The First 3 Mount Escapes You Need To Know in BJJ
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Shrimp To Full Guard·Brandon Mccaghren
When you first start Jiu Jitsu, you're gonna be getting stuck in the bottom of mount. A lot. Even by people who aren't v…
Shrimp To Full Guard
Genus海老フルガードへ(Ebi Furu Gādo e)
HybridTranslation: shrimp to full guard
Overview
The 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]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
Shrimp to full guard escapes from mount by creating space and recovering full closed guard. [1]
Lineage
A fundamental BJJ mount escape. [1]
Competition Record
Used in BJJ competition. [1]
Images
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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
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 space for knee insertion
Combination escape — bridging to force a reaction, then shrimping when the opponent posts
Videos
Master the BRIDGE-Shrimp Combo!
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Shrimp To Full Guard·TeachMeGrappling Coach Brian
This video I work with my guys on coordinating the bridge-shrimp combination to escape. Check out the details and you a…
3 Most Common BJJ Shrimping Mistakes
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Shrimp To Full Guard·Stephan Kesting
The 3 most common mistakes made when doing the shrimping motion in BJJ. Download my guide to BJJ at http://www.grapplea…
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3 videosWhat Instructors Say
The shrimp-to-full-guard escape is a fundamental mount escape that combines hip displacement with guard recovery. Stephan Kesting emphasizes the mechanics of one-legged shrimping, identifying three critical errors: turning toward the raised leg instead of away from it, remaining flat on the mat rather than lifting the torso off the ground onto the shoulder and foot, and executing insufficient hip flexion at the waist. Kesting stresses that proper shrimping requires a 90-degree bend between the torso and thighs to maximize hip travel and explosive speed across the mat. Brandon Mccaghren covers the knee-elbow escape variant, where the bottom player frames the top player's opposite hip while tucking the elbow inside, then flattens one leg between the opponent's legs and executes the escape by pulling knee and elbow together, transitioning to half guard with an underhook positioned for further attacks. Coach Brian of TeachMeGrappling focuses on the bridge-shrimp combo from side control, stressing that directional awareness is essential—the player must bridge toward the direction they can look, not away from shoulder pressure controlling the jaw. He emphasizes loading the feet, pulling the head back to open the chest, and executing the elbow-to-knee connection during the hip escape for guard recovery. All three instructors agree on the explosive, full-body nature of the technique and the importance of proper foot and shoulder positioning, though they address different entry positions and frame variations.
Synthesized from 3 instructors
- Stephan Kesting — 3 Most Common BJJ Shrimping Mistakes: Detailed mechanical analysis of one-legged shrimping errors: incorrect turning direction, staying flat on the mat, and insufficient hip flexion; emphasized the 90-degree bend requirement for maximum distance and speed.
- Brandon Mccaghren — The First 3 Mount Escapes You Need To Know in BJJ: Presented the knee-elbow escape as a mount escape option, with emphasis on framing the opposite hip, tucking the elbow inside, flattening the leg between opponent's legs, and transitioning to half guard with an underhook.
- TeachMeGrappling Coach Brian — Master the BRIDGE-Shrimp Combo!: Focused on the bridge-shrimp combination from side control, stressing directional awareness relative to neck/jaw control, proper foot loading, head positioning, and the elbow-to-knee connection for guard recovery.
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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 to full guard extends the shrimp escape further — instead of stopping at half guard, the knee passes all the way through to recover full closed guard (Renzo Gracie & Royler Gracie, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique, 2001)
✓After the initial shrimp, thread the knee completely through the opponent's guard — the foot hooks behind their back
✓Close the guard immediately — ankles crossed, hips close to the opponent
✓The shrimp to full guard is the ideal mount escape outcome — closed guard is an offensive position
✓This escape requires more space than the half guard recovery — a deeper shrimp or multiple shrimps may be needed
✓The leg thread must go between the opponent's arm and their body — thread inside, not outside
✓Once in closed guard, immediately establish grips and begin your guard offense
✓The transition from mount bottom to closed guard is the single largest positional improvement available
Common Mistakes
!Not creating enough space for the full guard recovery — if the space is insufficient, settle for half guard instead
!Threading the leg outside the opponent's arm — the leg must go between their arm and body for proper guard closure
!Not closing the guard immediately — an open guard after escaping mount is vulnerable to re-passing
!Attempting full guard recovery when half guard is available — take what you can get; half guard is a significant improvement
!Over-extending the leg thread and losing balance — the thread should be controlled and measured
!Not using frames to maintain the space during the leg thread — frames hold the space while the leg works
!Attempting the full guard in no-gi with a sweaty opponent — the guard closure may slip; half guard may be more secure
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Frame on Hips — place forearms against the opponent's hip and shoulder to create space
2Hip Escape (Shrimp) — push off the frames and slide hips away from the opponent
3Insert Knee — bring the inside knee in as a shield between you and the opponent
4Recover Guard — pull the leg through to re-establish guard 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)
2BookBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique (Gracie & Gracie, 2001)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
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)
5CitationBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique (Gracie & Gracie, 2001)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
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
Frequently Asked Questions
When I bridge and shrimp, should I look to the side or keep my head neutral?
According to Coach Brian at TeachMeGrappling, you must look toward your opponent when bridging—this is the number one requirement. If his shoulder is smashing you one direction, bridge toward him, not away. Looking keeps your chest open and allows you to load properly before the hip escape.
What's the difference between a bridge and a hip escape (shrimp)?
Coach Brian explains that the bridge is the initial load where your hips rise up while you're looking toward your opponent, and then the hip escape is when your knee comes to your elbow as you slide underneath them to recover guard. They're two connected movements, not the same thing.
Where should my feet be positioned when I bridge?
Your feet should not be directly under your hips; instead, position them slightly off to the side. This foot placement, combined with looking back and opening your chest, gives you the proper angle and leverage for an effective bridge before your shrimp.
How does the Shrimp To Full Guard work?
The 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. 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.
Where does the Shrimp To Full Guard come from?
The shrimp to full guard is a fundamental BJJ mount escape that has been taught since the art's early development, representing the ideal outcome of a mount escape attempt. It remains one of the most commonly drilled escape techniques.
Is the Shrimp To Full Guard 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 To Full Guard?
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 To Full Guard?
The standard setup chain: Frame on Hips → Hip Escape (Shrimp) → Insert Knee → Recover Guard.
How do I defend against the Shrimp To Full Guard?
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 To Full Guard?
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 To Full Guard in competition?
Used in BJJ competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Shrimp To Full Guard?
Top errors to watch for: Not creating enough space for the full guard recovery — if the space is insufficient, settle for half guard instead / Threading the leg outside the opponent's arm — the leg must go between their arm and body for proper guard closure / Not closing the guard immediately — an open guard after escaping mount is vulnerable to re-passing / Attempting full guard recovery when half guard is available — take what you can get; half guard is a significant impr….
What are other names for the Shrimp To Full Guard?
The Shrimp To Full Guard is also known as Ebi Furu Gādo e, Elbow Escape To Guard, Hip Escape To Closed Guard.