How to Escape a Standing Rear Choke ✅ Lesson 2
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Standing Escape·Master Wong
How to Escape a Standing Rear Choke ✅ Lesson 2 For a FREE Wing Chun Programme, Click Here: https://bit.ly/3fulRKy Have y…
Standing Escape
Group立ち上がり逃げ(Tachi-agari Nige)
TraditionalTranslation: standing escape
Overview
The Standing Escape group encompasses all techniques for returning to a standing position from the ground, whether from bottom position, guard, or after being taken down. [1] Standing escapes are critical in MMA where the ground position may not be advantageous for a striker, and in self-defence where remaining on the ground creates additional vulnerability. [1],[2] This group includes technical stand-ups (systematic methods of standing safely), guard pulls (transitioning from standing to a specific guard position), and wrestle-ups (using wrestling techniques to return to standing from the bottom). [2],[3]
History & Origin
Standing escape techniques were developed across multiple martial arts traditions — wrestling's stand-up techniques, BJJ's technical stand-up, and MMA's cage-assisted stand-ups all contribute to the modern standing escape curriculum. [1] The importance of standing escapes increased dramatically with the growth of MMA, where the ability to choose the fighting range became a primary tactical consideration. [2],[3]
Effectiveness
Lineage
Competition Record
Standing up from bottom is a key MMA skill tracked by FightMetric. [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 standing (competition) — Grip the opponent's collar or sleeve, sit down pulling them into your guard
From standing (self-defence) — When unable to maintain standing position, pull guard to establish a controlled bottom position
Videos
Standing Headlock Escape: For Self-Defense
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Standing Escape·CorePRO BJJ
A standing headlock is a situation that frequently arises in untrained encounters for self defense and can be dangerous …
2 videos
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
3
Moderate3/10
Standing escapes from clinch/holds; involves explosive disengagement
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— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDF— NCAA Folkstyle — Legal, escape scores 1 point, reversal s...
NCAA Wrestling Rules 2025-26PDFTraining Notes
✓Standing escapes return you to your feet from a grounded or compromised position — the most tactically important escapes in MMA and self-defence (Couture, Wrestling for Fighting, 2007)
✓The technical standup is the fundamental standing escape — post the hand, kick the leg through, and rise to a fighting stance
✓Standing escapes are the bridge between ground defence and striking offence — getting to your feet resets the fight
✓In MMA, the ability to stand up from bottom is what separates fighters who can be controlled from those who can't
✓Wall walks (using the cage) are MMA-specific standing escapes that leverage the cage structure for support
✓Guard pulling is a grappling-specific standing escape that transitions directly to an offensive guard position
✓The wrestle-up converts bottom position to a takedown — instead of just standing, you take the opponent down as you rise
✓Train standing escapes from every common bottom position: mount bottom, side control bottom, guard bottom, and turtle
Common Mistakes
!Standing up without establishing frames first — you'll be immediately taken back down without frames and distance
!Turning your back to stand — maintain visual contact with the opponent; the technical standup keeps you facing them
!Standing up into the opponent's clinch — create distance with frames before attempting to stand
!Not using the cage when available — in MMA, the cage is a structural advantage for standing escapes
!Standing up with poor posture — rise in a fighting stance, not bent over or off-balance
!Only training standing escapes in isolation — drill them against an opponent who is actively trying to keep you down
!Not combining standing escapes with strikes — in MMA, strikes from bottom create the space needed to stand
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
The Guard (Joe Moreira & Ed Beneville, 2008)
1BookJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Alias sources — [1] Wrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (Welker, 2010) [2] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [3] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
2BookMastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003) [2] Wrestling for Fighting (Couture, 2007)
Standard Japanese martial arts terminology (kanji/hiragana)
4OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)
Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)
5CitationJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Alias sources — [1] Wrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (Welker, 2010) [2] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [3] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
6CitationMastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003) [2] Wrestling for Fighting (Couture, 2007)
Community
Athletics
Requires
hip mobility, explosive bridge/shrimp power, timing
Favours
flexible hips and strong glutes for escape movements
Key muscles
glutes, hip flexors, core, triceps (framing)
Sub-techniques
Guard Pull
FamilyThe Guard Pull family covers techniques for transitioning from standing to a seated or guard position on the ground, deliberately choosing to fight from the bottom guard rather than continuing to engage standing. [1] Guard pulling is a strategic decision used primarily in BJJ competition where the guard is considered an advantageous position with sweeps and submissions available. [1,2] Guard pulls include standard guard pulls (jumping to closed guard), sit guard pulls (sitting to the ground and establishing seated guard), and sport-specific variations designed for competition. [2,3]
