Shrimping

Shrimping is a low complexity BJJ principle applicable at the Fundamental level. Develop over Beginner to Advanced.

Principle ID: Application Level: Fundamental Complexity: Low Development Timeline: Beginner to Advanced

What is Shrimping?

Shrimping, also known as hip escaping, is one of the most fundamental movement patterns in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. This core defensive concept involves using hip movement to create space, escape from inferior positions, and reestablish guard or improve position. The shrimping motion combines a bridging action with a hip rotation and extension of the legs, allowing a practitioner to move their hips away from an opponent while maintaining upper body connection and defensive frames.

The shrimping movement is essential for survival in bottom positions, particularly when escaping mount, side control, knee on belly, and other dominant top positions. By repeatedly shrimping, a practitioner can incrementally create the space necessary to insert a knee shield, recover guard, or escape to a neutral position. The concept is so fundamental that it forms the basis of virtually all bottom position movement and is typically one of the first techniques taught to beginners.

Mastery of shrimping extends beyond the basic movement pattern to include understanding when to shrimp, how much space to create, what to do with created space, and how to chain shrimps together with other movements like bridging, framing, and guard retention. Advanced practitioners use shrimping not just reactively for escapes, but proactively to create angles for sweeps, submissions, and transitions. The principle of using hip movement to manage distance and create space underlies much of defensive BJJ strategy.

Core Components

• Hip mobility and rotation are the primary drivers of defensive movement
• Creating space is a prerequisite for most escapes and position improvements
• The shrimp combines bridge, hip rotation, and leg extension in one fluid motion
• Upper body frames must be maintained while hips escape to prevent opponent from following
• Multiple small shrimps are often more effective than one large movement
• Shrimping creates space; additional techniques capitalize on that space
• The direction of the shrimp determines which defensive options become available
• Timing shrimps with opponent weight shifts maximizes effectiveness
• Proper shrimping mechanics preserve energy while creating maximum distance

Component Skills

Bridge Initiation: The ability to elevate hips off the ground using leg drive and core engagement, creating the initial lifting force that enables hip rotation and escape movement. This bridging action unweights the hips momentarily, allowing them to move.

Hip Rotation: Rotating the hips away from the opponent while maintaining upper body position, typically rotating 45-90 degrees to create the angle necessary for space creation. This rotation is the core of the shrimping motion and determines escape direction.

Leg Extension: Extending the bottom leg forcefully while the top leg remains bent and active, driving the hips away from the opponent. The power of leg extension combined with hip rotation creates the actual distance between bodies.

Frame Maintenance: Maintaining defensive frames with the arms (typically on opponent’s hips, shoulders, or neck) while the lower body moves, preventing the opponent from following the escaping hips. Frames must be rigid enough to create space but not so extended that they collapse.

Progressive Movement: Chaining multiple shrimps together in succession, with each shrimp building on the space created by the previous one. This includes the ability to reset and repeat the movement without losing defensive structure.

Directional Control: Controlling which direction to shrimp based on opponent position, weight distribution, and available escape routes. This includes recognizing when to shrimp toward an opponent’s legs versus away, or when to change shrimp direction mid-escape.

Timing Recognition: Identifying the optimal moments to execute shrimps, particularly when opponent shifts weight, changes grips, or attempts to advance position. Shrimping during these weight transitions requires less energy and creates more space.

Space Utilization: Knowing what to do with created space—whether inserting a knee shield, establishing a guard hook, creating additional distance, or transitioning to another defensive movement. Creating space without using it wastes the escape opportunity.

Related Principles

• Bridge and Shrimp (Complementary): Bridging and shrimping work together as the two fundamental bottom movements, with bridging creating vertical space and displacement while shrimping creates horizontal space and angular escape routes.
• Hip Escape Mechanics (Extension): Hip escape mechanics is the broader biomechanical framework that includes shrimping as one specific application. Understanding hip escape mechanics provides the theoretical foundation for effective shrimping.
• Frame Creation (Prerequisite): Effective frames must be established before shrimping to prevent opponent from following the escaping hips. Shrimping without proper frames often results in the opponent simply advancing with the movement.
• Space Creation (Advanced form): Shrimping is the primary method for implementing space creation principles from bottom positions. It represents the practical application of the broader space creation concept.
• Escape Hierarchy (Complementary): Shrimping fits into the escape hierarchy as typically the first movement attempted from most bottom positions, serving as the foundation for more specific escape sequences.
• Mount Escape Series (Complementary): Shrimping is a core component of most mount escape sequences, either as the primary escape movement or as a complementary action to bridging and trap-and-roll escapes.
• Defensive Framing (Prerequisite): Proper defensive frames must be maintained throughout shrimping movements to create the structural barrier that prevents opponent advancement. Frames and shrimps work in tandem for effective escapes.
• Guard Recovery (Extension): Shrimping is the primary mechanism through which guard recovery is achieved from most bottom positions. The space created by shrimping enables the reinsertion of guard structures.
• Hip Movement (Extension): Shrimping represents a specific application of the broader hip movement principle, demonstrating how hip mobility translates to defensive capability and positional improvement.

