To escape north-south, get your hands inside by your face, grip his hips, and swing your legs in a big parallel circle to generate momentum onto your side. Once you're on your side, he can barely hold you and you're out.
First thing — hand position. This is where most people blow it. If you've got your arms flared out wide hugging his body, you're done. You can't turn. Your own arms are stuck underneath his weight and you can't push on anything.
Hands go up here by your face. Like a boxer's guard. Both of them. Now you have something to bench press with when you need space, and nothing is pinned out to the sides killing your ability to turn.
Once your hands are right, grab his hips. Use your legs to move him — you can actually shift a big guy a little just with the windup, just with the setup. Don't skip that part.
Now the escape itself. Bring your legs straight up, point your toes a little, and make a big circle parallel to the floor. Almost skimming the mat as you come around. One fluid motion. That swing generates a surprising amount of momentum and it carries you right onto your side.
Yeah, this part feels weird the first few reps. Lean into it anyway. The circle has to be big. It has to be one continuous motion, not a stop-and-start.
Once you're on your side, it is really, really hard for him to keep you pinned. From there you fight your way out and recover guard underneath him. Scott compares it to gardening once you hit that position — you're just doing the work.
Old-school 1990s BJJ considered north-south the most dominant pin in a fight. Scott actually thinks the mount is better for damage, but that's a debate for another day. What matters is that getting stuck here when you're gassed and a big guy is on your face is brutal. Know the escape.
For the whole position breakdown and the attacks you should know from the other side, see our complete north south choke guide. Get the full escape system in Scott Sullivan's BJJ 101 System.