Paradox of Control

To advance position, sometimes we must loosen control.

The paradox of control is a simple but counterintuitive mental model:

In Jiu-Jitsu, we seek control...but to maintain or advance position, sometimes we must release control.

I'm sure your instructor taught you that having control is a good goal in Jiu-Jitsu. That's what “position before submission” is all about. However, an obsessive focus on control can blind you to opportunities for positional advancement. It can also create weaknesses your opponent can exploit.

So “control” is often a good thing...but not always. Emily Kwok would call this paradox a “polarity,” where there isn't a black-and-white answer, but rather a spectrum where the best decision may change depending on the context.

The paradox of control in action

So when is it a good idea to loosen things up? You might want to think about relaxing your control when...

#1: You're so tight you can't advance position.
Sometimes you're so committed to a pin that you can't advance position because all your limbs are occupied. This happens a lot with beginners when they play side control on top. You might create a scenario where your opponent can't move, but neither can you!

#2: You're dangerously tethered to your opponent.
We've talked about the risks of “body tethering” before, where you clamp tightly onto your opponent without properly breaking their alignment. This allows them to throw your body around unless you abandon the clamp.

#3: Your game is movement-oriented.
Many modern Jiu-Jitsu strategies favor movement over control. With these gameplans, you're not necessarily trying to halt your opponent's movement, but rather introduce so much movement that you overwhelm them.

#4: You're setting a trap.
Sometimes you're just being sneaky! By intentionally leaving openings, you can create point-scoring opportunities or steer your opponent into worse positions.

On the podcast:

• Ep. 292: The Paradox of Control, feat. Jesse Walker

Further study:

• Process Over Outcomes