Application Contexts

Mount: Shrimp to create space for knee insertion after establishing frames on hips or using the elbow escape sequence. Multiple shrimps often required to move hips far enough to recover guard.

Side Control: Shrimp away from opponent while maintaining frames to create space for knee shield insertion or guard recovery. Direction typically toward opponent’s legs to create guard retention opportunities.

Knee on Belly: Immediate shrimping response to create distance from the knee pressure, often combined with hand fighting to prevent re-establishment of control. Quick, explosive shrimps most effective.

North-South: Shrimp to either side while framing on opponent’s hips to create angular escape routes. Often requires changing shrimp direction based on opponent’s weight distribution and base.

Kesa Gatame: Shrimp toward opponent’s legs while establishing frames and creating space to extract trapped arm or establish guard hooks. Multiple progressive shrimps typically needed.

Scarf Hold Position: Shrimping motion used to incrementally move hips away from opponent’s control, creating angles for sweep attempts or position reversals while preventing further consolidation.

Back Control: Shrimp to create space between hips and opponent’s hooks, enabling hand fighting against grips and creating escape opportunities. Often combined with hip rotation to prevent hook retention.

Turtle: Shrimp motion used to move hips away from attacking opponent, preventing back take or submission attempts while creating opportunities to establish guard or return to standing.

Half Guard: Shrimp to create underhook opportunities, establish knee shields, or transition to deep half guard. The shrimping motion creates the angles necessary for sweeps and back takes.

Closed Guard: Shrimping used to create angles for triangle, armbar, or omoplata attacks. Also employed when opponent establishes strong posture to create off-balancing opportunities.

Technical Mount: Shrimp to prevent full mount progression while creating space to bring trapped leg through. Requires careful timing and strong frames to avoid giving up full mount.

High Mount: Emergency shrimping combined with bridging to prevent submission attacks and create space for arm extraction or position recovery. Often requires explosive, committed movements.

Defensive Position: Shrimping as a proactive defense to maintain distance and prevent opponent from establishing dominant grips or position. Constant small shrimps prevent opponent from settling weight.

Open Guard: Offensive shrimping to create angles for leg entanglements, back takes, and sweep entries. Hip movement used to generate the angles that compromise opponent’s balance and posture.

Decision Framework

1. Assess current position and identify primary threat (submission, position advancement, or consolidation): Determine urgency of escape and whether immediate explosive shrimping or progressive movement is appropriate
2. Establish defensive frames on appropriate body parts (hips, shoulders, neck, or arms): Create rigid structural frames that will prevent opponent from following escaping hips
3. Identify optimal shrimp direction based on opponent’s weight distribution and base: Choose to shrimp toward legs (for guard recovery), away from pressure, or toward open space
4. Time the shrimp with opponent’s weight shift or grip change: Execute bridge to elevate hips, rotate toward escape direction, extend bottom leg forcefully
5. Evaluate space created and opponent’s response: Decide whether to chain another shrimp, insert knee shield, establish guard hook, or execute different movement
6. If insufficient space created, assess whether to continue same direction or change angle: Reset position, maintain frames, and execute follow-up shrimp with adjusted direction or timing
7. Once adequate space exists, identify specific escape or guard recovery technique: Capitalize on created space by inserting knee, establishing guard hooks, or transitioning to technical standup
8. Maintain defensive posture throughout transition to prevent opponent countering: Keep frames active, hips mobile, and be prepared to shrimp again if opponent attempts to recover position

