Positions 2

There are three main types of positions in the ground grappling game: Pins, Holds, and Transitions.

Holds
Like a pin, a hold provides the practitioner with a superior position. However, the main difference is the ability to strike the opponent. While some strikes can be used in some holds, they are much less effective when compared to strikes delivered from a pin. Necessarily, most holds offer more submission opportunities than pins.

Nomenclature
Kamishiho gatame - commonly called the north/south position. My dojo calls this the Wedge position.
Modified mount
Back control or back mount
Guard

Nomenclature note: kamishiho gatame is a recognized pinning move in Judo - meaning a practitioner can win if she holds her opponent in this position for 25 seconds. However, for self defense purposes, I classify it as a Hold, since there are few good striking angles in the position. It is a position much better suited for seeking a submission or transitioning to back control.

Submissions
All Holds listed offer excellent opportunities to apply juji gatame - the straight arm lock.  Additionally, each Hold position offers alternate opportunities to submit the opponent, either with other arm locks (most notably, ude garami) or with chokes (most notably, sankaku jime). Some alternatives:
Kamishiho gatame - ude garami
Back control - hadaka jime and ushiro sankaku jime
Guard - ude garami and sankaku jime

Without a doubt, there are many other opportunities from these positions to submit one's opponent.

Transitional Opportunities
The Guard offers several opportunities for the practitioner to reverse the position and end up top. Depending on circumstance, the practitioner might wind up in mount, side, or scarf hold pins.

The modified mount offers several ways to take the back.

Back control offers some methods for taking the mount.

Kamishiho gatame offers several methods of moving to modified mount and back control.

Sporting chokes
All of these Holds offer opportunities for collar chokes:
Kamishiho gatame can be used to secure katate jime and juji jime.
Modified mount can be used to secure okurieri jime and kataha jime.
Guard can be used to secure sodeguruma jime and juji jime.
Back control can be used to secure juji jime, okurieri jime, kataha jime, and jigoku jime.


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