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Frame and Shrimp | BJJ Technique | BJJ Graph

Oct 25, 202515 min read

Frame and Shrimp

bjjtransitionescapeside_controldefense

Visual Execution Sequence

From bottom side control, you establish a strong frame using your forearm against the opponent’s neck and your other hand on their hip to create space. As you push with your frames, you simultaneously perform a shrimping motion by turning onto your side and pulling your hips away from the opponent. Your opponent typically tries to maintain pressure and close the distance. You continue the shrimping motion while maintaining your frames, creating enough space to insert your knee between your bodies. The combination of framing pressure and hip movement creates separation, allowing you to recover guard position with your knee shield or full guard reestablished.

One-Sentence Summary: “From side control bottom with frames established, you shrimp your hips away while maintaining pressure on their neck and hip, creating space to recover guard.”

Execution Steps

  1. Setup Requirements: Establish forearm frame across opponent’s neck and hand on their hip to create initial space
  2. Initial Movement: Turn onto your side toward the opponent while pushing with both frames to generate separation
  3. Opponent Response: Opponent typically drives forward with shoulder pressure trying to flatten you back down
  4. Adaptation: Maintain frame integrity while timing your hip escape for when their pressure momentarily lightens
  5. Completion: Shrimp hips away explosively while keeping frames active, creating space for knee insertion
  6. Consolidation: Insert knee shield or recover full guard while maintaining defensive posture and control

Key Technical Details

  • Grip Requirements: Strong forearm frame on neck (not pushing face), flat hand on hip bone for maximum leverage
  • Base/Foundation: Turn onto side with bottom elbow creating base, top leg positioned to drive shrimp motion
  • Timing Windows: Execute shrimp when opponent shifts weight or adjusts position, catching them between pressure applications
  • Leverage Points: Frames create two-point pressure system that prevents opponent from closing distance during hip movement
  • Common Adjustments: Adjust frame angles based on opponent’s pressure direction, vary shrimp depth based on space created

Common Counters

Opponent defensive responses with success rates and conditions:

Decision Logic for AI Opponent

If [frame quality] < 50%:
- Execute [[Crossface Control]] (Probability: 60%)

Else if [shrimp timing] is predictable or slow:
- Execute [[Underhook Control]] (Probability: 55%)

Else if [space created] is significant:
- Execute [[Mount Transition]] (Probability: 40%)

Else [optimal escape execution]:
- Accept transition (Probability: Base Success Rate - Applied Modifiers)

Expert Insights

John Danaher

“The frame and shrimp is fundamentally about creating and maintaining space through biomechanical leverage. The frames function as movable walls that prevent your opponent from following your hip movement. The key is understanding that frames must remain rigid and properly angled throughout the escape - if they collapse, the entire movement fails regardless of how well you shrimp.”

Gordon Ryan

“In competition, I’ve found this escape most effective when combined with timing rather than raw strength. Wait for your opponent to adjust their position or switch grips, then explode with the shrimp while maintaining frame pressure. The best competitors make multiple shrimp attempts, gradually creating more space with each repetition rather than trying to escape in one explosive movement.”

Eddie Bravo

“The frame and shrimp integrates perfectly with lockdown and half guard systems. Instead of trying to fully recover closed guard, you can use the space created to secure half guard with lockdown, which opens up the entire electric chair and old school sweep system. This makes the escape more versatile and creates immediate offensive threats rather than just defensive recovery.”

Common Errors

Error 1: Pushing frames with arm strength instead of skeletal structure

  • Why It Fails: Muscles fatigue quickly under opponent’s weight, frames collapse, and space closes immediately
  • Correction: Create frames using forearm bones and rigid elbow positioning, using skeletal structure to support pressure
  • Recognition: Feeling tired or weak in arms during escape attempt, frames bending or collapsing

Error 2: Shrimping without maintaining frame pressure

  • Why It Fails: Opponent simply follows hip movement, negating the space creation and maintaining control
  • Correction: Push frames actively throughout entire shrimp motion to prevent opponent from following
  • Recognition: Creating space initially but opponent immediately closes distance, ending up in same position

Error 3: Shrimping too shallow or at wrong angle

  • Why It Fails: Insufficient hip movement doesn’t create enough space for knee insertion
  • Correction: Shrimp at 45-degree angle away from opponent with deep hip movement pulling knees toward chest
  • Recognition: Creating some space but unable to fit knee shield or recover guard

