Shoulder Blade Pinning

Jon Thomas explains chest pressure & shoulder blade pins to hold side control, north-south, reverse side control, & mount, & how those same pins feed directly into guard passing.

Flow outline

1. Shoulder Blade Pinning Foundation

   • Core principle of pinning both shoulder blades to the mat for control and submission threats.
   • Focus on chest pressure over crossface for dynamic control
   • Adjust body position like a compass to follow shoulder movement
   • Use chest, hips, or mid-core as needed to maintain pin

2. Side Control Chest Pressure

   • Using chest weight to pin shoulders in side control while maintaining mobility.
   • Open knees wide to drop chest and distribute weight
   • Roll shoulder blades back and pull chin to push chest forward
   • Use crossface arm to pull chest into opponent rather than crush neck
   • Keep knees close enough to prevent opponent recomposing guard

3. North South Position Entry

   • Transitioning to north south when side control becomes difficult or to consolidate guard passes.
   • Shift arm over head when opponent frames hard on neck
   • Move chest weight over opponent while maintaining shoulder pin
   • Switch hand to opposite hip to begin north south transition

4. North South Control Mechanics

   • Maintaining shoulder blade pinning from north south position with chest and hip pressure.
   • Use chest pressure when opponent turns toward you
   • Sink hip down when opponent turns away to maintain pin
   • Keep shoulder blades pinned while adjusting to opponent movement

5. Reverse Side Control Setup

   • Transitioning from side control or north south to reverse side control for mount entries.
   • Go over shoulder from side control when neck is framed
   • Switch hip down and sit weight on opponent rather than floor
   • Use over-the-shoulder or under-the-shoulder grip for control

6. Reverse Side Control Attacks

   • Controlling and attacking from reverse side control with hip pressure and leg control.
   • Sink hip to lock opponent down when they turn left
   • Lean far over to maintain shoulder pin when they turn right
   • Push opponent's leg down and cut knee over to control position
   • Throw leg over to mount once control is established

7. Mount Chest Pinning

   • Using chest pressure in mount to pin shoulder blades while maintaining low posture.
   • Stay low in mount to maximize chest pressure on shoulders
   • Drop hip heavy to pin opponent's hips when they turn
   • Keep hips square to prevent elbow escapes and kipping

8. Guard Pass to Side Control

   • Connecting guard passes to side control by addressing elbow-knee connection.
   • Snap elbow-knee space open with torreando or pressure
   • Use knee cut from inside when outside entry is blocked
   • Pull tricep to flatten opponent for chest consolidation

9. Guard Pass to North South

   • Transitioning to north south when elbow-knee connection is too tight for side control.
   • Deflect feet and get above opponent when space is connected
   • Block feet as opponent tries to bring them in
   • Shift arm over and spin to consolidate when knee shield blocks

10. Back Control Transition

    • Transitioning to back control when opponent turns too far to maintain shoulder pin.
    • Attach chest to back as opponent turns to knees
    • Maintain chest under back even when opponent rolls to shoulder
    • Look for chest-to-back control when shoulder pin becomes impossible

Branch conditions

• when establishing side control position from standing or passing
• if opponent frames hard on neck preventing chest pressure
• after shifting arm over head and moving chest weight over opponent
• when ready to transition to reverse side control for mount entries
• after sitting weight on opponent with hip pressure established
• when throwing leg over opponent to establish mount position
• during guard passing when elbow-knee space can be opened
• after flattening opponent with tricep pull and chest consolidation
• when elbow-knee connection is too tight for side control entry
• after deflecting feet and getting above opponent in scramble
• if opponent turns too far to maintain shoulder blade pinning
• when opponent turns to knees making shoulder pin impossible
• if opponent turns significantly making chest pinning ineffective