Become Fighter
How to do a hip escape
The shrimp: the movement that creates space when you are on your back.
On the floor, space is everything. The hip escape, also called the shrimp, moves your hips away from an opponent's weight so you can recover guard or stand up.
It is a movement you can drill alone. Done properly, it is a smooth wave through the body rather than a wriggle.
Key points
- Lie on your back with knees bent and feet flat.
- Push through your feet and lift your hips slightly.
- Turn onto one shoulder and slide your hips back.
- Your head and shoulders stay roughly where they are.
- Return to your back and repeat on the other side.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Wriggling without pushing. Start each rep by pushing from the feet. The legs power the movement.
- Staying flat on the back. Turn onto the shoulder. Without a turn the hips cannot slide.
- Dragging the head. Keep your head still and let your hips do the travelling.
- Short, jerky reps. Slow down and finish each rep with the knees close to the chest.
Combinations that use it
- bjj-bridge-shrimp: Bridge, Hip escape
- bjj-shrimp-shrimp: Hip escape, Hip escape
- bjj-frame-shrimp: Guard frame, Hip escape
- bjj-shrimp-shrimp-stand: Hip escape, Hip escape, Technical stand-up
- bjj-bridge-shrimp-stand: Bridge, Hip escape, Technical stand-up
- bjj-shrimp-granby: Hip escape, Granby roll
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 MMA basics module of MMA foundations.
Coming soon to the App Store and Google Play.
More from MMA basics
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.