INV-PIN02 · Pins · Invariant
Chest pressure without hip control fails
They will hip-escape the moment the hips are free. Pair with INV-SC04.
Adapted from the original page. Grappling.Games did not write this. Sources.
Play these
Games that train this
50/50 Heel Exposure: Show the Heel vs Foot Too High or Too LowOpen game →50/50: Upgrade or False GripOpen game →Active Shot vs SprawlOpen game →Add the LegsOpen game →Advance the PinOpen game →All Fours, Waist Connection: Submit from Any Pin vs Seated Guard, Stand and Face, or ReverseOpen game →Ankle Lock Finish GameOpen game →Any Other SubmissionOpen game →Arm in Arm OutOpen game →Arm Trap Without HooksOpen game →Arm Trapped: Strangle or Free the ArmOpen game →Arms Low, Hand to the Spine vs Turn to FaceOpen game →Arms OutOpen game →Arms Under the HeadOpen game →Ashi Garami Entry GameOpen game →Attacking Turtle ArmsOpen game →Attacking Turtle ArmsOpen game →Back Arm Trap FinishOpen game →Back Control, Arm Trapped: Get the Back Triangle vs Escape the BackOpen game →Back EscapeOpen game →Back Position Seatbelt KeepOpen game →Back RetentionOpen game →Back Retention with HooksOpen game →Back to the Wall: Wall Touch, Takedown, or Foot SweepOpen game →Back-to-Back Spin UpOpen game →Ball of YarnOpen game →Base OnlyOpen game →Base, Frame, KneeOpen game →Behind the Ankles to Hips or ShouldersOpen game →Belly and Forehead Tag + Stance SwitchingOpen game →Belly, Forehead, and Laces TagOpen game →Between Two Worlds: Double-Lock the Center or a Limb vs Leg Lock or Take the BackOpen game →Biceps to the EarOpen game →Body Lock, Hips Apart: Break the Hands vs Hip, Guard, Pin, or Behind the ElbowsOpen game →Break the BaseOpen game →Break their GripOpen game →Butterfly Ashi, Shotgun Grip — Thread to ControlOpen game →Butterfly Kimura TrapOpen game →Butterfly Wedge vs Body Lock FlattenOpen game →Capture Head and ArmOpen game →Capture the FootOpen game →Causing PostsOpen game →Causing PostsOpen game →Chest or HipsOpen game →Chest to Chest Chest to BackOpen game →Chest to Chest PinningOpen game →Chest-to-Chest Half Guard: Free the Knee vs Close or ReverseOpen game →Chest-to-Chest Pin ControlOpen game →Choi Bar: Back to the Floor vs Free the ArmOpen game →Chopping Block: Submit vs Elbow Down or SweepOpen game →Clamp Half Guard: Free the Knee Line vs Get On Top or Knee ShieldOpen game →Clamp Half Guard: Free the Leg and Pin vs Sweep or Open GuardOpen game →Climbing the BackOpen game →Clinch Pummeling DefenseOpen game →Closed Guard: Pass the Hips or Take the Back vs Sweep, Back, or Stand UpOpen game →Collar and Pant: Chest Connection vs Feet Back In FrontOpen game →Collar Tie Inside-Hand BattleOpen game →Complete the GripOpen game →Confined-Area Guard RetentionOpen game →Connect to the ShouldersOpen game →Connect, Trap, or Entangle vs Shin TouchOpen game →Connection and DestabilizationOpen game →Connection ClimbOpen game →Connection Hold — Grips OffOpen game →Connection, Destabilization, and Hip AccessOpen game →Continuous Grip FightOpen game →Covering the HipsOpen game →Covering the ShouldersOpen game →Covering the ShouldersOpen game →CreateOpen game →Create and Break ConnectionsOpen game →Create and Break ConnectionsOpen game →Create and Break ConnectionsOpen game →Creative Scramble StartsOpen game →Cross-Leg Back TakeOpen game →De La Riva Destabilization: Hands or Hips to the Mat vs Shin Pin the HipOpen game →De La Riva Sweep or Pass: Sweep or Take the Back vs PassOpen game →Deny the Knee WedgeOpen game →Deny the Thigh PinOpen game →DestabilizationOpen game →DLR/RDLR Leg EntryOpen game →DLR/RDLR Off-BalanceOpen game →Double Arm IsolationOpen game →Double Biceps and Head: Shoot or StealOpen game →Double Inside Back TakeOpen game →Double Leg PinOpen game →Double Octopus: Lock the Hips Plus the Shoulders or the AnkleOpen game →Double Unders to Hands Past the LegsOpen game →Double Wrist Control: Shoot or StealOpen game →Earn the Straight JacketOpen game →Elbow Exposure Extension ContractionOpen game →Elbow HuntingOpen game →Figure-Four Grip, Threat to Threat: Submit or Take the Back vs Free and Hide Your BackOpen game →Figure-Four or Cover Hips vs EscapeOpen game →FinishingOpen game →FinishingOpen game →FinishingOpen game →FinishingOpen game →FinishingOpen game →Finishing MechanicsOpen game →Finishing the Pass — From the J-PointOpen game →Finishing the Reversal — From Shin-to-ShinOpen game →Finishing the Strangle — From the BackOpen game →Flatten the ShouldersOpen game →Flatten the Turtle vs Stand or ReverseOpen game →Foot Contact vs Closed HandsOpen game →Foot Sweep OnlyOpen game →Front Body Lock: Shoot or StealOpen game →Front Headlock Bottom TurnOpen game →Front Headlock ControlOpen game →Front Headlock FinishOpen game →Front Headlock FlattenOpen game →Front Headlock LiftOpen game →Front Headlock StrangleOpen game →Front Headlock to the BackOpen game →Front Headlock vs. Sit-Out and Stand-UpOpen game →Front Headlock — Back Take GameOpen game →Front Headlock — Guillotine Entry GameOpen game →Front Headlock: Pin or Score the Back vs Stand Up or Sit to GuardOpen game →Gi Open Guard: Stay on the Collar vs Strip It for 3 Seconds or PassOpen game →Gi Open Guard: Stay on the Sleeve vs Free Your Sleeves for 3 Seconds or PassOpen game →Guard Armbar vs the Stack — Reading the DefenceOpen game →Guillotine and AnacondaOpen game →Guillotine ExchangeOpen game →Half Guard: Sit Up, Get to Your Knees, or Lock Your Legs vs Lock Your Hands Around ThemOpen game →Hand Fight to Get Behind and Lock Your HandsOpen game →Hand Snap to Back TakeOpen game →Head-and-Arm Tackle DefenseOpen game →High MountOpen game →Hip AccessOpen game →Hip to Hip and ElevateOpen game →Hold the ShellOpen game →Hold Them DownOpen game →Hook War — Back Position Lower ControlOpen game →Initiating Maintaining Chest to Back ContactOpen game →Inside or Outside the Elbows vs Stand and OpenOpen game →Isolate FirstOpen game →Isolating the NeckOpen game →Keep It on the EarOpen game →Keep the Arms ApartOpen game →Keep the Top KneeOpen game →Keep Them Down From Feet InsideOpen game →Kimura Dilemma: Figure-Four Strangle or Twist vs Free Head and ArmOpen game →Knee Cut: Complete the Pass vs Recover, Roll, or UnderhookOpen game →Knee On Belly AttacksOpen game →Knee Shield: Chest Contact vs Both Feet InsideOpen game →Knee Slide PassingOpen game →Knee to Ankle, Then Put Them DownOpen game →Knee to Knee, Cross and Push: Race to Chest to BackOpen game →Knee to the CeilingOpen game →Knee Wedge to Chest PinOpen game →Kneeling Single Leg: Double-Lock a Limb vs Lock the CenterOpen game →Kneeling Underhooks: One Knee Up vs Float ThemOpen game →Lasso Guard: Keep a Sleeve, Attach to the Shoulder Line or Get Between the Legs vs Break Both SleevesOpen game →Lateral Leg ClearanceOpen game →Leg Capture to the Back: Chest to Back vs Take Their Back or Sit Them DownOpen game →Leg First, Then the LockOpen game →Low Knee Shield: Pass and Isolate vs Hips Over HipsOpen game →Low MountOpen game →Low Single: Elbow Inside to TopOpen game →MaintainOpen game →Maintain and Break ConnectionOpen game →Maintain Arm IsolationOpen game →Maintain ConnectionOpen game →Maintain ControlOpen game →Maintain ControlOpen game →Maintain ControlOpen game →Maintain ControlOpen game →Maintain Scarf HoldOpen game →Maintain the TransitionOpen game →Maintaining ControlOpen game →Maintaining the FinishOpen game →Maintaining the FinishOpen game →Maintaining The FinishOpen game →Maintaining the FinishOpen game →Maintaining The Knee ShieldOpen game →Middle MountOpen game →Mount Armbar — Arm Extraction and Finish PositionOpen game →Mount EscapeOpen game →Mount HuntingOpen game →Mount, Elbows Down: Capture a Foot vs Get Double UndersOpen game →Mount, Elbows Down: Submit vs Reverse or Get GuardOpen game →Mount, Elbows Down: Two-on-One or Double Unders vs Reverse or Get GuardOpen game →Mount, Elbows Up: S-Mount Both Sides vs Both Elbows DownOpen game →Mount, One Elbow Up: Head and Arm or Take the Back vs Elbow Down, Reverse, or EscapeOpen game →No Knees Top PlayerOpen game →No-Gi Hook GuardOpen game →North South PinningOpen game →North-South