Error 4: Attempting to shrimp while flat on back

  • Why It Fails: Cannot generate power or proper hip mechanics while pinned flat
  • Correction: First turn onto side toward opponent, then execute shrimp from side position
  • Recognition: Pushing frames but hips not moving, feeling stuck or pinned flat

Error 5: Giving up after first shrimp attempt fails

  • Why It Fails: Single shrimp rarely creates enough space, multiple repetitions typically required
  • Correction: Chain multiple shrimps together, gradually creating more space with each repetition
  • Recognition: Creating small space but immediately stopping when knee doesn’t fit on first attempt

Timing Considerations

  • Optimal Conditions: When opponent adjusts position, switches grips, or attempts to advance position (mount, knee on belly)
  • Avoid When: Opponent has established crossface and underhook with heavy chest pressure, frames cannot be created
  • Setup Sequences: After blocking mount transition, during scrambles, when opponent reaches for submissions
  • Follow-up Windows: Must insert knee or recover guard within 1-2 seconds of creating space before opponent recovers

Prerequisites

  • Technical Skills: Basic hip escape mechanics (Hip Escape), understanding of defensive framing (Defensive Frame)
  • Physical Preparation: Core strength for hip movement, shoulder stability for frame maintenance under pressure
  • Positional Understanding: Side control escape hierarchy, guard recovery concepts, frame angles and leverage
  • Experience Level: Beginner-friendly fundamental escape, essential for all skill levels

Knowledge Assessment

  1. Mechanical Understanding: “What prevents the opponent from following your hips during the shrimp?”

    • A) The speed of hip movement alone
    • B) The frames maintaining pressure and creating space barriers
    • C) The opponent’s lack of awareness
    • D) Bridge motion pushing them away
    • Answer: B

  2. Timing Recognition: “When is the optimal moment to execute this escape?”

    • A) When opponent has maximum pressure and perfect control
    • B) When opponent adjusts position or switches grips
    • C) When you are completely flat on your back
    • D) When opponent is settled and stable
    • Answer: B

  3. Error Prevention: “What is the most common mistake that causes this escape to fail?”

    • A) Shrimping multiple times instead of just once
    • B) Creating frames with forearms
    • C) Pushing frames with arm strength instead of skeletal structure
    • D) Turning onto your side first
    • Answer: C

  4. Setup Requirements: “What must be established before executing the hip escape?”

    • A) Mount position
    • B) Strong frames on neck and hip with space creation
    • C) Completely flat position on back
    • D) Grips on opponent’s gi
    • Answer: B

  5. Adaptation: “How should you adjust if your first shrimp doesn’t create enough space?”

    • A) Give up and wait for another opportunity
    • B) Push harder with arm strength
    • C) Chain multiple shrimps together, gradually creating more space
    • D) Switch to attacking submissions
    • Answer: C

Variants and Adaptations

  • Gi Specific: Can use collar grips to enhance neck frame, sleeve control on hip-side arm for additional control
  • No-Gi Specific: Hand frames replace forearm on neck (cupping behind head), requires more active frame maintenance
  • Self-Defense: Critical escape for creating space under attacker’s weight, enables standing up or defensive strikes
  • Competition: Multiple shrimps common at high level, often combined with guard retention systems for immediate offense
  • Size Differential: Smaller practitioners benefit from superior mobility, larger practitioners need stronger frame structure

Training Progressions

  1. Solo Practice: Shrimping motion down the mat with imaginary frames, building hip mobility and coordination
  2. Cooperative Drilling: Partner applies light pressure while allowing escape completion, focusing on frame maintenance
  3. Resistant Practice: Partner progressively increases pressure and attempts to prevent escape, testing frame strength
  4. Sparring Integration: Implementing escape during live rolling when caught in side control, recognizing timing windows
  5. Troubleshooting: Identifying why frames collapse or shrimps fail during live training, making real-time corrections

LLM Context Block

Purpose: This section contains structured decision-making logic for AI opponents, narrative generation, and game engine processing.