Common Mistakes

• Mistake: Shrimping without establishing frames first
  • Consequence: Opponent simply follows the escaping hips, maintaining the same relative position with no space gained. Energy is wasted on ineffective movement.
  • Correction: Always establish rigid frames on appropriate body parts before initiating shrimp movement. Frames must be strong enough to prevent opponent from closing distance.
• Mistake: Extending both legs simultaneously instead of keeping top leg bent
  • Consequence: Loss of hip rotation power, reduced distance created, and elimination of ability to follow up with immediate additional movements. Creates flat, weak position.
  • Correction: Keep top leg bent and active throughout shrimp, using it to control distance and prepare for follow-up movements. Only bottom leg extends forcefully.
• Mistake: Turning shoulders and upper body away during shrimp
  • Consequence: Loss of frames and defensive structure, giving opponent opportunity to advance to more dominant position or take back. Creates exposure of vulnerable angles.
  • Correction: Maintain upper body facing opponent throughout shrimp, keeping frames rigid and defensive posture intact while only lower body rotates and moves.
• Mistake: Shrimping too large with single explosive movement
  • Consequence: Often creates space in wrong direction, wastes energy, and leaves practitioner out of position to defend against opponent’s follow-up attacks or advances.
  • Correction: Use multiple smaller, controlled shrimps that allow adjustment of direction based on opponent’s reactions. Progressive shrimping maintains better defensive structure.
• Mistake: Creating space but failing to immediately utilize it
  • Consequence: Opponent recovers position and closes space before practitioner can insert knee, establish guard, or complete escape. The created space advantage is lost.
  • Correction: Have a clear plan for what to do with space before shrimping. Immediately insert knee shield, establish guard hook, or create additional distance as soon as space appears.
• Mistake: Shrimping at wrong times, particularly when opponent is well-based
  • Consequence: Shrimp requires significantly more energy and creates minimal space when opponent is stable. May trigger opponent to advance or attack rather than creating escape.
  • Correction: Time shrimps with opponent’s weight shifts, grip changes, or position adjustments. Wait for moments of instability rather than fighting against solid base.
• Mistake: Neglecting to bridge before hip rotation
  • Consequence: Hips remain weighted and stuck to mat, making rotation difficult and significantly reducing distance created. The shrimp becomes a weak sliding motion.
  • Correction: Always initiate shrimp with bridge to unweight hips. The bridging action creates the momentary weightlessness that enables effective hip rotation and extension.

Training Methods

Solo Shrimp Drilling (Focus: Develop muscle memory for correct shrimping mechanics, improve hip mobility, and build conditioning for repetitive shrimp movements) Practicing shrimp movement patterns without a partner, focusing on proper mechanics, hip rotation, and progressive movement across the mat. Typically done as warm-up activity.

Partner Resistance Shrimping (Focus: Learn to maintain frames under pressure, develop power in shrimp movement, and understand how opponent’s weight affects shrimping effectiveness) Partner applies various levels of resistance while practitioner shrimps, starting with light pressure and progressively increasing to realistic control. Partner provides feedback on frame effectiveness.

Positional Shrimp Escapes (Focus: Develop position-specific shrimping patterns, learn directional choices for each position, and build endurance for sustained escape attempts) Starting from specific bad positions (mount, side control, etc.) and using only shrimping movements to escape or improve position. Partner maintains position but doesn’t advance.

Timed Escape Rounds (Focus: Develop ability to execute shrimps under stress, improve timing recognition, and build confidence in shrimping as primary escape mechanism) Partner establishes dominant position and practitioner has limited time to escape using shrimping-based movements. Increases urgency and decision-making under pressure.

Shrimp Chain Sequences (Focus: Learn to transition smoothly between shrimps and complementary movements, develop flow in escape sequences, and understand space utilization principles) Practicing combinations of shrimps with other movements (bridge-shrimp-knee insertion, shrimp-frame-shrimp, etc.) to develop complete escape sequences rather than isolated movements.

Reactive Shrimping Drills (Focus: Build automatic shrimp responses, improve recognition of appropriate shrimp direction for each position, and reduce mental processing time in defensive situations) Partner moves between different top positions randomly and practitioner must immediately shrimp in appropriate direction. Develops automatic shrimp responses to various positional threats.

Mastery Indicators

Beginner Level:

• Can perform basic shrimp movement pattern on demand with coaching
• Understands need to create space but often shrimps without frames or in incorrect direction
• Requires multiple attempts and conscious thought to execute shrimp during live rolling
• Creates some space but fails to capitalize on it before opponent recovers
• Shrimp movement is mechanical and disconnected from overall escape strategy

Intermediate Level:

• Automatically shrimps when placed in bad positions without conscious thought
• Consistently establishes frames before shrimping and maintains them throughout movement
• Can chain 2-3 shrimps together progressively to create cumulative space
• Recognizes appropriate shrimp direction based on opponent’s position and weight distribution
• Successfully inserts knee shield or establishes guard following shrimp at least 50% of the time
• Begins timing shrimps with opponent’s movements rather than constant struggle

Advanced Level:

• Shrimps are precisely timed with opponent’s weight shifts for maximum efficiency
• Uses minimal energy to create maximum space through superior technique and timing
• Seamlessly integrates shrimping with bridging, framing, and guard retention in fluid sequences
• Can shrimp in multiple directions and change direction mid-escape based on opponent reactions
• Rarely gets held in inferior positions long enough for opponent to consolidate control
• Uses shrimping proactively to create angles for attacks, not just reactively for escapes
• Teaches effective shrimping mechanics to lower belts with clear technical explanation

