10th Planet Fundamentals Mount Escape Guantanamo 3 of 3 Heather
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Guantanamo Escape·10th Planet Denver Jiu Jitsu
Guantanamo Escape
SubFamilyグアンタナモ・エスケープ(Guantanamo Esukēpu)
TransliterationTranslation: Guantanamo escape — named after the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, referencing the difficulty of escaping from mount (being 'imprisoned' under the opponent's weight), and the specific technique needed to break free
Overview
The Guantanamo Escape is a 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu technique for recovering half guard from the mounted position, using a specific hip movement combined with knee insertion that differs from the standard BJJ elbow-knee mount escape by incorporating the lockdown as the target recovery position rather than simply recovering full guard. [1] When mounted, the standard BJJ escape involves framing with the arms, bridging to create space, and inserting the knee to recover full guard or half guard. [1] The Guantanamo refines this by specifically targeting the lockdown half guard as the recovery position: instead of simply getting a leg inside (standard half guard), the escaping player hooks the opponent's far ankle with their outside foot during the escape, immediately establishing Eddie Bravo's signature lockdown control. [1] This distinction is tactically significant: a standard half guard recovery from mount puts the bottom player in a DEFENSIVE half guard (where they must rebuild their offensive game from scratch), while the Guantanamo's lockdown recovery puts them in an OFFENSIVE half guard (the lockdown immediately threatens sweeps via the Jean Jacques, Electric Chair, and Godfather systems). [1] The name 'Guantanamo' — in Bravo's characteristic naming style — references the idea of being imprisoned (mounted) and executing a sophisticated escape: you're not just getting out of prison (recovering guard), you're escaping into a position where you can fight back immediately (the lockdown offensive system). [1] The technique was specifically designed for the no-gi environment where gi-dependent mount escapes (collar grips, sleeve grips) are unavailable, and the lockdown provides a grip-free leg control that functions without fabric. [1]
GuantanamoMount to Half Guard Escape10th Planet Mount EscapeHip Movement Mount RecoveryLockdown Recovery from Mount
History & Origin
The Guantanamo Escape was developed by Eddie Bravo as part of the 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu escape system, specifically designed to integrate with the lockdown-based offensive half guard game that is the 10th Planet system's signature. [1] Standard BJJ mount escapes (elbow-knee escape, trap-and-roll) recover guard as a neutral position from which the bottom player must rebuild their offensive game — Bravo recognised that escaping to a specific offensive position (the lockdown) rather than a generic guard would give the bottom player an immediate tactical advantage upon escape. [1] This 'escape to offence' philosophy — choosing the recovery position based on the offensive system it feeds — represents a strategic innovation that has influenced modern no-gi grappling methodology. [1] The technique is documented in Mastering the Rubber Guard (2006) within the escape section, alongside other 10th Planet escapes (Escape from Alcatraz, Jailbreak, The Tunnel). [1]
Effectiveness
The Guantanamo's effectiveness comes from its strategic destination: escaping mount is common (any competent grappler can hip escape to half guard), but escaping mount directly into a lockdown offensive position is rare and gives the escaping player an immediate tactical advantage. [1] The opponent, having just lost mount, must immediately deal with the lockdown's sweep threats (Jean Jacques, Electric Chair, Godfather) before they can re-establish their passing game — this transition from 'dominant top position' to 'defending sweeps from half guard' happens in a single movement if the Guantanamo is executed correctly. [1] In EBI competition, the escape-to-lockdown-to-sweep sequence has been demonstrated by 10th Planet practitioners who turn bottom mount positions into offensive sweeps within seconds. [1]
Lineage
Standard BJJ mount escape (hip escape to half guard) → Eddie Bravo's modification to target the lockdown half guard specifically → Guantanamo documented in Mastering the Rubber Guard (2006) → standard mount escape for 10th Planet practitioners. [1]
Competition Record
Used in EBI (Eddie Bravo Invitational) competition by 10th Planet practitioners to recover from mount directly into the lockdown offensive system. The escape-to-lockdown-to-sweep chain has produced position reversals in professional no-gi competition. In MMA, the technique is used by fighters with 10th Planet training to escape ground-and-pound situations into offensive half guard.
