Mount Escape | Shrimp Escape
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Shrimp Mount Escape·BJJ Joe
Kris Kim, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt under Tony Passos. Head Instructor for Yongsan BJJ at Trent Warrior Fitness Cen…
Shrimp Mount Escape
SubFamily海老マウントエスケープ(Ebi Maunto Esukēpu)
HybridTranslation: shrimp mount escape
Overview
The 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]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
Lineage
Shrimp escapes from mount are fundamental in BJJ and judo ne-waza. [1]
Competition Record
Shrimp escapes from mount are used in BJJ and MMA competition. [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 — Create a frame with the elbow against the opponent's knee, shrimp the hips to slide the knee inside and recover half guard or full guard
From high mount — Frame against the opponent's hips, shrimp out and bring the knee across to recover guard
Videos
Shrimp escape from mount
0
Shrimp Mount Escape·Matthew Blazon Yee
http://kungfufan.com
2 videos
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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 technique
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— IBJJF — Legal — escapes and sweeps are fundamental to BJJ...
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— IJF — Legal
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF— 4 from mount/back
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDF— FIAS Combat Sambo — Legal
FIAS Combat Sambo RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓The shrimp mount escape (elbow-knee escape) is the most fundamental guard recovery from mount — hip escape to create space, insert the knee, and re-establish guard (Renzo Gracie & Royler Gracie, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique, 2001)
✓The shrimp movement: turn to your side, push off with the bottom foot, and slide your hips away from the opponent
✓As the hips create space, insert the near-side knee between your body and the opponent's leg
✓The knee insertion transitions to full guard or half guard — either is a major positional improvement
✓The shrimp mount escape is complementary to the trap-and-roll — they form a two-technique escape system
✓The shrimp works best after the opponent bases wide (to resist the trap-and-roll) — wide base creates space for the shrimp
✓In competition, the shrimp mount escape is the highest-percentage escape at every belt level
✓Train the shrimp mount escape until it's automatic — it should be your instinctive response to mount
Common Mistakes
!Shrimping flat on your back without turning to the side — the shrimp requires turning to your side for proper hip movement
!Not using the arms to frame space — the arms create the initial gap; the shrimp expands it
!Only attempting one side — alternate sides to keep the opponent off-balance
!Inserting the knee too high (above the opponent's hip) — the knee goes between their thigh and your hip
!Not committing to the guard recovery after creating space — insert the knee and close guard immediately
!Shrimping directly away instead of at an angle — the shrimp should angle your hips to face the opponent
!Not chaining the shrimp with the trap-and-roll — the two escapes together are far more effective than either alone
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] Gracie Jiu-Jitsu (Gracie & Gracie, 2001) [2] Jiu-Jitsu University (Saulo Ribeiro, 2008) [3] Kodokan Judo (Jigoro Kano, 1986)
2BookBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique (Gracie & Gracie, 2001)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [2] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
3OtherJapanese Martial Arts Hybrid Terminology
Mixed Japanese-Western terminology — combines traditional Japanese terms with katakana loanwords
4CitationJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Alias sources — [1] Gracie Jiu-Jitsu (Gracie & Gracie, 2001) [2] Jiu-Jitsu University (Saulo Ribeiro, 2008) [3] Kodokan Judo (Jigoro Kano, 1986)
5CitationBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique (Gracie & Gracie, 2001)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [2] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & 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
Running Escape
GenusThe Running Escape uses a continuous, rapid shrimping motion that mimics a running movement to create maximum distance from the opponent and recover guard. [1] The defender performs rapid alternating hip escapes — shrimping to one side, then immediately to the other — creating a running-like motion that progressively creates space and makes it extremely difficult for the opponent to maintain mount. [1,2] The running escape is particularly effective against opponents who follow the defender's hip movement with their mount positioning. [2,3]
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Shrimp To Full Guard
GenusThe Shrimp To Full Guard escape uses the hip escape to create enough space to swing both legs around the opponent's waist, closing the guard and establishing full guard from the mounted position. [1] The defender bridges, frames against the opponent's hips, shrimps to one side to create space, then swings the outside leg around the opponent's back and closes the ankles. [1,2] Recovering full guard from mount is the most desirable shrimp escape outcome because it completely reverses the positional hierarchy from the worst position to a neutral/advantageous one. [2,3]
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Standard Shrimp To Half Guard
GenusThe Standard Shrimp To Half Guard escapes mount by hip escaping to one side and inserting the bottom knee between the fighters, catching the opponent's leg to establish half guard. [1] The defender frames against the opponent's hip, bridges and shrimps to create space, then threads the inside knee across the opponent's thigh and locks the legs around one of the opponent's legs. [1,2] Half guard recovery from mount is the most common successful mount escape outcome because it requires less space than full guard recovery. [2,3]
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why doesn't a single shrimp escape always work from mount?
According to BJJ Joe, you're in mount position for a reason—either your opponent is better or you made a mistake—so one shrimp won't solve it. You need to use multiple escape methods in combination, working like a machine gun constantly trying different techniques until something gives.
What's the key body position adjustment when doing a shrimp escape?
Matthew Blazon Yee emphasizes keeping your opponent close to you by hugging or bumping them, then bringing your knees into your chest to create complications for their position before executing the shrimp.
How do I position my hips to escape when my foot gets stuck?
BJJ Joe explains that you can't just move your butt sideways when trapped—instead, move your butt back at a 45-degree angle so you can tuck your heel into your own butt, create space, and then rotate out with an eggbeater motion.
What should my goal be after successfully escaping mount position?
BJJ Joe recommends your priority order: first get to half guard at minimum, then aim for butterfly guard or closed guard, and ideally progress to a sweep from there.
How does the Shrimp Mount Escape work?
The Shrimp Mount Escape subfamily covers mount escapes that use the hip escape (shrimp) movement to create space and recover guard from the mounted position. 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.
Where does the Shrimp Mount Escape come from?
The shrimp mount escape is a fundamental BJJ technique that has been a core part of the art's ground defence curriculum since its development. The hip escape is considered the most important defensive movement in BJJ, and its application to mount escape is the most common use case.
Is the Shrimp Mount Escape legal in competition?
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
How dangerous is the Shrimp 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 Shrimp Mount Escape?
The standard setup chain: Frame Defence → Trap the Arm → Bridge Explosively → Roll to Top.
How do I defend against the Shrimp 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 Shrimp 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 Shrimp Mount Escape in competition?
Shrimp escapes from mount are used in BJJ and MMA competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Shrimp Mount Escape?
Top errors to watch for: Shrimping flat on your back without turning to the side — the shrimp requires turning to your side for proper hip mov… / Not using the arms to frame space — the arms create the initial gap; the shrimp expands it / Only attempting one side — alternate sides to keep the opponent off-balance / Inserting the knee too high (above the opponent's hip) — the knee goes between their thigh and your hip.
What are other names for the Shrimp Mount Escape?
The Shrimp Mount Escape is also known as Ebi Maunto Esukēpu, Elbow Escape, Hip Escape From Mount, Ebi.