Shrimp Escape

The Shrimp Escape, also known as the hip escape, is one of the most fundamental and essential defensive movements in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. This technique allows a practitioner trapped in side control to create space, recover their guard, and neutralize their opponent’s positional dominance. The shrimping motion involves a coordinated hip movement that generates distance between you and your opponent, enabling you to insert your knee shield or establish frames that prevent further advancement. The effectiveness of the shrimp escape lies in its mechanical efficiency—by bridging slightly and then explosively moving your hips away from your opponent while posting with your far leg, you create the angular space necessary for guard recovery. This technique is not merely an escape; it represents a fundamental principle of creating space under pressure that applies across countless defensive scenarios in BJJ. Mastery of the shrimp escape is essential for survival in bottom positions and serves as the foundation for more advanced escapes and recoveries throughout your jiu-jitsu journey.

Starting Position: Side Control Ending Position: Closed Guard Success Rates: Beginner 35%, Intermediate 55%, Advanced 70%

Key Principles

• Create initial space through frames before attempting the hip movement
• Bridge slightly to unweight the hips before executing the shrimp
• Push explosively with the far leg while pulling the near leg toward your body
• Maintain strong frames throughout the movement to prevent opponent re-advancement
• Create angular movement rather than straight-line retreat to maximize space creation
• Time the escape when opponent’s pressure is transitioning or momentarily reduced
• Chain multiple shrimps together if one repetition doesn’t create sufficient space

Prerequisites

• Bottom player is trapped in side control with opponent’s chest pressure
• Near side arm is free enough to establish an elbow frame against opponent’s hip or shoulder
• Far side arm can post against opponent’s neck, shoulder, or cross-face arm
• Bottom player’s far leg can reach the mat to generate pushing power
• Sufficient mat space exists to perform the hip movement
• Opponent has not yet secured mount, north-south, or knee-on-belly transition

Execution Steps

1. Establish defensive frames: Create a strong elbow frame with your near-side arm against opponent’s hip or shoulder, while your far-side arm frames against their neck or cross-face arm. These frames are critical to maintain distance and prevent further pressure advancement. Your near elbow should be tight to your body, forearm vertical, creating a wedge that keeps opponent’s chest from crushing down onto yours. (Timing: Immediate upon being controlled in side control)
2. Bridge slightly to unweight hips: Drive through both feet to create a small bridge, lifting your hips 2-4 inches off the mat. This micro-bridge momentarily unweights your hips and creates the mobility needed for the upcoming escape movement. Do not bridge too high or hold the bridge too long, as this can give opponent opportunity to take mount. The bridge should be quick and subtle. (Timing: Coordinate with opponent’s breathing or weight shift)
3. Turn onto your hip: As you come down from the bridge, turn your body to face your opponent, rotating onto your near-side hip. Your shoulders should now be perpendicular to the mat rather than flat. This hip rotation is the beginning of the shrimping motion and sets up the directional escape vector. (Timing: Immediately following the bridge, in one fluid motion)
4. Execute the shrimp movement: Explosively push with your far leg (the one furthest from opponent) while simultaneously pulling your near leg and hips away from your opponent in a diagonal direction. Your hips should move in an arc, creating angular distance. Your far leg extends fully to generate maximum push, while your near knee pulls toward your chest. This coordinated movement creates 6-12 inches of space between your hip and opponent’s position. (Timing: Explosive and coordinated—both legs work simultaneously)
5. Insert knee shield or guard: As space opens between you and opponent, immediately insert your near knee between your bodies to establish a knee shield, or bring both knees in to recover full guard. Your frames must remain active throughout this insertion to prevent opponent from following your movement and re-establishing pressure. Your knee should aim for the space between opponent’s hips and chest. (Timing: Immediate upon creating space—don’t let the gap close)
6. Secure guard position: Once your knee shield or legs are inserted, work to establish hooks with your feet, secure grips on opponent’s sleeves or collar, and build your guard structure. Maintain active frames and continue shrimping if needed to fully recover to a safe guard position. Your goal is to transition from defensive frames to offensive guard controls. (Timing: Continuous adjustment until guard is fully established)

Opponent Counters

• Opponent drives heavy shoulder pressure into your frames, collapsing your defensive structure (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Switch to alternative frame angles, use elbow-to-knee connection for additional structural support, or time your escape for when opponent shifts weight to advance position
• Opponent follows your hip movement, maintaining connection and pressure throughout your shrimp (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Chain multiple shrimps together, create angle changes between repetitions, or switch to alternative escapes like the elbow escape or bridge-and-roll when opponent commits to following
• Opponent blocks your knee insertion by driving their hip down as you create space (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Use your frames to create a brief posting moment, shrimp again to create additional space, or switch to recovering to turtle position by continuing your rotation
• Opponent secures an underhook or deep cross-face, limiting your ability to turn and frame (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Address the dominant grips first—strip the underhook or fight the cross-face before attempting the full escape sequence, or use the ghost escape variation to slip out despite the grips