2 subfamilies·4 techniquesExplore
Technical Standup
FamilyThe Technical Standup family covers systematic methods of returning to a standing position from the ground while maintaining defensive awareness and balance. [1] The technical standup is distinguished from simply standing up by its emphasis on maintaining a defensive posture throughout the rising motion — the fighter uses one hand posted behind them and keeps the opposite leg as a barrier while standing. [1,2] Technical standups include the standard technical standup (rising from a seated position) and wall walk standups (using the cage or wall for support). [2,3]
2 subfamilies·4 techniquesExplore
Wrestle-Up
FamilyThe Wrestle-Up family covers techniques for returning to a standing position by using wrestling-based movements — such as single-leg and double-leg entries — from the bottom position to stand up while simultaneously attacking. [1] The wrestle-up is an aggressive standing escape that combines the goal of returning to feet with an offensive wrestling attack, making it difficult for the opponent to defend both the standing attempt and the takedown threat. [1,2] Wrestle-ups are particularly effective from half guard, seated guard, and after creating space from bottom side control. [2,3]
2 subfamilies·4 techniquesExplore
Notes
Standing escapes — guard pulls, technical standups, and wrestle-ups — return the fighter to their feet from the ground. In MMA, the ability to stand up from bottom is often more important than guard sweeps, because standing negates the opponent's ground-and-pound. (MMA training manuals; Couture, Wrestling for Fighting)
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the first thing I should do when someone grabs me in a standing rear choke?
Drop your chin down immediately to protect your neck and make it harder for them to lock the choke in properly. Master Wong emphasizes that dropping your chin down is the most important initial response to buy yourself time.
Should I square my body when escaping a standing rear choke?
No—do not square your body. Instead, drop your body back slightly and keep your shoulders out properly, otherwise you risk getting choked. Master Wong stresses that improper body positioning in this situation can be dangerous.
After dropping my chin, what's my next move in the escape?
Attack the choking hand straight away by peeling and pulling at it while maintaining control. Master Wong teaches that you must respond quickly to peel their hand off and control them before they can fully apply the choke.
How do I avoid getting caught in a standing headlock before it's fully locked?
Build your posture by bringing your hips in and your head up before your opponent's hands lock together. CorePRO BJJ notes that if you can establish good posture early, you can control their far arm and avoid the headlock entirely.
How does the Standing Escape work?
The Standing Escape group encompasses all techniques for returning to a standing position from the ground, whether from bottom position, guard, or after being taken down. Standing escapes are critical in MMA where the ground position may not be advantageous for a striker, and in self-defence where remaining on the ground creates additional vulnerability.
Where does the Standing Escape come from?
Standing escape techniques were developed across multiple martial arts traditions — wrestling's stand-up techniques, BJJ's technical stand-up, and MMA's cage-assisted stand-ups all contribute to the modern standing escape curriculum. The importance of standing escapes increased dramatically with the growth of MMA, where the ability to choose the fighting range became a primary tactical consideration.
Is the Standing Escape legal in competition?
Unified MMA: legal — Legal defensive/transitional technique; IBJJF: legal — Legal; IJF: legal — Legal; ADCC: legal — Legal; UWW: legal — Legal, escape scores 1 point (freestyle), reversal scores 1 point; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal; NCAA Folkstyle: legal — Legal, escape scores 1 point, reversal scores 2 points
How dangerous is the Standing Escape?
Danger rating 3/10. Moderate — standing escapes from clinch/holds; involves explosive disengagement
How do I set up the Standing Escape?
The standard setup chain: Create Space → Disrupt Control → Execute Escape → Recover Position.
How do I defend against the Standing 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 Standing Escape?
Common variants: Standard escape (primary escape mechanic using frames, bridges, or hip mov…); Combination escape (chaining two escape directions or methods); Counter escape (using the opponent's attack attempt to create the escape …); Competition variation (modified for rule-set optimisation).
How effective is the Standing Escape in competition?
Standing up from bottom is a key MMA skill tracked by FightMetric.
What are common mistakes when doing the Standing Escape?
Top errors to watch for: Standing up without establishing frames first — you'll be immediately taken back down without frames and distance / Turning your back to stand — maintain visual contact with the opponent; the technical standup keeps you facing them / Standing up into the opponent's clinch — create distance with frames before attempting to stand / Not using the cage when available — in MMA, the cage is a structural advantage for standing escapes.
What are other names for the Standing Escape?
The Standing Escape is also known as Tachi-agari Nige, Standup, Get Up, Ground To Feet.