The Elbow Escape, also known as the shrimp escape or hip escape, is the most fundamental and essential defensive technique in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for escaping from side control. This technique involves creating space through hip movement and frame construction, allowing the bottom practitioner to insert their knee shield and recover guard position. The elbow escape is built on the principle of using your skeletal structure to create frames that prevent your opponent from closing distance while simultaneously using hip movement to generate space. This is the first escape taught to beginners and remains relevant at the highest levels of competition, as it forms the foundation for all pin escapes. The technique’s effectiveness lies in its systematic approach to creating and maintaining space, using the combination of proper framing, hip escape mechanics, and timing to neutralize the top player’s control. Understanding this escape is critical because side control is one of the most common pins in BJJ, and the ability to escape efficiently conserves energy and prevents further positional deterioration.
Starting Position: Side Control Ending Position: Knee Shield Half Guard Success Rates: Beginner 30%, Intermediate 50%, Advanced 70%
Key Principles
- Create strong frames using skeletal structure, not muscular strength, to maintain distance from opponent’s chest
- Generate space through explosive hip movement away from opponent (shrimping motion)
- Insert knee shield immediately when space is created to prevent opponent from reclosing distance
- Maintain proper head position and prevent opponent from controlling your near hip
- Time the escape when opponent shifts weight or attempts to advance position
- Chain multiple shrimps together if necessary - rarely does one hip escape create sufficient space
- Protect your neck and prevent crossface control throughout the entire escape sequence
Prerequisites
- Bottom player is flat on back with opponent in stable side control position
- Opponent’s chest is applying pressure to bottom player’s chest
- Bottom player’s far arm is free and not trapped under opponent’s body
- Bottom player can create at least one frame (typically near-side elbow on hip or far-side hand on opponent’s shoulder)
- Sufficient mat space exists to perform hip escape movement without hitting obstacles
- Bottom player’s near-side hip is not completely controlled or pinned by opponent’s weight
Execution Steps
- Establish frames: Place your far-side hand on opponent’s near shoulder or neck, creating your primary pushing frame. Position your near-side elbow on opponent’s hip bone, creating a secondary frame. These frames work together to create distance between your chest and theirs. Your near elbow should be tight to your ribs, creating a strong structural frame rather than pushing with arm strength. Keep your forearm perpendicular to opponent’s body for maximum structural integrity. (Timing: Establish frames immediately when recognizing stable side control)
- Bridge and turn into opponent: Explosively bridge your hips off the mat, driving through your feet while turning slightly toward your opponent. This creates momentary weight redistribution and forces them to post their hands or adjust their base. The bridge should be directed at a 45-degree angle toward your opponent’s head, not straight up. This motion creates the initial space needed for the hip escape and disrupts their pressure. (Timing: Bridge explosively as opponent settles their weight or attempts to improve position)
- Hip escape (shrimp away): As you land from the bridge, immediately shrimp your hips away from opponent by pulling your near knee up toward your chest and explosively pushing your hips backward along the mat. Your far leg should be bent with foot flat on the mat, providing the pushing power. Drive through this foot while simultaneously pulling with your frames. This creates 4-6 inches of space between your hip and opponent’s body. Your head should move in the opposite direction of your hips. (Timing: Execute shrimp immediately upon landing from bridge, using the momentum)
- Insert knee shield: The instant space is created, drive your near knee between your body and opponent’s torso, establishing a knee shield. Your shin should be perpendicular to opponent’s chest, with your knee at their sternum and your foot near their far hip. This knee shield is your primary defensive barrier that prevents them from reclosing the distance. Keep your foot active and ready to push off their hip. (Timing: Insert knee immediately as space opens, before opponent can close distance)
- Establish underhook or collar grip: With the knee shield in place, work to secure an underhook on the near side by swimming your arm under opponent’s armpit, or establish a collar grip with your far hand. The underhook prevents them from flattening you back down and gives you offensive opportunities. If underhook is not available, maintain collar control with your far hand while keeping your near-side frame on their hip. (Timing: Secure grips once knee shield is stable)
- Complete guard recovery: From the knee shield position, recover full half guard by bringing your far leg around opponent’s trapped leg and locking your feet together, or transition to full closed guard if their trapped leg is completely free. Maintain your frames and continue controlling distance. If necessary, perform additional shrimps to create more space before completing the guard recovery. Your goal is to establish a stable guard position with proper connection points and distance management. (Timing: Complete recovery once knee shield is secure and opponent’s forward pressure is controlled)
Opponent Counters
- Opponent drops weight and crossfaces to prevent bridge (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Use smaller, technical shrimps without bridging first, or wait for weight shift when opponent attempts submission or mount transition. Focus on framing first, then create micro-spaces through incremental hip movement.
