Highest Percentage Rear Mount Escape for Gi and No-Gi
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Rear Mount Escape·Stephan Kesting
The first rear mount escape you should learn. From the Defense and Escape Gameplan on iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/…
Rear Mount Escape
Family後ろ騎乗位逃げ(Ushiro Kijōi Nige)
TraditionalTranslation: rear mount escape
Overview
The Rear Mount Escape family covers all techniques for escaping back control when the opponent has established hooks (feet inside the defender's thighs) or a body triangle from behind. [1] Rear mount escape is one of the most important skill sets in grappling because back control is the highest-scoring and most dangerous position — the attacker has access to the rear naked choke while the defender cannot see or effectively counter-attack. [1],[2] Escape strategies include hand fighting (preventing the choke while working to escape), shoulder walking (sliding down and out), scooting and turning (moving the hips to face the opponent), and body triangle-specific escapes. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
Rear mount escapes are among the most critical defensive skills in grappling because back control is the most dominant position — the attacker has access to the rear naked choke while the defender cannot see or effectively counter-attack. [1] Ribeiro devotes an entire chapter to surviving and escaping back control, emphasizing that hand fighting to prevent the choke must happen simultaneously with the positional escape. [1] In MMA, back control leads to finish more often than any other position. [2]
Lineage
Back escape methodology is taught across all BJJ lineages, with the Gracie self-defense curriculum including back escape as a fundamental survival skill. [3] Modern back escape systems have been refined by competitors like Marcelo Garcia, whose shoulder-walking escape method became widely adopted in competition BJJ. [2]
Competition Record
Rear mount escapes are critical in MMA and BJJ competition, as back control leads to the most common submission finishes. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Displacing the top player's weight and creating space to recover guard or reverse position
Joints Involved — Hips (bridging power), core (rotation for upa/trap-and-roll), elbows (framing for space creation)
Force Vector — Upward bridge combined with lateral rotation — explosive hip extension momentarily unweights the top player
Escape Mechanic — Bridge-and-roll uses the opponent's trapped arm and leg to direct the reversal — leverage overcomes weight disadvantage
Position & Entry
From bottom mount — Use bridging, framing, and hip escape (shrimping) to create space and recover guard or reverse the position
From the opponent's attack — When the opponent reaches for a submission from mount, use the opening to escape
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
4
Moderate4/10
Back escapes must address choke threat while escaping; urgency increases 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/transitional technique
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— IBJJF — Legal
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— IJF — Legal
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF— ADCC — Legal
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDF— NCAA Folkstyle — Legal, escape scores 1 point, reversal s...
NCAA Wrestling Rules 2025-26PDFTraining Notes
✓Rear mount escape is the most critical escape in grappling — back control with hooks is the highest-percentage finishing position (Danaher, Back Attacks, 2018)
✓The escape sequence: (1) protect the neck with hand fighting, (2) get your back to the mat, (3) clear the bottom hook, (4) turn to face the opponent
✓Always escape toward the side where the opponent's choking arm is — this denies the angle for the rear naked choke
✓The bottom hook (closest to the mat) is cleared first — trap it with your same-side leg and slide your hips down
✓Hand fighting and positional escape work simultaneously — fight the hands while moving your hips to the mat
✓The seatbelt grip (over-under) must be addressed: control the top arm and turn toward the underhook side
✓In MMA, rear mount escapes are urgent due to ground strikes — strikes from the back are fight-ending
✓Train rear mount escapes as your primary positional escape — spend dedicated rounds starting from rear mount
Common Mistakes
!Turning away from the opponent — turning away exposes the neck; always turn toward the choking arm side
!Trying to clear both hooks simultaneously — clear one at a time; bottom hook first
!Ignoring the hands to focus on the hooks — the choke is the immediate threat; fight the hands while working the position
!Bridging straight up — bridges must be directional (toward the underhook side) to create escape angles
!Panicking when the opponent attempts the choke — calm hand fighting is more effective than frantic movement
!Reaching behind you for the opponent — keep hands in front protecting the neck; reaching back exposes submissions
!Not training rear mount escapes with the body triangle — body triangle rear mount requires specific escape mechanics
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Frame Defence — establish forearm frames to create initial space and prevent attacks
2Trap the Arm — control one of the opponent's posting arms to remove their base
3Bridge Explosively — drive hips up and to the side to off-balance the top player
4Roll to Top — continue the momentum to end in the top position
Sources & References
Primary Source
Jiu-Jitsu University (Saulo Ribeiro, 2008)
1BookJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Alias sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [2] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
2BookBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique (Gracie & Gracie, 2001)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Saulo Ribeiro, 2008) [2] Mastering Jujitsu (Renzo Gracie & John Danaher, 2003)
Standard Japanese martial arts terminology (kanji/hiragana)
4OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)
Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)
5CitationJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Alias sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [2] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
6CitationBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique (Gracie & Gracie, 2001)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Saulo Ribeiro, 2008) [2] Mastering Jujitsu (Renzo Gracie & John Danaher, 2003)
Community
Athletics
Requires
explosive hip bridge power, shrimping ability, timing
Favours
strong glutes and hip extensors for powerful bridges
Key muscles
glutes, hip extensors, core, quadriceps
Sub-techniques
Body Triangle Escape