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Hip escape (shrimp) from mount to create space for the knee insertion, combined with simultaneous far-ankle hooking to establish the lockdown during the transition from mount bottom to half guard bottom
Joints Involved — Hips (lateral displacement via the shrimp/hip escape — the primary escape mechanism), knees (one knee inserts between the bodies to prevent the opponent from re-establishing mount, while the other knee positions for the lockdown figure-four), ankles (the outside foot hooks the opponent's far ankle to establish the lockdown), arms (frames against the opponent's hip and chest to maintain the space created by the hip escape), core (engagement throughout the shrimp and recovery)
Force Vector — Lateral — the hip escape moves the bottom player's hips away from the centre of the mounted position, creating a gap between the bodies through which the knee can insert. The lockdown hook adds a downward anchor on the opponent's far leg.
Leverage Principle — The hip escape uses the floor as a fixed surface to push against: by driving the feet into the mat and pushing the hips laterally, the bottom player generates displacement that the mounted opponent cannot counter without lifting their weight (which creates even more space). The lockdown hook is the key differentiation: by hooking the far ankle during the escape, the bottom player converts the half guard recovery from a defensive position into an offensive one with immediate sweep access.
Position & Entry
From bottom mount (standard) — Opponent has full mount → frame on their hips with both hands → bridge slightly to create initial space → hip escape (shrimp) to one side → insert the near knee as a barrier → simultaneously hook the opponent's far ankle with the outside foot → figure-four the legs to establish the lockdown → you are now in lockdown half guard with immediate offensive options
From bottom mount against strikes (MMA) — When the mounted opponent is throwing ground-and-pound, frame against their arms/chest → time the hip escape between strikes → execute the Guantanamo during the brief pause between the opponent's punches → lockdown established, submission/sweep threats emerge
From bottom mount after a failed bridge escape — The standard bridge-and-roll fails (opponent bases out) → convert the bridge's momentum into a hip escape → use the returning hip motion to insert the knee → hook the far ankle → Guantanamo complete
From bottom mount against a high mount — When the opponent has climbed to high mount (knees in armpits), the Guantanamo's hip escape targets the lower body where the opponent has less control
Variants
Standard Guantanamo — hip escape to lockdown half guard from full mount
Quick Guantanamo — abbreviated version using minimal hip escape when the opponent's mount is loose
Guantanamo from high mount — modified hip escape targeting the lower body when the opponent has climbed to high mount
Guantanamo to Electric Chair — completing the escape and immediately entering the Electric Chair sweep
Guantanamo to Jean Jacques — completing the escape and immediately entering the Jean Jacques Sweep sequence
MMA Guantanamo — integrating the escape with defensive hand positioning against ground-and-pound
Videos
The best mount escape #bjj #jiujitsu #brazilianjiujitsu
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Guantanamo Escape·Dubious Dom
2 videos
What Instructors Say
The Guantanamo escape is a mount escape variation taught within 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu lineage that prioritizes going over the opponent's leg rather than underneath it. Both Dubious Dom and 10th Planet Denver Jiu Jitsu agree on the foundational setup: the bottom player presses their head into the mat, keeps elbows low on the opponent's hips to control leg position, and gets their legs inside the opponent's legs while shifting to one hip. The key differentiator in the Guantanamo variation, as emphasized by 10th Planet Denver, occurs when the top player flattens their foot to prevent the under-leg escape (Alcatraz). Instead of going under, the bottom player uses their heel to pull the opponent's leg between their own legs and applies pressure with the elbow. 10th Planet Denver introduces an additional technique—a "motorcycle" motion where the bottom player slides the knee without direct elbow pressure, which can be more effective against strong bases. Both instructors acknowledge the need for precise leg positioning to achieve a double-under control and maintain control of the opponent's lower body. The escape concludes with the bottom player establishing a solid base and transitioning to a dominant position.
Synthesized from 2 instructors
- Dubious Dom — The best mount escape #bjj #jiujitsu #brazilianjiujitsu: Demonstrates the foundational mount escape mechanics including head pressure, elbow placement on hips, inside leg positioning, and the heel-leverage technique to manipulate the opponent's leg.
- 10th Planet Denver Jiu Jitsu — 10th Planet Fundamentals Mount Escape Guantanamo 3 of 3 Heather: Names and defines the Guantanamo escape as the over-the-leg variant, introduces the motorcycle motion for moving the knee, emphasizes the importance of opponent's sprawled base awareness, and details the transition to double-under control.
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
2
Low2/10
The Guantanamo is a defensive escape technique with no injury risk to either participant. The technique involves positional recovery, not strikes or submissions.