- Opponent controls near hip and prevents shrimp (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Redirect hip escape to far side instead, or use ghost escape variation by turning into opponent and coming up to knees. Can also chain to other escapes like turning to turtle position.
- Opponent steps over to mount during knee insertion (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Keep knee shield tight to your chest and prevent them from clearing it. If mount is inevitable, immediately trap their foot and begin mount escape sequence. Prevention is key - insert knee deep between your bodies.
- Opponent sprawls hips back during escape attempt (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Follow them with additional shrimps, or use their backward movement to come up to turtle or technical standup position. Their backward movement creates different opportunities.
- Opponent switches to knee-on-belly during escape (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Response: This actually improves your position - immediately shrimp away from knee pressure and recover guard or continue to technical standup. Knee-on-belly is less stable than side control.
Test Your Knowledge
Q1: Why must you bridge before shrimping in the standard elbow escape sequence? A: Bridging momentarily unweights your opponent’s chest pressure and forces them to adjust their base or post their hands. This creates the initial space and weight redistribution necessary for an effective hip escape. Without the bridge, the opponent’s full weight is still heavy on your chest, making the shrimp movement restricted and ineffective. The bridge also disrupts their control momentarily, giving you a timing window for the escape.
Q2: What is the purpose of establishing frames before attempting the escape, and why should they be structural rather than muscular? A: Frames create and maintain distance between your chest and the opponent’s chest, which is essential for creating space to insert your knee shield. Structural frames using skeletal alignment (elbows tight to ribs, forearms perpendicular to opponent’s body) are sustainable because they use bone structure rather than muscle strength. Muscular pushing fatigues quickly and opponent can simply wait for your arms to tire, then collapse your frames using their body weight. Proper structural frames remain effective throughout the escape sequence without exhausting your energy.
Q3: How should you respond if your opponent drops heavy weight and establishes a strong crossface during your escape attempt? A: If a crossface is established, you must address it before continuing the escape. First, protect your neck by tucking your chin and using your near-side hand to block or push the crossface away. You may need to use smaller, technical shrimps without bridging, or switch to an alternative escape like the ghost escape where you turn into them. If the crossface is very strong, consider transitioning to turtle position to relieve the pressure, then work to recover guard from there. The key is recognizing that a strong crossface fundamentally changes your escape options and requires tactical adjustment.
Q4: Why is it critical to insert your knee shield deep between your bodies immediately when space is created? A: The knee shield must be inserted deep (knee reaching opponent’s sternum/chest) because it acts as your primary defensive barrier preventing them from reclosing the distance. If inserted shallow, the opponent can easily clear your knee by driving forward or stepping over to mount. A deep knee shield creates a structural barrier that is much more difficult to pass and gives you control over the distance. Additionally, shallow knee insertion wastes the space you just created through bridging and shrimping, making the entire escape effort ineffective.
Q5: What should you do if one shrimp doesn’t create sufficient space for knee insertion? A: Chain multiple shrimps together without stopping. Most effective escapes require 2-3 connected shrimps to create adequate space. After each shrimp, maintain your frames to prevent the opponent from reclosing distance, then immediately perform another explosive shrimp. Keep your far foot flat on the mat between shrimps to maintain power generation. Continue shrimping until enough cumulative space is created to insert your knee shield deeply between your bodies. The key is persistence and maintaining frame pressure between each shrimp.
Q6: How does the direction of your bridge (45-degree angle toward opponent’s head versus straight up) affect the escape’s success? A: Bridging at a 45-degree angle toward the opponent’s head creates actual disruption in their position by forcing them to post their hands or adjust their base to avoid being rolled over. This angular bridge moves their weight and creates opportunities for space creation. A bridge straight up allows the opponent to simply wait for you to land, maintaining their position without adjustment. The angled bridge also begins creating the rotational space needed for the hip escape, whereas a vertical bridge creates no lateral space. The angle of the bridge is critical for forcing opponent reaction and weight redistribution.
Q7: When should you consider using an alternative escape like the ghost escape instead of the standard elbow escape? A: The ghost escape becomes preferable when the opponent has strong control of your far hip, preventing effective shrimping movement, or when the opponent is significantly heavier and the energy cost of repeated shrimps is too high. Additionally, if the opponent is anticipating and defending the elbow escape well, the ghost escape provides an unexpected alternative that uses their forward pressure against them. Against very heavy opponents, turning into them and coming to your knees is often more energy-efficient than fighting their weight with hip escapes.
Safety Considerations
Practice bridging with control to avoid neck strain or hyperextension - the bridge should be explosive but controlled, using proper hip drive rather than forcing with the neck. Ensure adequate mat space is available as the escape can move you several feet across the mat, and colliding with walls or other practitioners can cause injury. During drilling, the top partner should allow the escape when proper technique is executed to prevent training injuries and allow skill development. Beginners should build explosive power gradually, starting with slow technical repetitions before adding speed and power. When training with significant size mismatches, smaller practitioners should focus on technical precision rather than trying to muscle through the escape. Both partners should communicate about pressure levels, especially when introducing progressive resistance. Stop immediately if neck pain, shoulder pain, or hip discomfort occurs, as these can indicate improper mechanics.
