How many purple belts or higher are on here that still SUCK at escaping side control?

I've been training about 8 years now, and I still really suck at escaping side control against most people. I train with a lot of big strong guys - wrestlers, cops, ex-military, football players, etc... so that doesn't make things easier.

I know the best defense is to not end up there in the first place. However, for those times when someone does successfully pass my guard and pins me down in side control...I find that NONE of my go-to escapes work. I can't figure out how to chain escapes together either.

When it comes to mount, I'm a little better at getting back to guard...not against higher belts, but against people that are equal or lower skill level then I am. But when it comes to side-control...I just really suck at escaping!

Does anyone else have this problem?

Obviously, if you are new I would expect you to have trouble with bottom side control. So this post is directed at those who have been training for many years.