SubFamilyThe Body Triangle Escape subfamily covers techniques for escaping when the opponent has secured back control with a body triangle — legs locked in a figure-four around the defender's torso rather than using standard hooks. [1] The body triangle is one of the most difficult back controls to escape because the interlocked legs create a powerful compression grip that is harder to clear than standard hooks. [1,2] Body triangle escapes typically involve addressing the locked legs first by prying them apart or adjusting hip angle to relieve the squeeze, then proceeding with standard back escape techniques. [2,3]
2 genera·2 techniquesExplore
Hand Fighting Escape
SubFamilyThe Hand Fighting Escape subfamily covers back escape techniques that prioritise defending against the choke through hand fighting while systematically working to clear hooks and turn to face the opponent. [1] Hand fighting escapes recognise that the primary threat from back control is the rear naked choke, so the first priority is preventing the choke grip while the secondary priority is escaping the position entirely. [1,2] These escapes use two-on-one hand control, peeling grips, and shoulder rotation to manage the choking threat while creating escape opportunities. [2,3]
2 genera·2 techniquesExplore
Scoot And Turn Escape
SubFamilyThe Scoot And Turn Escape subfamily covers back escape techniques where the defender slides the hips downward and sideways while turning to face the attacker, using the scooting motion to create the space needed to extract from back control. [1] The scoot creates space between the defender's back and the attacker's chest, while the turn converts that space into a facing position where the defender can establish guard. [1,2] The scoot and turn is one of the most commonly taught back escapes because it works against both hooks and body triangle. [2,3]
1 genera·1 techniquesExplore
Shoulder Walk Escape
SubFamilyThe Shoulder Walk Escape subfamily covers back escape techniques where the defender walks the shoulders along the mat, sliding downward and out of the attacker's back control by incrementally shifting the upper body. [1] The shoulder walk uses small, alternating shoulder movements to progressively slide the defender's body downward, eventually allowing them to slip below the attacker's hooks and escape. [1,2] The shoulder walk is particularly effective because it requires minimal explosive movement and can be performed even under heavy back control. [2,3]
2 genera·2 techniquesExplore
Notes
Rear mount escapes begin with hand-fighting — stripping the choking hand and controlling the wrists. The primary escape direction is toward the choking arm side (not away from it) to prevent the RNC from being locked. Then clear the hooks one at a time. (Danaher, Back Attacks: Enter the System; Ribeiro, Jiu-Jitsu University)
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I focus on controlling my opponent's arm or their legs first when escaping the rear mount?
According to Stephan Kesting, you should prioritize controlling the arm and keep your hands there as long as possible—often you won't need to use your hands on the legs at all. By walking and turning while pinning the thigh, the opponent's hook naturally becomes shallow and harder to maintain.
What should I do if I keep hitting resistance when trying my basic rear mount escape?
Stephan Kesting emphasizes not abandoning the basic escape when you meet resistance—instead, make adjustments within that same escape rather than switching to something fancy. The key is to master the fundamentals through repetition and learn how to adapt them to common problems.
What's the core movement pattern I need to practice for rear mount escape?
The essential pattern is 'walking and turning'—you drive your head to the mat, walk to the side, and turn your hip repeatedly. Kesting stresses that you really need to practice this walking and turning motion, as it's fundamental to making the escape work against resistance.
If I can't fully reverse to top position, is ending up in half guard still a win?
Yes—Stephan Kesting notes that half guard is 'much better than having him on my back and choking me,' so it's a legitimate positive outcome even if it's not the ideal best-case scenario of reversing to top position.
How does the Rear Mount Escape work?
The Rear Mount Escape family covers all techniques for escaping back control when the opponent has established hooks (feet inside the defender's thighs) or a body triangle from behind. Rear mount escape is one of the most important skill sets in grappling because back control is the highest-scoring and most dangerous position — the attacker has access to the rear naked choke while the defender cannot see or effectively counter-attack.
Where does the Rear Mount Escape come from?
Rear mount escapes have been developed alongside back control techniques since the earliest grappling systems. BJJ's emphasis on back control as the ultimate dominant position drove the development of the most comprehensive rear mount escape curriculum in any grappling art.
Is the Rear Mount Escape legal in competition?
Unified MMA: legal — Legal defensive/transitional technique; IBJJF: legal — Legal; IJF: legal — Legal; ADCC: legal — Legal; UWW: legal — Legal, escape scores 1 point (freestyle), reversal scores 1 point; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal; NCAA Folkstyle: legal — Legal, escape scores 1 point, reversal scores 2 points
How dangerous is the Rear Mount Escape?
Danger rating 4/10. Moderate — back escapes must address choke threat while escaping; urgency increases injury risk
How do I set up the Rear Mount Escape?
The standard setup chain: Frame Defence → Trap the Arm → Bridge Explosively → Roll to Top.
How do I defend against the Rear Mount Escape?
Standard counters include: Heavy Hips — maintain low hip pressure and wide base to absorb the bridge / Grapevine — hook legs inside opponent's thighs to neutralize hip movement / Post Hand — post arm on the mat in the direction of the bridge to maintain balance.
What are the variants of the Rear Mount Escape?
Common variants: Bridge and roll (upa) (explosive bridge trapping arm and leg to reverse position); Elbow-knee escape (framing and shrimping to recover guard); Foot drag escape (dragging the opponent's foot with the heel to create spac…); Combination escape (bridging to force a reaction, then shrimping when the opp…).
How effective is the Rear Mount Escape in competition?
Rear mount escapes are critical in MMA and BJJ competition, as back control leads to the most common submission finishes.
What are common mistakes when doing the Rear Mount Escape?
Top errors to watch for: Turning away from the opponent — turning away exposes the neck; always turn toward the choking arm side / Trying to clear both hooks simultaneously — clear one at a time; bottom hook first / Ignoring the hands to focus on the hooks — the choke is the immediate threat; fight the hands while working the position / Bridging straight up — bridges must be directional (toward the underhook side) to create escape angles.
What are other names for the Rear Mount Escape?
The Rear Mount Escape is also known as Ushiro Kijōi Nige, Back Mount Escape, Hooks In Escape.