Position Integration
The Elbow Escape serves as the foundational defensive technique from side control and forms the cornerstone of the entire bottom position defensive framework in BJJ. It connects directly to the guard retention system, as successful execution leads to half guard, closed guard, or open guard positions where the defensive practitioner can begin their own offensive sequences. This escape is typically the first defensive response taught to new practitioners because it applies universal principles (framing, hip escape, space creation) that transfer to escaping from mount, knee-on-belly, north-south, and other pinning positions. The escape integrates with the broader positional hierarchy where practitioners fight to prevent mount or back control by successfully executing the elbow escape from side control. It also connects to the submission defense system, as many side control submissions (americana, kimura, arm triangle) become less threatening once proper frames and hip escape mechanics are employed. Advanced practitioners layer the elbow escape with other defensive techniques like the running escape, ghost escape, or technical standup, creating a comprehensive defensive system that adapts to different opponent reactions. Understanding this escape is essential for developing a complete bottom game, as it represents the technical foundation upon which all other escapes and reversals are built.
Expert Insights
- Danaher System: The elbow escape represents the fundamental architecture of defensive movement in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, built upon three immutable biomechanical principles that every practitioner must internalize. First, understand that frames are structural, not muscular - your skeleton is far stronger than your muscles, and proper frame construction using bone alignment creates insurmountable barriers that cannot be collapsed through pressure alone. Keep your elbows tight to your ribs and your forearms perpendicular to your opponent’s torso to create frames that operate on structural integrity rather than strength. Second, the bridge-shrimp sequence is not arbitrary but represents optimal force generation and space creation - the bridge unweights your opponent and disrupts their base, while the shrimp capitalizes on this disruption to generate lateral movement. The timing between these movements is critical; shrimp immediately upon landing from the bridge while their weight is still adjusting. Third, recognize that escapes are rarely completed in a single movement - the insertion of the knee shield represents a checkpoint in a longer defensive sequence, not an end goal. Your objective is not merely to insert a knee, but to establish a defensive guard position from which you can begin your own systematic attacks. The elbow escape, therefore, is not simply an escape technique but the foundational movement pattern that underlies all defensive work in the art.
- Gordon Ryan: In competition, the elbow escape is your most reliable and highest-percentage defensive technique from side control, but its effectiveness depends entirely on timing and commitment to the movement. I’ve used this escape countless times at the highest levels of competition, and the key difference between success and failure is recognizing the precise moment when your opponent’s weight shifts and exploding into the escape with complete commitment. You cannot hesitate or perform tentative half-shrimps - you must bridge explosively and shrimp with maximum power, creating enough space in a single sequence to get your knee shield deep between your bodies. Against elite opponents, you often need to chain two or three powerful shrimps together because they’re excellent at maintaining pressure and closing space. Here’s the reality: if you’re getting flattened out repeatedly from your escape attempts, you’re either telegraphing your movement, attempting the escape while their weight is too heavy, or not creating deep enough frames before initiating. Watch your opponent’s hands and weight distribution - when they post a hand, reach for a submission, or attempt to transition to mount, their chest pressure lightens momentarily and that’s your escape window. Also, don’t be married to recovering closed guard every time - sometimes half guard is perfectly acceptable, and sometimes the escape creates opportunities to come up to your knees or take the back. The elbow escape opens multiple pathways; stay opportunistic and take what your opponent gives you.
- Eddie Bravo: The elbow escape is fundamental, but here’s where most people miss the opportunity to make it way more effective - you’ve got to combine it with misdirection and create real dilemmas for the top player. In the 10th Planet system, we don’t just shrimp away blindly; we use the threat of the ghost escape (turning into them) to make the traditional elbow escape more effective. If your opponent knows you might turn into them at any moment, they can’t just heavy pressure you and wait - they have to respect multiple escape paths. Also, most people don’t utilize the lockdown position enough after a successful elbow escape to half guard. Once you get that knee shield in, if you can immediately establish the lockdown on their leg, you’ve got them in your control system where you can start working electric chair sweeps, plan B attacks, or the whole sequence of offensive options. The escape isn’t just about getting out of a bad position; it’s about transitioning into your offensive system. Another thing - in no-gi especially, I’m way more likely to use the elbow escape to create space for a technical standup rather than pulling guard, because standing back up denies them any top control and resets to neutral. Think about the escape as creating options, not just recovering guard. Every time you create space, you’re creating opportunity for something creative, and that’s where the real game is played.