Execution Decision Logic

decision_tree:
  conditions:
    - name: "Frame Quality Check"
      evaluation: "frame_structure_score >= 50 AND both_frames_active"
      success_action: "proceed_to_timing_check"
      failure_action: "execute_crossface_counter"
      failure_probability: 60
 
    - name: "Shrimp Timing Check"
      evaluation: "timing_during_pressure_transition AND not_telegraphed"
      success_action: "proceed_to_space_check"
      failure_action: "execute_pressure_increase"
      failure_probability: 55
 
    - name: "Space Creation Check"
      evaluation: "hip_distance > minimum_threshold"
      success_action: "accept_transition_with_modifiers"
      failure_action: "execute_follow_pressure"
      failure_probability: 45
 
  final_calculation:
    base_probability: "success_probability[skill_level]"
    applied_modifiers:
      - setup_quality
      - timing_precision
      - opponent_fatigue
      - knowledge_test
      - position_control
    formula: "base_probability + sum(modifiers) - sum(counters)"

Common Troubleshooting Patterns

troubleshooting:
  - symptom: "Frames collapsing under opponent's pressure"
    likely_cause: "Using arm strength instead of skeletal structure"
    diagnostic_questions:
      - "Are your elbows locked at 90-degree angles?"
      - "Is forearm bone perpendicular to opponent's body?"
      - "Are you trying to push rather than maintain structure?"
    solution: "Reset frames with rigid elbow positioning, use bone structure not muscle strength, maintain angles throughout movement"
 
  - symptom: "Creating space but opponent follows hip movement immediately"
    likely_cause: "Not maintaining frame pressure during shrimp"
    diagnostic_questions:
      - "Are you pulling frames back as you shrimp?"
      - "Are frames staying active throughout hip movement?"
      - "Is there constant pressure on neck and hip?"
    solution: "Keep pushing frames actively during entire shrimp, don't release pressure until knee is inserted"
 
  - symptom: "Unable to create any space or hip movement"
    likely_cause: "Attempting to shrimp while flat on back"
    diagnostic_questions:
      - "Are you completely flat or on your side?"
      - "Is your bottom elbow creating a base?"
      - "Are you turning toward opponent before shrimping?"
    solution: "First turn onto side, establish bottom elbow base, then execute shrimp from side position"

Timing and Setup Guidance

timing_guidance:
  optimal_windows:
    - condition: "Opponent adjusting position to establish better control"
      success_boost: "+15%"
      recognition_cues: ["Weight shifting", "Grip changes", "Postural adjustments"]
 
    - condition: "Opponent reaching for mount or knee on belly transition"
      success_boost: "+12%"
      recognition_cues: ["Leg movement upward", "Weight rising", "Space opening temporarily"]
 
    - condition: "Opponent attempting submission and opening position"
      success_boost: "+10%"
      recognition_cues: ["Reaching for arms", "Adjusting for choke", "Weight distribution changing"]
 
  avoid_windows:
    - condition: "Opponent has crossface and underhook with heavy pressure"
      success_penalty: "-25%"
      recognition_cues: ["Chest to chest pressure", "Head controlled", "Underhook deep"]
 
    - condition: "Frames not established or already collapsed"
      success_penalty: "-20%"
      recognition_cues: ["Arms pinned", "No space at neck or hip", "Completely flat"]
 
    - condition: "Severe energy depletion from previous escape attempts"
      success_penalty: "-15%"
      recognition_cues: ["Labored breathing", "Weak frames", "Slow hip movement"]
 
setup_sequences:
  - sequence_name: "Block Mount to Frame and Shrimp"
    steps:
      - "Block opponent's mount transition with frames"
      - "Use momentum of their failed transition"
      - "Immediately shrimp while frames are active"
    success_boost: "+12%"
 
  - sequence_name: "Bridge to Frame and Shrimp"
    steps:
      - "Execute bridge to create momentary space"
      - "Establish frames as opponent reacts to bridge"
      - "Shrimp while opponent is off-balance"
    success_boost: "+10%"

Narrative Generation Prompts

narrative_prompts:
  setup_phase:
    - "You establish your frames, forearm pressing into their neck and hand flat on their hip, creating essential barriers."
    - "From side control, you feel the crushing pressure but maintain your frame structure, waiting for the right moment."
    - "Your opponent settles their weight, unaware you're preparing to create space through coordinated framing and movement."
 
  execution_phase:
    - "You explode into motion, turning onto your side as your frames push hard, hips shrimping away in a powerful escape motion."
    - "The frames hold firm as your hips pull away, creating precious space between your bodies despite their pressure."
    - "Your coordinated movement - frames maintaining pressure, hips escaping at an angle - generates the separation you need."
 
