1 Part Technique - Escaping the Side Control from bottom begins with repositioning your arms out of any immediate danger. Your nearside forearm is safely placed along his belt line, while your farside forearm is best kept off of his shoulders and in front of his face. Once you're set in this posture, you're ready to start making the space necessary for recovering the guard. Bridge into him onto your shoulder, hip escape, and hold his hips away by locking out your nearside arm. Recover the half guard, and step over his foot with your outside leg to lock him in place. Grab his arm so that he cannot stop you from escaping your hip out in the other direction, to free your inside leg, recovering the Closed Guard.