DenialOpen game →Off-Balance Top: Hips Above and Lock the Shoulders vs Close the Legs or Wrestle UpOpen game →On Your Back: Lock Your Hands Around Them vs Stand UpOpen game →One ArmOpen game →Open Guard SweepingOpen game →Open Guard: Three Flanks, Then Lock Your Hands vs Feet Inside and Both HandsOpen game →Open Side ControlOpen game →Open the FeetOpen game →Outside Ashi, Shotgun Grip — Close to SankakuOpen game →Over the Head: Circle Around or Lock Shoulders and Arm vs Guard, Knees, or Body LockOpen game →Over-Under Clinch BattleOpen game →Overhook Lane: Push Them Over the LineOpen game →Overhook vs Underhook: Butt or Back, or Hands Around the HeadOpen game →Pass Without GripsOpen game →Passing the Ankle LineOpen game →Passing the Knee LineOpen game →Passing vs Knee ShieldOpen game →Pick the ShotOpen game →Punishing PostsOpen game →Punishing PostsOpen game →Push to PullOpen game →Put Down Then Entangle vs Shin TouchOpen game →Rear Body Lock FinishOpen game →Rear Strangle Grip Ladder: Hooks In, No Hooks, All Fours vs Back to the Mat or FaceOpen game →Rebuilding Behind a FrameOpen game →Russian Tie: Shoot or StealOpen game →Seatbelt Without HooksOpen game →Seated Guard, Head Free: Wrestle Up to Top vs Push, Pluck, Snap, or Front HeadlockOpen game →Seated vs Standing: Destabilize and Entangle or Wrestle Up to the Hips vs Shin to the BodyOpen game →Shin SurfingOpen game →Shin Wedges Behind Knees: Climb or Leg Finish vs Stand or CounterOpen game →Shooter vs Upper Body: Ankle to the Armpit, Lift, or Go Behind vs Butt or BackOpen game →Shot DefenseOpen game →Shoulder and Hip ControlOpen game →Shoulder Line Attached: Submit or Come Up on Top vs Both Arms In or Out and Stay on TopOpen game →Side Control CircumnavigateOpen game →Side Control Kimura — Establish and Defend the GripOpen game →Side Control, Arm Around the Hip: Submit vs Reverse, Seated Guard, or StandOpen game →Side Control: Get the Head vs Stand Up or Get on TopOpen game →Side Scissor: Triangle or Flatten and StandOpen game →Single Leg FinishOpen game →Single Leg to BackOpen game →Single Leg, Defender's Head Position: Disconnect vs Hips Down or Behind the ElbowsOpen game →Single Leg: Off-Balance Plus a Second Connection vs Cover the HeadOpen game →Single Underhook ControlOpen game →Single-Leg Guard Pull: Entangle and Stand Up vs Take the Back or Lock Hips and AnkleOpen game →Single-Leg X from the Hip Touch: Sweep to Top vs Free Yourself or PassOpen game →Single-Leg X to X-Guard: Build the X vs Clear the HooksOpen game →Single-Leg X — Enter the Outside GameOpen game →Single-Leg X, After the Sweep Lands: First on Top for ThreeOpen game →Smash Half Guard: Leg Pommel or Knee Slice with Upper Body Control vs Full Guard or SweepOpen game →Split-Control Half GuardOpen game →Sprawl Counter ChainOpen game →Stabilize Front HeadlockOpen game →Stand UpOpen game →Standing to Pin or StrangleOpen game →Standing vs SeatedOpen game →Standing vs Seated — With an AdvantageOpen game →Stay Behind, Open Hands: One-Arm Choke vs Turn and FaceOpen game →Stay Connected: Circle the Body vs Lock Your Legs or Get to Your KneesOpen game →Stay on Your Feet: Hamstring Pressure to Chest to Back vs Put Them on a HipOpen game →Steal Inside and Entangle vs Toes and HandsOpen game →Straight Jacket Back ControlOpen game →Straight Jacket: Finish From the Back or On TopOpen game →Submission HuntingOpen game →Submission HuntingOpen game →Tackle Finish to PinOpen game →Takedown to PassOpen game →The Dogfight — Back or TopOpen game →The Headhunter and the Posture MasterOpen game →Three Knee Pits, Then Lock Your Hands vs Butt Down or Wrestle UpOpen game →Three Points of Contact: Shin Touch vs Float the PasserOpen game →Three Touches or Closed HandsOpen game →Three-Quarter Mount: Free the Ankle vs Close or ReverseOpen game →Toreando RecoveryOpen game →TransitionOpen game →Transition to MountOpen game →Transitioning to Shoulder LineOpen game →Triangle FinishingOpen game →Triangle — Finish Game vs. Posture StackOpen game →Triangle — Hip Angle and Arm Isolation GameOpen