Common Mistakes

• Mistake: Attempting to shrimp without first establishing proper frames
  • Consequence: Opponent easily follows your movement and re-establishes or worsens their position, potentially advancing to mount or knee-on-belly
  • Correction: Always establish strong frames before initiating the hip escape. Frames create the structure that prevents opponent advancement during your movement
• Mistake: Shrimping in a straight line directly away from opponent
  • Consequence: Creates minimal functional space and makes it easy for opponent to follow and maintain pressure
  • Correction: Shrimp at an angle, moving your hips in an arc rather than straight back. Angular movement creates more effective space and makes it harder for opponent to track
• Mistake: Failing to bridge before executing the shrimp
  • Consequence: Hips remain weighted and stuck to the mat, resulting in weak, ineffective movement with minimal space creation
  • Correction: Always include the micro-bridge to unweight your hips before the shrimp. This small bridge is essential for hip mobility
• Mistake: Executing only one shrimp and stopping, even when insufficient space is created
  • Consequence: Opponent easily recovers their position and may advance before you can establish guard
  • Correction: Chain 2-3 shrimps together in rapid succession if needed. Most successful escapes require multiple repetitions to create adequate space
• Mistake: Dropping frames immediately after creating space
  • Consequence: Opponent drives back into the space you created, nullifying your escape attempt
  • Correction: Maintain active frames throughout the entire escape sequence until your guard is fully established and secure
• Mistake: Using only leg power without proper hip rotation
  • Consequence: Movement is linear and weak, burning energy without creating functional escaping space
  • Correction: Focus on the hip rotation and turning onto your side first. The shrimp is a hip movement enhanced by leg drive, not purely a leg push

Training Progressions

Week 1-2: Solo Movement Drilling - Develop proper shrimping mechanics without resistance Practice shrimping movements solo across the mat, focusing on hip rotation, bridge timing, and coordination. Perform 3-5 sets of continuous shrimping across the mat length. Emphasize quality of movement over speed. Video yourself to check that hips are moving in an arc and shoulders remain turned. (Resistance: None)

Week 3-4: Partner-Assisted Drilling - Add partner weight and basic pressure while maintaining technique Partner assumes side control with light pressure (30-40% weight). Bottom player practices establishing frames, bridging, and executing shrimps to create space. Partner remains relatively static, allowing successful escapes. Focus on feeling the space creation and timing the knee insertion. Perform 10-15 repetitions per round. (Resistance: Light)

Week 5-8: Progressive Resistance - Partner begins following movement and applying realistic pressure Partner applies 60-70% pressure and begins following shrimp movements, requiring bottom player to chain multiple shrimps and adjust angles. Partner should allow escapes but make them work for it. Introduce common counters like hip blocking and shoulder pressure. Practice grip fighting and frame maintenance under pressure. (Resistance: Medium)

Week 9-12: Escape Sequences - Combine shrimp escape with other techniques and transitions Practice escape decision trees: if shrimp doesn’t work, transition to elbow escape or bridge-and-roll. If opponent blocks knee insertion, recover to turtle or continue shrimping to opposite side. Work in 3-5 minute positional sparring rounds starting from side control bottom. (Resistance: Medium)

Week 13+: Competition Simulation - Full resistance positional sparring and timing development Positional sparring from side control with full resistance. Bottom player’s goal is to escape to guard within 60 seconds. Top player works to maintain and advance. Focus on escape timing, reading opponent’s weight shifts, and capitalizing on transition moments. Include gi and no-gi variations. (Resistance: Full)

Variations

Ghost Escape: When opponent has secured deep cross-face or underhook controls, the ghost escape involves turning away from opponent (facing down) while shrimping, using the rotation to slip out from under their grips. The bottom player turns their back momentarily, uses the shrimp motion to slide out, then immediately recovers to turtle or guard. (When to use: When opponent has dominant head and arm control making traditional frames impossible)

Running Man Escape: A more dynamic variation involving alternating leg movements similar to running in place while on your side. Each leg pumps in sequence, creating continuous micro-adjustments that prevent opponent from settling their weight. This is combined with standard shrimp mechanics but adds rhythmic leg movement. (When to use: Against opponents who are skilled at following shrimp movements and maintaining pressure)

Granby Roll Escape: Instead of shrimping away from opponent, perform a granby roll (shoulder roll) to invert and create angular separation. This escape creates space through rotation rather than linear hip movement. Particularly effective when combined with initial shrimp to create starting momentum. (When to use: When opponent is driving heavy forward pressure and committing their weight, or in no-gi when frames are harder to maintain)

