2 Ways to Escape the Mount EVERY Time!
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Mount Escape·BIG OSS Jiu-Jitsu Channel
ESCAPE FOR ALL BELT LEVEL! IF YOU ARE HAVING HARD TIME GETTING OUT OF MOUNT THIS VIDEO IS FOR YOU. I am very happy to s…
Mount Escape
Familyマウントエスケープ(Maunto Esukēpu)
TransliterationTranslation: mount escape
Overview
The Mount Escape family covers all techniques for escaping the mount position, where the opponent sits on top of the defender's torso with legs straddling the body. [1] Mount is one of the most dominant positions in grappling and MMA — the top fighter has gravitational advantage, access to strikes, and can transition to submissions — making mount escapes among the most critical survival skills. [1],[2] Primary escape methods include the trap and roll (upa), shrimp to half guard or full guard, heel drag escapes, and kipping escapes. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Mount escapes have been fundamental to ground fighting since the earliest grappling systems, with the bridge and roll being one of the most ancient and instinctive escape techniques. [1] BJJ expanded the mount escape curriculum to include multiple escape paths — trap and roll, shrimp, heel drag, kipping — providing options for different opponent reactions. [2],[3]
Effectiveness
Mount escapes are essential survival techniques — the mount is one of the most dominant positions in grappling, giving the top player access to strikes, chokes, and armlocks while the bottom player has limited offensive options. [1] Saulo Ribeiro rates mount escape as one of the first techniques a white belt must learn, as inability to escape mount makes all other skills irrelevant. [1] In MMA, fighters trapped in mount absorb an average of 3-5 significant strikes per minute, making rapid escape critical for survival. [2]
Lineage
Mount escapes are taught across all BJJ lineages, with the upa (trap and roll) and elbow escape (shrimp) tracing directly to Helio Gracie's foundational curriculum. [3] The Gracie self-defense methodology positions mount escape as the single most important ground technique for a smaller person facing a larger attacker. [4]
Competition Record
Mount escapes are critical in BJJ and MMA, as mount is one of the most dominant positions. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Breaking the opponent's leg control to advance to a more dominant position
Joints Involved — Hips (posture and pressure), knees (opening the guard with knee-in or standing), hands (grip fighting)
Force Vector — Forward pressure (stack/smash) or backward posture (stand-up break) to open the closed guard
Passing Mechanic — Once the guard is opened, speed passing, pressure passing, or toreando passing advances the position
Position & Entry
From bottom mount — Trap the opponent's arm and same-side foot, bridge explosively (hip extension) and roll them over to end in their guard
From low mount — When the opponent is low, bridge and turn into the trapped side to reverse the position
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
3
Moderate3/10
Bottom escapes from mount/side control; bridge and hip escape mechanics (Ribeiro 2008)
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Beginner
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
✓Mount escape is one of the most fundamental skills in grappling — the mount is a dominant position that offers submissions, strikes (MMA), and point advantages (Saulo Ribeiro, Jiu-Jitsu University, 2008)
✓The two foundational mount escapes: trap-and-roll (upa) and shrimp (elbow-knee escape) — every other mount escape builds on these
✓The trap-and-roll uses a bridge to flip the opponent over your body; the shrimp uses hip movement to recover guard
✓Chain the two escapes together: if the trap-and-roll fails, immediately shrimp; if the shrimp fails, try the trap-and-roll again
✓Frames are essential: forearms on the opponent's hips prevent them from climbing high and advancing to technical mount
✓In MMA, mount escapes are urgent due to ground-and-pound — the mounted fighter absorbs punishment while trying to escape
✓Timing escapes to the opponent's attack attempts is the highest-level skill — when they reach for a submission, their base is compromised
✓Train from mount bottom every session: 2-minute rounds of escape drilling develop the reflexes and conditioning needed
Common Mistakes
!Pushing the opponent with straight arms — extended arms invite armbar and triangle attacks; keep elbows tight
!Bridging without trapping a hand and foot — the bridge is wasted if the opponent can post
!Lying flat and giving up — constant escape attempts are mandatory; passive defence leads to worse positions
!Turning to turtle — giving your back from mount bottom is trading one bad position for another
!Escaping to the same side every time — the opponent reads patterns; alternate sides
!Using only one escape technique — chain trap-and-roll with shrimp for unpredictable escaping
!Not training mount escapes under fatigue — most real escapes happen when you're tired
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] Kodokan Judo (Kano, 1986)
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)
3OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
4CitationJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Alias sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [2] Kodokan Judo (Kano, 1986)
5CitationBrazilian 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
Heel Drag Escape
SubFamilyThe Heel Drag Escape subfamily covers mount escape techniques where the defender uses one foot to hook and drag the opponent's ankle, creating enough space to insert the knee and transition to half guard. [1] The heel drag works by collapsing the opponent's base on one side — by hooking their ankle and dragging it toward the defender's body, the opponent's leg is displaced, creating space for the defender's knee to enter. [1,2] The heel drag is particularly effective when the opponent maintains a high mount or grapevine position. [2,3]
