アルカトラズ(Arukatorazu)
TransliterationTranslation: Alcatraz
The Alcatraz is a mount escape from the 10th Planet system where the bottom player frames on the opponent's hips, hip escapes to one side, uses the far-side leg to hook under the opponent's foot and elevate their hip, then pushes off with the other leg to land in half guard. [1] Developed during Eddie Bravo's Metamoris training camp with intense shark-tank sessions. The Reverse Alcatraz variant requires no initial hip escape — hook one foot, thread the other underneath to link feet together, creating lifting power. [2]
Developed by Eddie Bravo during Metamoris training camp preparation. [1]
Effective mount escape for practitioners with strong half guard games. [1]
Eddie Bravo's 10th Planet system.
Used in EBI and no-gi competition.
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Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
Defensive escape — very safe
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Mastering the Rubber Guard (Bravo, 2006)
[1] Mastering the Rubber Guard (Bravo, 2006) DVD Disc 3 Track 22
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
[1] Mastering the Rubber Guard (Bravo, 2006) DVD Disc 3 Track 22
hip mobility for escape, leg dexterity for hooking
hip flexors, core, adductors
Start by positioning your opponent above your hips, then bridge and shrimp to one side. Turn on your hip, flare your bottom knee outward, and hook your top leg around their ankle. Maintain control by holding their head down with a grip on the back of their neck, then open your guard and transition to a closed guard position.
Once you've escaped to closed guard and broken down your opponent's posture, establish a two-on-one grip and put your leg on their shoulder to set up an armbar—essentially a triangle position but with their arms inside. This version is more advanced but more effective than traditional beginner armbar setups.
Teaching the Alcatraz escape earlier in training means that by the time you become intermediate and proficient, you'll have an effective, legitimate mount escape that works against skilled opponents, rather than relying on basic techniques that don't scale.
The Alcatraz is a mount escape from the 10th Planet system where the bottom player frames on the opponent's hips, hip escapes to one side, uses the far-side leg to hook under the opponent's foot and elevate their hip, then pushes off with the other leg to land in half guard. Developed during Eddie Bravo's Metamoris training camp with intense shark-tank sessions.
Developed by Eddie Bravo during Metamoris training camp preparation.
Unified MMA: legal — Legal defensive technique; IBJJF: legal — Legal — escapes and sweeps are fundamental to BJJ, sweep from bottom scores 2…; IJF: legal — Legal; ADCC: legal — Legal, sweep scores 2 points (4 from mount/back); FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal — Legal
Danger rating 1/10. Defensive escape — very safe
The standard setup chain: Bottom mount → Frame on opponent's hips → Hip escape to one side → Far leg hooks under opponent's foot → Elevate their hip → Push off with other leg → Establish half guard.
Standard counters include: Maintain high mount — stay above the hook range / Drive hips forward — prevent the hook under the foot / Transition to S-mount — remove the hooking opportunity.
Common variants: Standard Alcatraz (hip escape + foot hook); Reverse Alcatraz (no hip escape; hook one foot, thread other underneath, li…).
Used in EBI and no-gi competition.
Top errors to watch for: Not framing on hips before hip escaping / Not hooking deep enough under the foot / Not linking feet in Reverse Alcatraz variant.
The Standard Alcatraz is also known as Arukatorazu, Alcatraz, Escape from Alcatraz, 10th Planet Alcatraz, Reverse Alcatraz.
The Alcatraz escape works well against heavier opponents because it uses leverage, not strength. Frame on their hips, hip escape to create an angle, then hook under their foot with your far leg. Since their weight is on their knee (not their foot), the hook requires minimal effort to elevate their hip. Push off with your other leg to square your hips and land in half guard. The technique was developed by Eddie Bravo during Metamoris training with heavy opponents.
