How I Escape North South EVERYTIME
0
Inversion North-South Escape·Ebsayz
Join Ebsayz Jiu Jitsu for 1 on 1 coaching to accelerate your progress and guaranteed results! https://www.skool.com/ebsa…
Inversion North-South Escape
SubFamilyインバージョン南北逃げ(Inbājon Nanboku Nige)
HybridTranslation: inversion north-south escape
Overview
The Inversion North-South Escape uses an inversion — rolling onto the upper back and elevating the hips — to recover guard from the north-south position. [1] The inversion exploits the fact that the opponent's weight is on the chest, which means the defender's hips have relatively more freedom to elevate. [1],[2] By inverting and bringing the legs over, the defender can hook the opponent's body or arms with the legs and recover a guard position. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
The inversion escape from north-south uses an inverting motion to reguard or create a leg entanglement. [1]
Lineage
Developed in modern BJJ as a dynamic escape option. [1]
Competition Record
Used in BJJ competition. [1]
Images
No images yet for this technique.
Sign in to suggest an image.
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 (opponent has back control) — Fight the hands to prevent the choke, slide hips to the mat on the choking side, escape the hooks and turn into the opponent
From standing (opponent has back clinch) — Drop the hips, peel the hands, turn and face the opponent
From body triangle — Address the body triangle first by positioning the trapped leg to pry it open, then escape the hooks
Videos
1 video
Learn This Technique
No instructional courses yet for this technique.
Sign in to suggest a course.
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— UWW — Legal
UWW International Wrestling Rules, January 2026PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓The inversion north-south escape uses a granby-like rolling inversion to rotate your body 180 degrees and recover guard facing the opponent (Marcelo Garcia, Advanced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, 2011)
✓The inversion: from north-south, roll over one shoulder, inverting your body so your legs come over your head and toward the opponent
✓The inversion is faster than the shrimp escape but requires more flexibility and timing
✓As you invert, your legs naturally end up between you and the opponent — use them to establish guard
✓The inversion works when the opponent has loose control in north-south — tight, heavy pressure makes inversion difficult
✓Time the inversion to the opponent's weight shift — when they reach for a submission, their weight lightens momentarily
✓The inversion escape is a higher-level technique that builds on the granby roll mechanics
✓After inverting, immediately close guard — the inversion ends with you facing the opponent
Common Mistakes
!Attempting the inversion against very heavy, tight north-south control — the inversion requires some space; if the control is too tight, shrimp first
!Inverting without protecting the neck — the inversion can expose the neck; tuck the chin throughout
!Not rolling over the correct shoulder — choose the shoulder that allows you to invert toward the opponent
!Inverting too far and ending past the opponent — control the rotation to end facing them
!Not closing guard immediately after the inversion — the brief moment after inversion is vulnerable
!Using the inversion as your only north-south escape — have the shrimp escape as a backup
!Not training inversions for flexibility — the north-south inversion requires hip and spine mobility
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Create Space — use frames, hip movement, or leverage to generate room to move
2Disrupt Control — break or weaken the opponent's grips and weight placement
3Execute Escape — apply the specific escape mechanic with timing and commitment
4Recover Position — establish a safe position (guard, standing, or top)
Sources & References
Primary Source
Jiu-Jitsu University (Saulo Ribeiro, 2008)
1BookJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Alias sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Saulo Ribeiro, 2008) [2] Advanced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Techniques (Marcelo Garcia, 2007)
2BookMastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
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] Jiu-Jitsu University (Saulo Ribeiro, 2008) [2] Advanced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Techniques (Marcelo Garcia, 2007)
5CitationMastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Community
Athletics
Requires
grip fighting ability, hip mobility for sliding to the mat, chin defence
Favours
strong hands for grip fighting, flexible hips
Key muscles
forearms (grip fighting), core, hip flexors, neck
Sub-techniques
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main mistake people make when trapped in bottom north-south position?
According to Ebsayz, keeping your hands hugging your opponent is a disaster—you need to have your hands out with inside position. The key is not letting your opponent dominate the space between your elbows, as this leaves you finished.
How do I start escaping from bottom north-south?
Ebsayz emphasizes that you must first get one of your shoulders off the mat by posting on your opponent's ribs and turning to face them, which lifts your shoulder higher off the ground and prevents both shoulders from being pinned.
Why should I chain multiple escapes together instead of relying on just one?
Ebsayz explains that in real escaping, you try one escape, it doesn't work, try a second, it doesn't work, then try a third and it works—you don't need to be a legend at all three escapes, just know how they work together to be successful.
What role does inside elbow position play in the escape?
Ebsayz stresses that getting inside elbow position is crucial—once you cut an elbow inside and stack your opponent onto your elbows, it becomes very easy to lift them up when they try to apply weight, making this position strong enough to facilitate your escape.
How does the Inversion North-South Escape work?
The Inversion North-South Escape uses an inversion — rolling onto the upper back and elevating the hips — to recover guard from the north-south position. The inversion exploits the fact that the opponent's weight is on the chest, which means the defender's hips have relatively more freedom to elevate.
Where does the Inversion North-South Escape come from?
The inversion escape from north-south was developed as an advanced escape option in BJJ, associated with the modern guard retention movement that emphasises inversions for guard recovery. It provides an athletic escape option for flexible practitioners.
Is the Inversion North-South Escape legal in competition?
Unified MMA: legal — Legal defensive/transitional technique; IBJJF: legal — Legal; IJF: legal — Legal; ADCC: legal — Legal; UWW: legal — Legal; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Inversion North-South 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 Inversion North-South Escape?
The standard setup chain: Create Space → Disrupt Control → Execute Escape → Recover Position.
How do I defend against the Inversion North-South Escape?
Standard counters include: Maintain Pressure — keep consistent weight distribution to limit escape space / Anticipate Direction — read escape attempt direction and block early / Transition — flow to a new position when the current one is threatened.
What are the variants of the Inversion North-South Escape?
Common variants: Slide to side (choking-arm side) (fighting hands and sliding hips to the mat on the choking…); Peel-and-turn (stripping the seatbelt grip and turning into the opponent); Trap-arm escape (trapping one arm and rolling to pin the opponent's back); Body triangle escape (addressing the body triangle lock before escaping the hooks).
How effective is the Inversion North-South Escape in competition?
Used in BJJ competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Inversion North-South Escape?
Top errors to watch for: Attempting the inversion against very heavy, tight north-south control — the inversion requires some space; if the co… / Inverting without protecting the neck — the inversion can expose the neck; tuck the chin throughout / Not rolling over the correct shoulder — choose the shoulder that allows you to invert toward the opponent / Inverting too far and ending past the opponent — control the rotation to end facing them.
What are other names for the Inversion North-South Escape?
The Inversion North-South Escape is also known as Inbājon Nanboku Nige, Inversion Escape, Rolling Guard Recovery.