Introduction to Foundational Mount Escapes

The bridge and roll, knee elbow escape, and kipping escape form the essential toolkit for beginners learning to defend the mounted position. While these techniques require practice to execute against experienced opponents, they provide the most accessible and effective solutions when rolling with other beginners.

Bridge and Roll: Hand Trapping Options

The bridge and roll begins by trapping the opponent's arm on one side of their body. The practitioner can pin the hand while collecting the elbow, use both hands for the trap, or employ an overhook if the opponent wraps around the head. The opposite hand should remain tight to the body to minimize exposure on the non-trapped side.

Bridge and Roll: Foot Trap Mechanics

Rather than trapping the foot from center—where the opponent can stay low and defend—the practitioner should shift their hips laterally and rotate their knees inward. By pulling the heel toward the buttock, the foot trap becomes significantly more effective and requires less sustained pressure to initiate the rolling momentum.

Bridge and Roll: Execution and Timing

The practitioner looks back over their shoulder while bridging backward at an angle, avoiding sideways rolling. Combining the bridge and roll into one fluid movement rather than two separate actions substantially increases success rate. The foot trap need only be maintained long enough to establish rolling momentum before the escape completes.

Knee Elbow Escape: Frame and Positioning

When the opponent's weight is high and they attack the hand, the practitioner shifts their upper body and tucks their elbow inside, establishing a frame on the opponent's opposite hip. An additional inside frame prevents the opponent from controlling the escape while avoiding direct hand pushing that would lower their weight.

Knee Elbow Escape: Leg Flattening and Execution

After shifting the hip away to flatten the trapped leg between the opponent's legs, the practitioner positions their foot under the opponent's ankle. The escape completes by driving the knee and elbow together in a coordinated motion, dumping the opponent into half guard where an underhook is immediately available.

Kipping Escape: Frame and Underhook Protection

The kipping escape maintains the same survival posture as previous techniques: a frame across the far hip and an inside elbow. Critically, the inside elbow must remain hidden from the opponent to prevent them from transitioning into an arm triangle choke.

Kipping Escape: Execution and Follow-Up Options

The practitioner bumps the opponent forward using the bottom knee while simultaneously pulling the top knee inward and rolling backward over their shoulder. Once guard is re-established, the practitioner can secure butterfly hooks for a dominant double-under position or transition directly into lower body attacks depending on spacing.

The First 3 Mount Escapes You Need To Know in BJJ

Brandon Mccaghren

Standard Bridge And Roll

2 min read·8 key moments·PT4M45S video

Key Takeaways

•Introduction to Foundational Mount Escapes
•Bridge and Roll: Hand Trapping Options
•Bridge and Roll: Foot Trap Mechanics
•Bridge and Roll: Execution and Timing

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 very good yet lol Take these 3 simple movements and add them to your game so you can give yourself a better chance of getting back to a winning position. If you need more in depth instruction and coaching, on this topic or any other in BJJ, from myself and a team of killer black belts visit https://bit.ly/3PqO348 Join this channel to get access to Members Only Perks such as: - Weekly Live Classes - Members Only Chat - Exclusive Members Only Videos - Access to the PGF Archive - Custom Badges and Emojis and more! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr7VU0Cnef4AhQk7Pe_9nTA/join

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this video teach about standard bridge and roll?

This video covers introduction to foundational mount escapes, bridge and roll: hand trapping options, bridge and roll: foot trap mechanics. It provides detailed instruction from Brandon Mccaghren.

How long does it take to learn standard bridge and roll?

The basic mechanics can be understood in a single session, but developing reliable execution requires consistent drilling over weeks of practice. This 8-part breakdown helps structure your training by isolating each phase of the technique.