Expert Level:

• Shrimping is so fundamentally integrated that it’s barely visible as discrete technique
• Creates space seemingly effortlessly even against high-level opponents with good pressure
• Uses micro-shrimps and subtle hip adjustments constantly to prevent opponents from ever settling
• Recognizes and exploits minuscule weight shifts that others wouldn’t notice
• Can articulate and demonstrate shrimping principles across all positions and scenarios
• Develops innovative applications of shrimping concept to novel positions or situations
• Movement appears smooth and flowing rather than a series of discrete shrimp actions

Related Content

• Bridge and Shrimp (Principle) - Complementary fundamental movement that combines with shrimping in most escape sequences
• Elbow Escape (Transition) - Specific escape technique from mount that uses shrimping as its primary movement mechanism
• Hip Escape Mechanics (Principle) - Broader biomechanical framework that includes shrimping as primary application
• Frame Creation (Principle) - Essential prerequisite skill that must be combined with shrimping for effective escapes
• Mount Escape Series (Principle) - Series of escapes where shrimping serves as foundational movement pattern
• Side Control Escapes (Principle) - Collection of escape techniques that rely heavily on shrimping mechanics
• Shrimp Escape (Transition) - Direct application of shrimping concept as specific escape technique
• Space Creation (Principle) - Overarching principle that shrimping implements in practical application
• Hip Escape (Transition) - Alternative name and specific application of shrimping movement pattern
• Guard Recovery (Principle) - Strategic objective that shrimping movements enable from bottom positions
• Escape Hierarchy (Principle) - Framework within which shrimping serves as foundational first-level escape movement

Expert Insights

• John Danaher: The shrimp is the fundamental movement pattern of bottom position in jiu-jitsu, and yet it remains one of the most poorly understood and executed movements even among relatively experienced practitioners. The essence of effective shrimping lies not in the power of the movement itself, but in the strategic combination of unweighting through bridging, maintaining structural frames to prevent the opponent from following, and timing the movement with moments of opponent instability. A properly executed shrimp is a complex orchestration of upper body stability, core rotation, and lower body extension that creates space through mechanical advantage rather than pure strength. The most common error I observe is practitioners attempting to shrimp without first establishing the frames that will prevent their opponent from simply moving with them, rendering the entire movement futile. Proper shrimping mechanics can be reduced to this principle: create a stable upper body frame, bridge to unweight the hips, rotate the hips while extending the bottom leg, and immediately utilize the created space before it closes. This is not merely a technique but a fundamental movement vocabulary that must become as natural as walking.
• Gordon Ryan: From a competition standpoint, shrimping is what separates fighters who can survive bad positions from those who get dominated and submitted. I’ve been in matches against world-class opponents where the difference between winning and losing came down to my ability to create just enough space through perfectly timed shrimps to prevent them from locking in their control or finishing submissions. The key insight I’ve developed through thousands of rounds is that shrimping at full strength all the time is a losing strategy—you gas out and the space you create is temporary. Instead, I use small maintenance shrimps constantly to prevent opponents from ever fully settling their weight, and I save explosive shrimps for the exact moments when I feel their weight shift or their grips change. When I’m escaping side control or mount against elite grapplers, I’m not trying to escape in one big movement; I’m shrimping incrementally, maybe six inches at a time, but I’m doing it the moment they move, before they can re-establish their position. That timing is everything. Also, people sleep on using shrimps offensively from guard—I use hip escapes constantly to create angles for leg attacks and back takes, not just for defensive purposes.
• Eddie Bravo: Most people think of shrimping as just this boring drill you do during warmups, but when you really understand the principle, it’s one of the most creative movement patterns in jiu-jitsu. In the 10th Planet system, we don’t just shrimp to escape—we shrimp to transition into lockdown, to set up electric chairs, to create angles for rubber guard entries. The shrimp is how you express your hip mobility and create the chaos that opens up all these unorthodox positions. Here’s what changed my understanding of shrimping: it’s not just about moving away from your opponent, it’s about creating angles they’re not prepared for. Sometimes the best shrimp is toward your opponent, into their legs, where you can establish your guard systems. I teach my students to think of shrimping as painting with your hips—you’re using that movement to draw the patterns that set up your entire game. And the timing element is huge, especially in no-gi where you can’t rely on grips. You have to feel when their pressure shifts and hit that shrimp at exactly the right moment. When students tell me they’re getting stuck in bad positions, ninety percent of the time it’s because they’re not shrimping early enough or frequently enough. Stay mobile, keep those hips moving, and you become a nightmare to control.