionally, the position minimizes the risk of taking damage from the bottom, as the opponent has limited mobility and striking angles.
The position is also useful in MMA for stalling or regaining composure. Fighters who find themselves in the north-south position can use it to control their opponent, recover their breath, or prepare for the next offensive sequence. Its dual role as both a defensive and offensive position makes it invaluable in mixed martial arts.
7 Effective Attacks From The North-South Position
The north-south position is not just a dominant hold – it also provides an excellent avenue for submissions. Here are seven of the most effective submissions you can execute from this position.
1) North-South Choke
The north-south choke is a highly effective submission that relies on applying pressure to the opponent’s carotid arteries. To execute the choke, you wrap one arm around the opponent’s neck and trap their head between the shoulder and bicep. Applying downward pressure with the chest and squeezing the arms cut off blood flow to the brain, leading to a quick submission. This technique is preferred for its simplicity and effectiveness, especially against opponents focused on defending other attacks.
2) Kimura
The kimura lock is a powerful shoulder lock that can be set up from the north-south pin. After isolating the opponent’s arm, you grip your own wrist and twist the opponent’s arm behind their back. The kimura is devastatingly effective, as it targets the shoulder joint, forcing the opponent to tap or risk injury. It is particularly useful in scenarios where the opponent tries to frame against the practitioner to create space.
3) Armbar
The armbar from north-south involves isolating one of the opponent’s arms and extending it against the practitioner’s hips. After trapping the arm, swing your legs over the opponent’s head and chest, creating the leverage needed to hyperextend the elbow joint. This versatile submission can be executed quickly with the proper timing.
The paper cutter choke is a Gi-based submission that uses the opponent’s collar. Grab the collar near the opponent’s neck and use the other hand to apply counterpressure near the far shoulder. Pulling and twisting the collar creates a slicing motion that compresses the neck, leading to a choke. This technique is highly effective and often catches opponents off guard due to its deceptive setup.
5) Wrist Lock
Wrist locks are a sneaky and effective submission from the north-south. By isolating the opponent’s hand and manipulating their wrist, you can force the joint into an unnatural angle. Wrist locks are handy as a secondary attack when the opponent focuses on defending other submissions, leaving their wrists exposed. They are quick to apply and can lead to a submission in seconds.
The Ezekiel choke is a versatile submission that uses the practitioner’s sleeve as leverage to choke the opponent. By threading one arm around the opponent’s neck and gripping inside the sleeve with the other hand, you can then apply pressure to the neck. The choke is both practical and difficult to see coming, making it a favorite among grapplers who value subtle setups.
7) Lapel Choke
The lapel choke uses the opponent’s own Gi to apply a choke. By feeding the lapel across the opponent’s neck and securing it with one hand, you can use the other hand to apply downward pressure. This submission is devastatingly effective in Gi grappling and highlights the creative potential of the north-south position.
Conclusion
The north-south pin is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA mainstay offering crushing control and submission opportunities. Whether you are a BJJ practitioner or an MMA fighter, mastering the north-south and its partner submissions can surely enhance your grappling game.
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