Double Shrimp to Guard Pull: Execute two rapid shrimps to create significant distance, then immediately pull guard by grabbing opponent’s collar/neck and pulling them into your closed or open guard structure. This offensive variation turns the escape into a guard establishment. (When to use: When you successfully create substantial space and opponent has not yet recovered their base)

Test Your Knowledge

Q1: Why is it critical to establish frames before attempting the shrimp escape movement? A: Frames serve multiple essential functions: they maintain distance preventing opponent from following your hip movement, they provide structural support against opponent’s pressure, and they create the space needed for your hips to move freely. Without frames, opponent can simply drive their chest into yours and nullify the space you’re trying to create with your shrimp. Frames act as mobile barriers that maintain the gap your hip movement generates.

Q2: What is the purpose of the small bridge before executing the shrimp, and what happens if you skip this step? A: The micro-bridge unweights your hips by momentarily lifting them off the mat, which creates the mobility necessary for the hip escape movement. When your hips are weighted and pressed into the mat by opponent’s pressure, they cannot move laterally or rotationally. The bridge transfers your weight momentarily to your shoulders and feet, freeing your hips to execute the shrimping motion. Without the bridge, your shrimp will be weak and ineffective because your hips remain pinned to the mat.

Q3: Why is angular shrimping more effective than shrimping in a straight line directly away from your opponent? A: Angular shrimping creates a vector that is harder for opponent to follow and generates more functional space for guard recovery. When you shrimp straight back, opponent can simply walk forward on their knees to maintain pressure. However, when you shrimp at an angle (typically 45 degrees), opponent must adjust their entire body position to follow, which takes more time and effort. Additionally, angular movement allows you to create space specifically where you need it—between your hip and opponent’s chest—while potentially using the mat boundary to your advantage.

Q4: What should you do if one shrimp doesn’t create enough space to recover guard? A: Chain multiple shrimps together in rapid succession, maintaining your frames throughout the sequence. Most successful escapes from side control require 2-3 shrimps rather than just one. After each shrimp, quickly reset your frames, perform another micro-bridge, and execute another shrimp. You may also need to vary the angle of each shrimp to prevent opponent from anticipating and following your movement pattern. The key is continuous movement rather than isolated single attempts.

Q5: How should you time your shrimp escape for maximum effectiveness against a skilled opponent? A: Time your escape for moments when opponent’s pressure is transitioning or their weight is shifting. This includes: when they’re moving from side control toward mount or north-south (weight is in motion), when they’re adjusting their grips or attempting a submission (hands are occupied), when they exhale (brief reduction in pressure), or when they’re responding to your frames or previous movement attempts. Advanced timing also involves baiting reactions—using frames to push as if attempting one escape, then capitalizing on their counter-pressure to execute the shrimp in the opposite direction.

Q6: What is the most common mistake beginners make when attempting to recover guard after creating space with a shrimp? A: The most common mistake is dropping their frames immediately after creating space, which allows opponent to drive back into the gap and re-establish or worsen their position. Bottom player must maintain active frames throughout the entire escape sequence while simultaneously inserting their knee shield or recovering their legs to guard. The frames and leg insertion must happen together, not sequentially. Many beginners also wait too long after creating space, giving opponent time to recover; the knee insertion must be immediate and aggressive.

Safety Considerations

When practicing shrimp escapes, controlled application is essential to develop proper mechanics safely. Begin with cooperative partners who allow the technique to complete, gradually building up resistance over weeks of training. Ensure adequate mat space as shrimping can move you across the mat quickly—be aware of mat boundaries and other training pairs to avoid collisions. When drilling, the top partner should allow the escape to complete and avoid sudden weight drops or aggressive pressure that could injure the bottom player’s ribs or prevent proper breathing. Build up explosiveness gradually, starting with slow technical repetitions before adding speed and power. The bridging motion should be controlled to protect your neck and spine—avoid over-bridging or jerky movements. As bottom player, if you cannot breathe properly under pressure, tap immediately and reset. As top player, check in regularly with your partner about pressure levels, especially during the learning phase. Practice on proper BJJ mats with adequate padding to protect hips and shoulders during the repetitive movements.

