How to Use a Wall or a Fence While Grappling
0
Getting Up Against the Cage·Stephan Kesting
If you're doing BJJ for self defense or MMA fighting purposes then you have to know how to deal with obstructions like w…
Getting Up Against the Cage
SubFamilyGetting・Up・Against・The・ケージ(Getting Up Against the Cage)
Translation: getting up against the cage
Overview
History & Origin
MMA escape technique. [1]
Effectiveness
Essential MMA survival skill. [1]
Lineage
MMA escape methodology. [1]
Competition Record
Used in UFC and professional MMA competition
Images
No images yet for this technique.
Sign in to suggest an image.
Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Escape mechanics for Getting Up Against the Cage
Position & Entry
From bottom position — Execute getting up against the cage
Variants
Standard Getting Up Against the Cage
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
2
Low2/10
Defensive escape technique
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
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
✓Drill under pressure (Penn et al., 2007)
Common Mistakes
!Giving up position
!Panicking
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Under attack → Getting Up Against the Cage → Recovery
Sources & References
Primary Source
Mixed Martial Arts: The Book of Knowledge (Penn, Cordoza & Krauss, 2007)
1Book[1] Penn, B.J., Cordoza, G. and Krauss, E. (2007). Mixed Martial Arts: The Book of Knowledge. Victory Belt Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9777315-6-5.
description, historyOrigin: sourced from Penn, B
2Citation[1] Penn, B.J., Cordoza, G. and Krauss, E. (2007). Mixed Martial Arts: The Book of Knowledge. Victory Belt Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9777315-6-5.
description, historyOrigin: sourced from Penn, B
Community
Athletics
Explosive hips
Determination
Notes
Getting up against the cage (wall walk) is the most important MMA-specific escape — the fighter places their back against the wall, walks their feet up, and uses the wall for leverage to stand. Every MMA fighter drills this fundamental skill. (MMA training manuals; The Ultimate MMA Training Guide)
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do with my foot and hand when getting up against the cage or wall?
Place your foot on the wall and use your hand on the wall to help turn your body as you're getting up. Make sure to tuck your head to the side so you don't go directly over your neck.
Why do MMA fighters retreat toward the wall when they want to stand up?
When fighting on the ground in MMA, fighters reactively retreat toward the wall so they can get up and transition to kickboxing, keeping their head position higher than their opponent's.
Is it better to train getting up against a cage or against a wall?
Most grapplers prefer training against a wall over a cage, as the cage feels like training against a cheese grater. You can get a good approximation of cage training by practicing against a wall instead.
How does the Getting Up Against the Cage work?
Getting Up Against the Cage uses the cage wall as support to stand up from bottom position while an opponent is applying top pressure.
Where does the Getting Up Against the Cage come from?
MMA escape technique.
Is the Getting Up Against the Cage 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 Getting Up Against the Cage?
Danger rating 2/10. Defensive escape technique
How do I set up the Getting Up Against the Cage?
The standard setup chain: Under attack → Getting Up Against the Cage → Recovery.
How do I defend against the Getting Up Against the Cage?
Standard counters include: Maintain control / Submission finish.
What are the variants of the Getting Up Against the Cage?
Common variants: Standard Getting Up Against the Cage.
How effective is the Getting Up Against the Cage in competition?
Used in UFC and professional MMA competition
What are common mistakes when doing the Getting Up Against the Cage?
Top errors to watch for: Giving up position / Panicking.
What are other names for the Getting Up Against the Cage?
The Getting Up Against the Cage is also known as Getting Up Against the Cage, Wall Stand Up, Cage Stand Up.