Become Fighter
Granby roll: Wrestling guide
Roll out from underneath the rider to a position facing them.
The Granby roll is a way to escape when the rider is heavy on your back. You turn under their weight onto your shoulders and bring your legs between you and them.
It looks dramatic but is simple: you make a gap with your hips, roll over a shoulder, and face the rider.
The roll should never be on your head or neck. Practise on a mat with a coach and start from your knees.
Key points
- Turn your head to the side and roll across your shoulder, not your neck.
- Get one elbow to the mat to make a bridge for your hips.
- Bring your legs through the gap between you and the rider.
- End facing the rider on your hip with your feet between you.
- Stand up or get an angle for a takedown as soon as you are free.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Rolling over the head. Your head should stay off the mat. Roll through your shoulder.
- Waiting too long. Roll before the rider locks your hips.
- Staying on your back. Come up. A rolled escape needs a follow-up.
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 Bottom escapes and reversals module of Wrestling foundations.
Get it on Google Play. Coming soon to the App Store.
More from Bottom escapes and reversals
- Base, hand control and stand-up: Wrestling guide
- The switch: Wrestling guide
- Chaining escapes: Wrestling guide
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.