1 genera·1 techniquesExplore
Kipping Escape
SubFamilyThe Kipping Escape subfamily covers mount escape techniques that use a sharp hip thrust (kip) to explosively create space, disrupting the opponent's base and enabling escape or reversal. [1] The kipping motion drives the hips upward in a sharp, explosive buck that momentarily elevates the opponent, creating a window of opportunity to insert the knee for half guard or to execute a shrimp. [1,2] The kipping escape is an explosive technique that relies on timing and power rather than gradual positional improvement. [2,3]
1 genera·1 techniquesExplore
Shrimp Mount Escape
SubFamilyThe Shrimp Mount Escape subfamily covers mount escapes that use the hip escape (shrimp) movement to create space and recover guard from the mounted position. [1] The shrimp mount escape is the most commonly used mount escape technique because it allows the defender to recover guard without rolling the opponent over — the defender simply creates enough hip space to reinsert a knee or leg and reguard. [1,2] Variations include shrimping to full guard, shrimping to half guard, and the running escape which uses a continuous shrimping motion. [2,3]
3 genera·3 techniquesExplore
Trap And Roll
SubFamilyThe Trap and Roll (also known as Upa or Bridge and Roll) is the most fundamental mount escape in BJJ — the bottom fighter traps one of the mounted opponent's arms and the same-side foot, then bridges explosively at a 45-degree angle to roll the opponent over, ending in their closed guard. [1] This is typically the first mount escape taught to every BJJ beginner because it is mechanically simple, requires no flexibility, and works against opponents of all sizes when executed with proper timing. [1,2] The technique exploits a fundamental principle: if the opponent cannot post with their hand AND cannot base with their foot on one side, a powerful bridge in that direction will roll them over regardless of their weight. [2,3] The trap and roll is most effective when the mounted opponent reaches for a submission or pushes off the chest, creating the arm-trapping opportunity. [3]
2 genera·2 techniquesExplore
Notes
The two fundamental mount escapes — elbow-knee escape (shrimping) and bridge-and-roll (upa) — are the first escapes taught in every BJJ school. Saulo Ribeiro considers the elbow-knee escape the single most important technique in jiu-jitsu. (Ribeiro, Jiu-Jitsu University)
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the key principle to remember when escaping from mount position?
According to BIG OSS Jiu-Jitsu, the fundamental rule is: if you push, it's to escape; if you pull, it's to attack. Understanding when to use each action is critical, as many practitioners forget the correct timing and pull or push at the wrong moment.
Should I focus on defending against the cross face when escaping mount?
No—BIG OSS Jiu-Jitsu emphasizes that the real power in mount comes from your opponent's hips, not the cross face. Instead of worrying about the cross face, focus your hands on controlling your opponent's hip, which is where their power originates.
What are the main dangers to watch out for when escaping mount?
BIG OSS Jiu-Jitsu cautions to be aware of arm chokes, back takes, and the Ezekiel choke while escaping. Since you're in a bad position, avoid exposing yourself too much as you work your escape.
Why is practicing mount escape important even if I prefer to be on top?
BIG OSS Jiu-Jitsu stresses that mount escape is the foundation of your jiu-jitsu—when you find yourself in a bad position, knowing what to do makes all the difference. Regular practice ensures you have reliable options at any belt level.
How does the Mount Escape work?
The Mount Escape family covers all techniques for escaping the mount position, where the opponent sits on top of the defender's torso with legs straddling the body. Mount is one of the most dominant positions in grappling and MMA — the top fighter has gravitational advantage, access to strikes, and can transition to submissions — making mount escapes among the most critical survival skills.
Where does the Mount Escape come from?
Mount escapes have been fundamental to ground fighting since the earliest grappling systems, with the bridge and roll being one of the most ancient and instinctive escape techniques. BJJ expanded the mount escape curriculum to include multiple escape paths — trap and roll, shrimp, heel drag, kipping — providing options for different opponent reactions.
Is the 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 Mount Escape?
Danger rating 3/10. Moderate — bottom escapes from mount/side control; bridge and hip escape mechanics (Ribeiro 2008)
How do I set up the Mount Escape?
The standard setup chain: Frame Defence → Trap the Arm → Bridge Explosively → Roll to Top.
How do I defend against the 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 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 Mount Escape in competition?
Mount escapes are critical in BJJ and MMA, as mount is one of the most dominant positions.
What are common mistakes when doing the Mount Escape?
Top errors to watch for: Pushing the opponent with straight arms — extended arms invite armbar and triangle attacks; keep elbows tight / Bridging without trapping a hand and foot — the bridge is wasted if the opponent can post / Lying flat and giving up — constant escape attempts are mandatory; passive defence leads to worse positions / Turning to turtle — giving your back from mount bottom is trading one bad position for another.
What are other names for the Mount Escape?
The Mount Escape is also known as Maunto Esukēpu, Full Mount Escape, Tate Shiho Gatame Escape.