Advance the Pin
pins
Grapplers Collective, Advance the Pin. 5-6 min rounds.
Problem
Flowing between dominant positions while maintaining control under resistance.
Tell the room
Top player advances from side control to mount or back control. Bottom player recovers guard or reverses to top. A dominant position counts after 3 seconds held.
Setup
Start in side control. Top player chest-to-chest, perpendicular, hips low, controlling head and far arm. Bottom player framing or working for an underhook. Grips otherwise free.
Score
Three seconds in the next position.
- Top player — mount or back control, hooks or body triangle, held for 3 seconds
- Bottom player — recovers any guard with feet engaged, or reverses to top
Rules
- No submissions. Nothing to hunt from side control; the score is positional.
- Advance every 15 seconds. The top player must attempt a transition inside every window.
- Bottom player stays down. No standing up. Escape with frames, hips, and guard recovery.
Adjust
Easier
Drop the 15-second advancement clock and let the top player hold position while the bottom player works escapes.
Harder
Allow the top player submissions and cut the advancement window to 10 seconds.
If it stalls
If the top player rises up and loses pressure, cue: “Stay heavy, advance with pressure — don't lift to move.”
TOP PLAYER
POSITION
Top player chest-to-chest, perpendicular, hips low, controlling head and far arm. Bottom player framing or working for an underhook. Grips otherwise free.
OBJECTIVE
Top player advances from side control to mount or back control. Bottom player recovers guard or reverses to top. A dominant position counts after 3 seconds held.
CONSTRAINTS
No submissions. Nothing to hunt from side control; the score is positional. Advance every 15 seconds. The top player must attempt a transition inside every window. Bottom player stays down. No standing up. Escape with frames, hips, and guard recovery.
WIN CONDITION
mount or back control, hooks or body triangle, held for 3 seconds
BOTTOM PLAYER
POSITION
Top player chest-to-chest, perpendicular, hips low, controlling head and far arm. Bottom player framing or working for an underhook. Grips otherwise free.
OBJECTIVE
Top player advances from side control to mount or back control. Bottom player recovers guard or reverses to top. A dominant position counts after 3 seconds held.
CONSTRAINTS
No submissions. Nothing to hunt from side control; the score is positional. Advance every 15 seconds. The top player must attempt a transition inside every window. Bottom player stays down. No standing up. Escape with frames, hips, and guard recovery.
WIN CONDITION
recovers any guard with feet engaged, or reverses to top