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Advanced
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 hip escape (shrimp) is the prerequisite skill — the Guantanamo adds the lockdown hook to an otherwise standard hip escape mount recovery. Master the basic shrimp escape from mount first (Bravo, 2006). [1] The far-ankle hook is the critical addition: during the hip escape, as the knee inserts between the bodies, the OUTSIDE foot must simultaneously reach across and hook the opponent's far ankle. This requires leg dexterity and spatial awareness. Drill the hook in isolation: from half guard bottom, practise reaching the outside foot to hook the opponent's far ankle without moving the upper body. [1] TIMING is everything: the lockdown hook must be established DURING the hip escape, not after. If the bottom player escapes to standard half guard and THEN tries to establish the lockdown, the opponent has time to extract their leg or adjust their position. The escape and the lockdown establishment must be simultaneous. [1] Chain immediately: the Guantanamo is not a destination — it is a TRANSITION. As soon as the lockdown is established, immediately begin the offensive sequence (Jaws of Life → Jean Jacques Sweep or Electric Chair). The opponent is still adjusting to losing mount; this is the optimal window for the counter-attack. [1] In MMA, time the Guantanamo between the opponent's ground-and-pound strikes: the gap between punches (approximately 0.5-0.8 seconds) provides the window for the hip escape. Frame defensively during strikes, then explode with the escape during the gap. [1] Drill under pressure: have the training partner maintain mount with full pressure while you attempt the Guantanamo. Start with 50% resistance and increase to full. [1]
Common Mistakes
!Escaping to standard half guard instead of lockdown — the most common error: performing a standard mount escape and arriving in basic half guard without the lockdown hook, losing the offensive advantage that distinguishes the Guantanamo
!Trying to hook the far ankle AFTER the escape — the hook must happen DURING the hip escape, not after; delaying gives the opponent time to adjust
!Insufficient hip escape — a weak or shallow shrimp doesn't create enough space for the knee to insert; the hips must move substantially laterally
!Not framing before escaping — attempting the hip escape without first creating space (by framing on the opponent's hip/chest) means fighting against the full weight of the mounted opponent
!Stopping after the escape — arriving in half guard lockdown and resting allows the opponent to consolidate their top position; the offensive chain (Jaws of Life → sweep) must begin immediately
!Bridging instead of shrimping — a bridge displaces the opponent upward (useful for trap-and-roll), but the Guantanamo requires LATERAL displacement (hip escape/shrimp), not vertical
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Maintain heavy hips — driving the hips low into the bottom player reduces the space available for the hip escapeGrapevine the legs — hooking the bottom player's legs with the feet (grapevining) from mount prevents the knee insertionHigh mount — climbing to high mount (knees in armpits) places the weight above the hip escape zone, making the shrimp less effectiveExtract the leg immediately — if the bottom player begins to establish the lockdown, immediately extract the trapped leg before the figure-four locksTransition to side control — if the bottom player begins escaping, voluntarily transitioning from mount to side control (maintaining top position) can be more productive than fighting to hold a deteriorating mount
Setup Chain
1Bottom mount position → Frame on the opponent's hips/chest to create initial space → Bridge slightly (or use the opponent's strike attempt as a timing cue in MMA) → Hip escape (shrimp) laterally → Insert the near knee between the bodies as a barrier → SIMULTANEOUSLY: hook the opponent's far ankle with the outside foot → Figure-four the legs to establish the lockdown → Lockdown half guard achieved → IMMEDIATELY: Jaws of Life (hip whip to create space for the underhook) → Jean Jacques Sweep or Electric Chair → Arrive in top position from a mount bottom start
Sources & References
Primary Source
Mastering the Rubber Guard (Bravo, 2006)
1Book[1] Bravo, E. with Krauss, E. and Cordoza, G. (2006). Mastering the Rubber Guard: Jiu-Jitsu for Mixed Martial Arts Competition. Victory Belt Publishing. Escapes to Guard section (Guantanamo, pp. 245-248 approximately).pp. Bravo 2006, Escapes to Guard section (Guantanamo, pp. 245-248)
description: [1] Bravo 2006 Guantanamo section
2OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
3Citation[1] Bravo, E. with Krauss, E. and Cordoza, G. (2006). Mastering the Rubber Guard: Jiu-Jitsu for Mixed Martial Arts Competition. Victory Belt Publishing. Escapes to Guard section (Guantanamo, pp. 245-248 approximately).pp. Bravo 2006, Escapes to Guard section (Guantanamo, pp. 245-248)
description: [1] Bravo 2006 Guantanamo section
Community
Athletics
Good hip escape ability (the foundation of the technique)
Leg dexterity for the far-ankle hook during the escape
Core strength for the shrimping motion under the opponent's weight
Does NOT require rubber guard flexibility (the lockdown operates from half guard, not high guard)
Accessible to practitioners who cannot do rubber guard but want 10th Planet's lockdown offensive system
Notes
The Guantanamo escape is a 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu back escape — part of Eddie Bravo's named escape system. 10th Planet techniques appear in 33 passages across 5 books. (5 books; Bravo, 10th Planet system)
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the first thing I should do when someone gets mounted on me?
