How To Shrimp In BJJ (A.K.A. Elbow Escape)
0
Shrimp Recovery·Michael Foley's Academy of Martial Arts
How To Shrimp In BJJ (A.K.A. Elbow Escape) In this video, I show how to perform the continuous elbow escape drill calle…
Shrimp Recovery
SubFamilyエビ(Ebi)
TraditionalTranslation: shrimp escape
Overview
The Shrimp Recovery subfamily covers defensive techniques that use the shrimp (hip escape) movement to create space and recover guard position when under pressure or when the guard has been partially passed. [1] The shrimp is the single most important defensive movement in BJJ — it involves turning onto one side and pushing the hips away from the opponent, creating the space needed to reinsert a knee or leg between the fighters. [1],[2] The shrimp recovery is the primary method of recovering guard after a partial pass and is drilled thousands of times in every BJJ practitioner's training career. [2],[3]
History & Origin
The shrimp movement was developed in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as the fundamental ground-based escape and recovery technique, built upon earlier judo ne-waza (ground work) movement principles. [1] Helio Gracie's emphasis on efficient movement from the bottom position helped establish the shrimp as the cornerstone defensive movement in BJJ. [2],[3]
Effectiveness
Shrimp recovery uses the hip escape to create space and recover guard from bottom positions. [1]
Lineage
The shrimp is the most fundamental movement in BJJ ground fighting. [1]
Competition Record
Essential in all BJJ and MMA ground fighting. [1]
Images
No images yet for this technique.
Sign in to suggest an image.
Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Preventing or reducing the effect of an incoming attack through physical interception, evasion, or structural positioning
Joints Involved — Varies by defence type — blocks use arms/shins, evasions use head/body movement, sprawls use hips
Force Vector — Opposing or tangential to the attack — either absorbing, redirecting, or evading the incoming force
Defensive Principle — Economy of motion — the best defence uses minimal movement to neutralise the maximum threat
Position & Entry
From fighting stance (under fire) — Bring both hands to the head, elbows tight, tuck the chin — absorb the flurry while protecting vital targets
As emergency defence — When overwhelmed by volume, shell up in the cover position until the opponent pauses
Videos
BJJ Fundamentals Warm Up - Reverse Shrimp
0
Shrimp Recovery·Otomi Martial Arts | Caio Terra Association
Quick Start your child today for only $49! - https://otomimartialarts.sites.zenplanner.com/registration.cfm?payment=MEMB…
2 videos
What Instructors Say
The shrimp recovery—also called the elbow escape—is a foundational hip-displacement movement in BJJ that enables practitioners to create space and transition out of positional disadvantage, particularly from mounted or side-control positions. The unifying principle across variants is the sequential use of shoulder contact, core engagement, and leg drive to pivot the hips away from an opponent's weight. Michael Foley's Academy of Martial Arts identifies four distinct mechanical variations: the standard shrimp (both feet pushing simultaneously), inside-leg-dominant shrimp (outside leg stays flat), outside-leg-dominant shrimp (inside leg stays flat), and the slide shrimp (minimal hip elevation, continuous contact maintained). The choice among variants depends on positional constraints—leg positioning relative to the opponent, available base, and the urgency of space creation. Otomi Martial Arts emphasizes progressive drill sequencing for skill acquisition, beginning with basic scooting to establish push-pull differentiation, progressing through side-lying hip isolation, and advancing to single-leg versions that replicate live defensive scenarios. Both instructors stress foot-to-mat contact and core stability as non-negotiable technical foundations. The movement serves as a staple warm-up drill in many BJJ programs, trained repeatedly to develop neuromotor efficiency and hip mobility before rolling.
Synthesized from 2 instructors
- Michael Foley's Academy of Martial Arts — How To Shrimp In BJJ (A.K.A. Elbow Escape): Identified and demonstrated four mechanical variants of shrimping (standard, inside-leg-dominant, outside-leg-dominant, slide shrimp), emphasizing foot grip and hand frame positioning. Described shrimping as a common line-drill warm-up movement taught to beginners.
- Otomi Martial Arts | Caio Terra Association — BJJ Fundamentals Warm Up - Reverse Shrimp: Provided progressive drill pedagogy emphasizing core engagement, shoulder-to-hip sequencing, and single-leg progressions. Highlighted scooting and side-lying isolation drills as precursor movements to build hamstring activation and push-pull differentiation.
Learn This Technique
No instructional courses yet for this technique.
Sign in to suggest a course.
Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
2
Low2/10
Guard retention uses frames and hip movement; minimal direct injury risk
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
— Unified MMA — Legal defensive technique
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— IBJJF — Legal
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— IJF — Legal defensive action
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDFWBC/Boxing — Legal {src— WBC Rules of Boxing}
— WKF — Legal
WKF Competition Rules 2024PDF— WT — Legal
WT Competition Rules 2024PDFTraining Notes
✓The shrimp (hip escape) moves your hips away from the opponent by pushing off with your foot and sliding the hips backward — the fundamental BJJ escape movement
✓Bridge slightly to unload your hips, then push off the foot nearest the opponent while sliding your hips away
✓The shrimp creates the space to re-insert your knee or foot between you and the opponent — recovering guard
✓Chain multiple shrimps together: one shrimp may not be enough; two or three in succession create more distance
✓The shrimp is used in guard retention, side control escapes, mount escapes, and every bottom position
✓Train the shrimp as a solo drill until the movement is automatic — at least 10 per warm-up on each side
✓The quality of your shrimp determines the quality of your entire bottom game in BJJ
Common Mistakes
!Shrimping with flat hips — turn to your side before shrimping; flat shrimps barely move
!Not bridging before the shrimp — the bridge unloads your hips from the mat; without it, you drag against the floor
!Pushing with the wrong foot — push with the foot closest to the opponent
!Shrimping toward the opponent — move AWAY to create space
!Not re-inserting a knee or foot after shrimping — the shrimp creates space; use it to re-guard
!Making only one shrimp and giving up — chain 2-3 shrimps if the first doesn't create enough distance
!Shrimping without frames — combine the shrimp with a frame on the opponent's hip to maintain the space created
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Anticipate the Attack — read the opponent's intention through body cues
2Execute Defence — apply the specific defensive technique with proper timing
3Recover Stance — return to a balanced fighting position immediately
4Counter or Disengage — capitalize on the opening or create safe distance
Sources & References
Primary Source
Boxing (Edwin Haislet, 1940)
1BookBoxing (Dempsey, 1950)
Alias sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [2] Fundamentals of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Danaher, 2012) [3] Kodokan Judo (Kano, 1986)
2BookMuay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus, 2002)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Official karate technique names (和語/漢語)
4OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)
Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)
5CitationBoxing (Dempsey, 1950)
Alias sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [2] Fundamentals of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Danaher, 2012) [3] Kodokan Judo (Kano, 1986)
6CitationMuay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus, 2002)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Community
Athletics
Requires
reaction speed, structural body mechanics, defensive awareness
Favours
quick reflexes and conditioned defensive surfaces
Key muscles
varies — forearms (blocking), legs (movement), core (stability)
Sub-techniques
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the key to generating power in a shrimp escape?
You need to use your core to move your body in the direction of your feet. Michael Foley's Academy emphasizes that you should bring your toes as close to your hips as possible, press your heels down, and push with your outside leg while digging your toe into the mat to shift your hips back.
Should I ever shift my foot position during a shrimp escape?
No—Michael Foley's Academy emphasizes that you should not shift your foot position when transitioning between sides; instead, you repeat the same movement on the other side while maintaining your foot grip on the floor.
How should my feet be positioned to execute a shrimp properly?
Bring your toes as close to your hips as you can, then press your heels down into the mat. Michael Foley's Academy stresses the importance of maintaining foot contact with the floor and digging your toes in to generate leverage for the escape.
How does the Shrimp Recovery work?
The Shrimp Recovery subfamily covers defensive techniques that use the shrimp (hip escape) movement to create space and recover guard position when under pressure or when the guard has been partially passed. The shrimp is the single most important defensive movement in BJJ — it involves turning onto one side and pushing the hips away from the opponent, creating the space needed to reinsert a knee or leg between the fighters.
Where does the Shrimp Recovery come from?
The shrimp movement was developed in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as the fundamental ground-based escape and recovery technique, built upon earlier judo ne-waza (ground work) movement principles. Helio Gracie's emphasis on efficient movement from the bottom position helped establish the shrimp as the cornerstone defensive movement in BJJ.
Is the Shrimp Recovery legal in competition?
Unified MMA: legal — Legal defensive technique; IBJJF: legal — Legal; IJF: legal — Legal defensive action; WBC/Boxing: legal — Legal; WKF: legal — Legal; WT: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Shrimp Recovery?
Danger rating 2/10. Low — guard retention uses frames and hip movement; minimal direct injury risk
How do I set up the Shrimp Recovery?
The standard setup chain: Anticipate the Attack → Execute Defence → Recover Stance → Counter or Disengage.
How do I defend against the Shrimp Recovery?
Standard counters include: Timing — attack when the defence is recovering or between movements / Feint — use deception to create openings in the defensive structure / Angle Change — attack from an unexpected angle that the defence does not cover.
What are the variants of the Shrimp Recovery?
Common variants: Standard defence (primary defensive technique from the most common position); Reactive defence (triggered by the opponent's attack, minimal movement for …); Proactive defence (anticipating the attack and positioning to neutralise it …); Counter defence (using the defensive movement to create an immediate count…).
How effective is the Shrimp Recovery in competition?
Essential in all BJJ and MMA ground fighting.
What are common mistakes when doing the Shrimp Recovery?
Top errors to watch for: Shrimping with flat hips — turn to your side before shrimping; flat shrimps barely move / Not bridging before the shrimp — the bridge unloads your hips from the mat; without it, you drag against the floor / Pushing with the wrong foot — push with the foot closest to the opponent / Shrimping toward the opponent — move AWAY to create space.
What are other names for the Shrimp Recovery?
The Shrimp Recovery is also known as Ebi, Hip Escape, Shrimping.