Become Fighter
The elbow-knee escape: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu guide
Shrimping out from side control or mount to get your knee back in and recover guard.
The elbow-knee escape, sometimes called the hip escape to guard, is the most common way out of side control and mount. Frame, shrimp, bring your knee back between you and your opponent, and the position becomes guard again.
It is built entirely from movements you already know: frame, shrimp, knee in. You can drill it alone, and test it with a partner at slow speed.
Key points
- Frame first, with one forearm on the hip and the other on the collarbone or shoulder.
- Shrimp away from the top person to open a gap.
- Push your knee into the gap, then your shin.
- Turn onto your side as the knee comes in. You are building a wall.
- Finish with both legs in front of the opponent, back in guard.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Pushing with the arms alone. Move your hips. The frame only holds the line.
- Shrimping towards the opponent. Go away from them. Bring the knee in after you make the gap.
- Putting the knee in too early. Make space first. A knee with no gap gets crushed.
- Giving up after one shrimp. Expect to repeat the sequence several times. Small gains add up.
Combinations that use it
- bjj-frame-elbow: Guard frame, Elbow-knee escape
- bjj-frame-elbow-guard: Guard frame, Elbow-knee escape, Closed guard
- bjj-elbow-elbow-guard: Elbow-knee escape, Elbow-knee escape, Closed guard
Related techniques
The rest is in the app
The step-by-step breakdown, the timed drill with the coach calling the shots and the quiz are part of Become Fighter Pro, where this lesson sits in the Escapes module of Jiu-jitsu foundations.
Coming soon to the App Store and Google Play.
More from Escapes
← All Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu lessons
Combat sports training is hard on the body. Warm up, stay within your limits and check with a doctor first if you have a health condition. Practise in a clear space and stop if you feel pain or dizziness. Learn partner work only under a qualified coach.