Press your head firmly into the mat to prevent your opponent from getting their hand under your head, and bring your elbows low on their hips so your elbows touch their thighs to keep their legs compressed.
How do I start dismantling the mounted position once I've secured my base?
Work your legs inside of theirs, then put yourself on one hip and use your heel to pull their leg on top of yours, which allows you to lever against their leg and begin underhooking or framing their elbow.
What's the difference between the Guantanamo escape and other mount escapes like Alcatraz?
The Guantanamo escape involves going over the leg, whereas variations like Alcatraz go under, representing different pathways to dismount.
How does the Guantanamo Escape work?
The Guantanamo Escape is a 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu technique for recovering half guard from the mounted position, using a specific hip movement combined with knee insertion that differs from the standard BJJ elbow-knee mount escape by incorporating the lockdown as the target recovery position rather than simply recovering full guard. When mounted, the standard BJJ escape involves framing with the arms, bridging to create space, and inserting the knee to recover full guard or half guard.
Where does the Guantanamo Escape come from?
The Guantanamo Escape was developed by Eddie Bravo as part of the 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu escape system, specifically designed to integrate with the lockdown-based offensive half guard game that is the 10th Planet system's signature. Standard BJJ mount escapes (elbow-knee escape, trap-and-roll) recover guard as a neutral position from which the bottom player must rebuild their offensive game — Bravo recognised that escaping to a specific offensive position (the lockdown) rather than a generic guard would give the bottom player an immediate tactical advantage upon escape.
Is the Guantanamo 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 Guantanamo Escape?
Danger rating 2/10. The Guantanamo is a defensive escape technique with no injury risk to either participant. The technique involves positional recovery, not strikes or submissions.
How do I set up the Guantanamo Escape?
The standard setup chain: Bottom mount position → Frame on the opponent's hips/chest to create initial space → Bridge slightly (or use the opponent's strike attempt as a timing cue in MMA) → Hip escape (shrimp) laterally → Insert the near knee between the bodies as a barrier → SIMULTANEOUSLY: hook the opponent's far ankle with the outside foot → Figure-four the legs to establish the lockdown → Lockdown half guard achieved → IMMEDIATELY: Jaws of Life (hip whip to create space for the underhook) → Jean Jacques Sweep or Electric Chair → Arrive in top position from a mount bottom start.
How do I defend against the Guantanamo Escape?
Standard counters include: Maintain heavy hips — driving the hips low into the bottom player reduces the space available for the hip escape / Grapevine the legs — hooking the bottom player's legs with the feet (grapevining) from mount prevents the knee insertion / High mount — climbing to high mount (knees in armpits) places the weight above the hip escape zone, making the shrimp… / Extract the leg immediately — if the bottom player begins to establish the lockdown, immediately extract the trapped ….
What are the variants of the Guantanamo Escape?
Common variants: Standard Guantanamo (hip escape to lockdown half guard from full mount); Quick Guantanamo (abbreviated version using minimal hip escape when the opp…); Guantanamo from high mount (modified hip escape targeting the lower body when the opp…); Guantanamo to Electric Chair (completing the escape and immediately entering the Electr…); Guantanamo to Jean Jacques (completing the escape and immediately entering the Jean J…); MMA Guantanamo (integrating the escape with defensive hand positioning ag…).
How effective is the Guantanamo Escape in competition?
Used in EBI (Eddie Bravo Invitational) competition by 10th Planet practitioners to recover from mount directly into the lockdown offensive system. The escape-to-lockdown-to-sweep chain has produced position reversals in professional no-gi competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Guantanamo Escape?
Top errors to watch for: Escaping to standard half guard instead of lockdown — the most common error: performing a standard mount escape and a… / Trying to hook the far ankle AFTER the escape — the hook must happen DURING the hip escape, not after; delaying gives… / Insufficient hip escape — a weak or shallow shrimp doesn't create enough space for the knee to insert; the hips must … / Not framing before escaping — attempting the hip escape without first creating space (by framing on the opponent's hi….
What are other names for the Guantanamo Escape?
The Guantanamo Escape is also known as Guantanamo Esukēpu, Guantanamo, Mount to Half Guard Escape, 10th Planet Mount Escape, Hip Movement Mount Recovery.