In BJJ it is always Position before submission! This means that before you can attempt a submission you must put your opponent in a position where they can not hurt you. In last nights Jiu-Jitsu class we focused on controlling the fight from the side control position.
We spent the class alternating between drilling escape movements and control movements gradually increasing both the bottom Jiu-Jitsu players skill and the doing the same for the top Jiu-Jitsu player. This continued until every bjj student in the room felt comftorable moving on the bottom position while the person on top was working to prevent that movement and each top bjj player was able to move and control the bottom bjj player.
We finished the class with two submissions from the side control position, working the Americana and the Kimora. These two very powerful submissions allow the top bjj player to hyperextend the bottom Jiu-Jitsu players shoulder forcing them to tap(the bjj version of saying uncle).