game →Tripod Butterfly: Inside Leg vs Sweep or EntangleOpen game →Turtle Ankle AttacksOpen game →Turtle Body LockOpen game →Turtle RecoveryOpen game →Turtle SandwichOpen game →Turtle Top Kimura ControlOpen game →Turtle: Seat Belt and a Hook, or Hip Down Past the Legs vs Guard or StandOpen game →Two Sleeves: Back to Chest vs Double LapelOpen game →Uncovered ShouldersOpen game →Under the ElbowOpen game →Under the Elbows: Submit vs Both Elbows InOpen game →Underhook Back Step EntryOpen game →Underhook ControlOpen game →Underhook TakedownOpen game →Underhook vs Overhook: Pick Up a Leg, Lock the Body, or Cover the HeadOpen game →Untangle, Hips or Hands Down, Then Re-Entangle vs Outside PassOpen game →UseOpen game →Win the ScrambleOpen game →With One ArmOpen game →With Uncovered HipsOpen game →Wrestling UpOpen game →Wrist Pin to Connected HandsOpen game →Wrist Pinning and TrappingOpen game →X-Guard Destabilization: Hands or Hips to the Mat vs Clear the HooksOpen game →X-Guard Reversal: Sweep or Take the Back vs Clear the HooksOpen game →
Principle
Principle
"The top player must cover the hips after establishing chest contact. Body contact without hip control allows the bottom player to turn and recover guard."
Achieving chest-to-chest contact is necessary but not sufficient for a complete pin. The top player who establishes chest contact but fails to cover the hip has completed the first of two control tasks. The second task — covering the hip — determines whether the position is actually a pin or merely a transient contact point that will be reversed.
The hip is the hinge of the bottom player’s escape system. When the hip is not covered, the bottom player retains the ability to turn away, insert a knee, bridge diagonally, or execute a technical stand-up. None of these require the top player to be moved off the chest — they require only that the hip is free to rotate. Side control that feels tight at the chest but allows the bottom player to turn their hip toward the top player is not a completed pin; it is chest contact that the bottom player is about to use as a lever.
Hip coverage is achieved in different ways depending on the specific top position: in side control, the top player’s hip sits low on the bottom player’s hip (cross-body, not chest-to-chest at the shoulders); in north-south, the top player’s weight sits across the hips directly; in mount, the leg-on-leg position prevents hip rotation. The specific mechanism varies, but the requirement — hip covered — does not.
Across the system, this principle expresses most cleanly in the following techniques:
Side control: Diagonal weight from the near shoulder to the far hip is the textbook side control posture for a reason — it puts the top player’s hip down on the bottom player’s near hip while the chest lands across the chest. Weight straight down covers the chest but the bottom player rotates their hip and recovers guard.
North-south: The top player’s hips sit across the bottom player’s chest with the weight loaded so that the bottom player cannot rotate their pelvis to either side. The chest contact alone does not finish the pin; the hip placement above the head is what removes the rotation.
Knee-on-belly: The knee is the explicit hip-coverage device — chest contact is replaced by direct hip pressure. Without the knee placed on the near hip, knee-on-belly is just a top player crouched over a bottom player who shrimps free; the knee on the hip is what makes it a pin.
Octopus top: The position seals the chest contact while the legs and hips wrap to cover both of the bottom player’s hips. If the upper body lands but the legs don’t follow through to hip coverage, the bottom player simply turns into the gap and stands up.
Kimura control: The kimura grip without hip placement against the bottom player’s body lets the opponent roll through. The hip must be set against the body to lock the bottom player’s rotation in place — only then does the kimura grip translate into a controlling pin rather than an arm grip the opponent rolls out of.