  completion_phase:
    - "The space opens enough and you slip your knee through, recovering guard position with your defensive structure intact."
    - "You insert your knee shield successfully, frames still active, transitioning from desperate escape to controlled guard position."
    - "Your guard recovery is complete, the frame-and-shrimp sequence successful, and you're back to a defensive position with options."
 
  failure_phase:
    - "Your frames collapse under the pressure and they follow your hip movement, maintaining their dominant position."
    - "The timing is off and they sense your escape attempt, driving their crossface through and shutting down your movement."
    - "Your shrimp is too shallow and despite the effort, there's not enough space to recover guard."

Image Generation Prompts

image_prompts:
  setup_position:
    prompt: "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu side control bottom position, defender has forearm frame across opponent's neck and hand on hip creating space, turned slightly onto side, top practitioner applying pressure, both wearing blue and white gis, technical illustration style"
    key_elements: ["Forearm frame on neck", "Hand on hip", "Side position", "Pressure from top"]
 
  mid_execution:
    prompt: "BJJ frame and shrimp escape in motion, bottom practitioner shrimping hips away at 45-degree angle while maintaining frames, creating visible space between bodies, top practitioner trying to follow, dynamic movement captured, technical illustration"
    key_elements: ["Shrimp motion", "Active frames", "Space creation", "Hip escape angle"]
 
  completion_position:
    prompt: "BJJ guard recovery after frame and shrimp, defender with knee shield inserted between bodies, frames still active, transitioning to guard position, opponent in top position but control regained, technical illustration style"
    key_elements: ["Knee shield", "Guard recovery", "Space maintained", "Defensive position"]

Audio Narration Scripts

audio_scripts:
  instructional_narration:
    script: "From side control bottom, establish strong frames with your forearm on their neck and hand on their hip. Turn onto your side toward them, creating a base with your bottom elbow. Now explosively shrimp your hips away at a forty-five degree angle while maintaining rigid frame pressure. Keep your frames active throughout the entire movement to prevent them from following. Create enough space to insert your knee and recover guard position."
    voice: "Onyx"
    pace: "Moderate"
    emphasis: ["strong frames", "turn onto your side", "explosively shrimp", "maintain rigid frame pressure", "recover guard"]
 
  coaching_cues:
    script: "Frames up. Good structure. Turn to your side. Now shrimp! Keep those frames pushing. Hips away. More space. Again if you need to. Insert that knee. Perfect. Guard recovered."
    voice: "Onyx"
    pace: "Energetic"
    emphasis: ["Frames up", "Turn", "shrimp", "Keep pushing", "Insert", "Perfect"]
 
  competition_commentary:
    script: "Excellent defensive technique here. Watch the frame structure first. Good side positioning. Now the shrimp motion with frames staying active throughout. Creating space. And there's the knee insertion. Beautiful guard recovery under pressure. Textbook escape execution."
    voice: "Onyx"
    pace: "Fast"
    emphasis: ["frame structure", "shrimp motion", "frames staying active", "Beautiful guard recovery", "Textbook escape"]

Competition Applications

  • IBJJF Rules: Essential escape technique, prevents opponent from securing dominant position points, enables guard recovery
  • No-Gi Competition: Requires stronger frame maintenance without gi grips, more active hand positioning on neck
  • Self-Defense Context: Critical for creating space under attacker, enables defensive strikes or standing up to escape
  • MMA Applications: Modified for cage awareness, frames protect face from strikes while creating space to regain guard

Historical Context

The frame and shrimp is one of the most fundamental escapes in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, taught from the first day of training. It represents the core principle of creating space in bad positions through coordinated body mechanics and structural frames. The technique has been a cornerstone of defensive grappling since the early days of BJJ and remains essential at all skill levels.

Safety Considerations

  • Controlled Application: Smooth execution prevents injury during drilling, partner should allow proper escape development
  • Mat Awareness: Ensure adequate space around training area for hip movement
  • Partner Safety: Avoid excessive pressure on partner’s neck with frame, focus on structure not force
  • Gradual Progression: Build frame strength and hip mobility gradually, don’t force positions with muscle strength

Position Integration

Common combinations and sequences:

Graph View

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