Position Integration

The shrimp escape is the foundational defensive technique that connects multiple positions within the BJJ positional hierarchy. From bottom side control (a highly disadvantageous position worth -4 points in IBJJF competition), the shrimp escape allows recovery to guard positions (neutral to slightly advantageous). This escape is not merely a single technique but represents a fundamental movement principle that appears throughout defensive jiu-jitsu. The hip escape mechanism learned in the shrimp transfers directly to mount escapes (upa escape and elbow escape both incorporate shrimping elements), back escape scenarios (using shrimp motion to clear the bottom hook), and guard retention situations (shrimping to maintain distance and prevent guard passing). Within your defensive hierarchy, the shrimp escape from side control is a primary response that should be attempted before more desperate measures like turtling or giving up back control. The technique also integrates with offensive guard play—the same hip mobility and space creation mechanics used in the shrimp escape translate to guard attacks, sweeps, and submission setups where creating angles and space is essential. Mastery of shrimping fundamentally improves your entire bottom game, making it one of the highest-value techniques to drill regularly throughout your BJJ journey from white belt through black belt.

Related Techniques

• Hip Escape - Alternative name for the same fundamental movement pattern
• Elbow Escape - Complementary escape using similar hip mechanics from mount position
• Frame and Shrimp - Combined technical approach emphasizing frame establishment before escape
• Side Control Escape - Broader category that includes shrimp escape and related techniques
• Bridge and Roll - Alternative escape from side control using opposite mechanical principle
• Ghost Escape - Advanced variation using shrimp mechanics with direction reversal
• Guard Recovery - Target position and endpoint of successful shrimp escape
• Re-Guard - General concept of recovering guard that shrimp escape facilitates
• Technical Standup - Alternative defensive option if shrimp escape is unsuccessful
• Upa Escape - Mount escape incorporating shrimping motion in final phase
• Knee Shield Half Guard - Common intermediate position when shrimp creates partial space
• Granby Roll - Alternative escape method using inversion instead of lateral hip movement

Expert Insights

• Danaher System: The shrimp escape represents one of the most mechanically efficient movements in all of grappling, utilizing the principle of angular escape vectors to defeat linear pressure. Understanding the biomechanics reveals why this technique is so fundamental: when opponent applies downward and forward pressure from side control, they create a force vector that pins your shoulders and hips. The bridge creates vertical lift that momentarily disrupts this vector, while the shrimp creates horizontal and lateral movement perpendicular to their pressure line. This combination of vertical and lateral movement creates a diagonal escape vector that is mechanically difficult for opponent to counter. The frames serve as dynamic barriers that maintain the space your hip movement creates—they are not static structures but active tools that adjust angle and pressure throughout the escape sequence. The most sophisticated application of the shrimp involves understanding that it is not a single explosive movement but rather a systematic sequence: establish structure with frames, create mobility with the bridge, generate space with the shrimp, and secure the position with guard recovery. Each phase must be executed with technical precision for the system to function optimally against skilled opponents.
• Gordon Ryan: In competition, the shrimp escape is one of the highest-percentage techniques for surviving bottom side control, but timing is everything. I’ve used this escape countless times against world-class opponents, and what separates success from failure is recognizing the exact moment when opponent’s pressure transitions or their weight shifts. You cannot just randomly shrimp against elite players—they will follow and crush you. Instead, you must create the timing window through your frames. I use my frames aggressively to push and create reactions, then capitalize on their counter-pressure to execute the shrimp in the opposite direction. Against heavy pressure passers, I often chain 3-4 shrimps rapidly rather than attempting one perfect escape, because continuous movement prevents them from settling their weight effectively. The knee insertion phase is critical in high-level competition: your knee must enter like a wedge, not tentatively, and you must immediately establish gripping controls on their sleeves or collar to prevent them from smashing your guard. In no-gi, where frames are harder to maintain without fabric grips, I rely more on elbow-to-knee connection and explosive shrimp chains. This is not a technique you learn once—I still drill shrimping movements regularly because the quality of your hip escape directly correlates with your survival rate in bottom positions.
• Eddie Bravo: The shrimp escape is fundamental, but at 10th Planet we’ve developed variations that make it more effective in no-gi and against modern top pressure. Traditional shrimping sometimes fails against heavy shoulder pressure because you’re fighting directly against their strong pressure vector. What we’ve found is that adding rotational elements—like the ghost escape where you turn away first—can create angles that completely neutralize their pressure. The key innovation is understanding that you don’t always have to shrimp away from opponent; sometimes shrimping toward them while rotating creates unexpected space. We also emphasize the ‘running man’ variation where your legs are constantly pumping in a running motion while on your side, making it nearly impossible for opponent to settle and predict your movement. In terms of training methodology, we drill shrimping from bottom positions during every warmup, but we add musical rhythm and flow to the movement rather than treating it as a static drill. This develops the unconscious competency needed to hit shrimps during live rolling when your conscious mind is focused on strategy rather than mechanics. The shrimp is also the foundation for our lockdown escapes and half guard recoveries, so mastering the hip movement pattern unlocks multiple areas of the 10th Planet system.