Mount Escape: The Complete Survival Guide

Mount Escape: The Complete Survival Guide

By BJJ Sportswear Editorial Team
Reviewed by competitive black belts | Last Updated: February 1, 2026

Being stuck in Mount is the worst-case scenario in grappling.

Your opponent has gravity, leverage, and strikes (in MMA) on their side. You are pinned, crushed, and moments away from being submitted. Most beginners panic here. They bench press the opponent, turn their back, or flail until they are exhausted. This is exactly what the top player wants.

In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, escaping Mount is not about explosive strength—it is about structural alignment. Whether you are dealing with a heavy pressure player or a high-mount attacker, there is a specific mechanical solution for every problem.

In this comprehensive guide, we break down the complete Mount Escape system, including the fundamental Upa (Trap and Roll), the essential Shrimp Escape, and the advanced Hydraulic Escape used by world champions.

Phase 1: Survival Posture (Before You Escape)

Before you can escape, you must survive. If you try to explode out of Mount without a frame, you will get submitted.

1. The “Safety Frame”

Your arms are your first line of defense.

• Elbows Tight: Keep your elbows glued to your ribs. This prevents the opponent from sliding their knees up into “High Mount.”
• T-Rex Arms: Keep your hands close to your face or neck, but never reach straight up. Reaching up gives them an easy Armbar.
• The Neck: If you feel a hand deep in your collar, you must address it immediately. You cannot escape if you are being choked.

2. Legs Active

Your legs shouldn’t be dead on the mat.

• Heels Close: Keep your heels close to your butt. This prevents them from grapevine-ing your legs and allows you to bridge explosively.
• One Leg Flat: Occasionally, you may flatten one leg to bait them into dismounting or to set up the elbow escape.

Escape #1: The Upa Escape (Trap and Roll)

The Upa Escape, also known as the Trap and Roll, is the first technique taught in almost every BJJ academy. It relies on removing the opponent’s posting limbs (arm and leg) on one side, forcing them to topple over.

When to Use It?

Use the Upa when the opponent is:

• Committing their weight forward (attacking the neck).
• Trying to punch you (in MMA).
• Posturing up with a high center of gravity.

Step-by-Step Execution

1. Trap the Arm: If they are grabbing your collar or neck, reach across and hold their wrist. Use your other hand to trap their tricep (above the elbow) tight to your body.
2. Trap the Foot: On the same side as the trapped arm, step your foot over their ankle. Hook it tight so they cannot step out for balance.
3. The Look: Turn your head to look in the direction you want to bridge (e.g., over your left shoulder).
4. The Bridge: This is the most critical part. Do not bridge straight up. Bridge your hips explosively toward the trapped side (think 10 o’clock or 2 o’clock).
5. The Roll: Because they cannot post their arm or leg, your bridge will flip them onto their back. You will land directly in their Closed Guard.​

Escape #2: The Shrimp Escape (Elbow Escape)

The Shrimp Escape (or Elbow Escape) is the bread and butter of Mount defense. Unlike the Upa, it does not require the opponent to be off-balance. It works by creating space and recovering your guard.

When to Use It?

Use the Shrimp Escape when the opponent is:

• Staying heavy and low.
• Grapevine-ing your legs.
• Playing a “Low Mount” style.

Step-by-Step Execution

1. The Frame: Place one forearm across their hip bone (waistline). Reinforce it with your other hand if necessary. This frame prevents them from sliding up.
2. Turn to the Side: Turn on your side to face your frame. One hip should be off the mat.
3. The Shrimp: Push off your feet to shoot your hips back, creating a small gap between their knee and your hip.
4. Knee to Elbow: Drag your bottom knee along the mat until it connects with your elbow. You are essentially sliding your knee under their leg.
5. Recover: Once your knee is inside, you have reclaimed the “inside space.” Use your knee to push their leg away and capture it in Half Guard. From there, you can work to Full Guard.

Escape #3: The Hydraulic Escape (Kipping Escape)

This is the modern solution for escaping difficult Mounts, popularized by Gordon Ryan and the Danaher Death Squad. It is often called the Kipping Escape or Hydraulic Escape.

When to Use It?

Use the Hydraulic Escape when the opponent is:

• In “High Mount” (knees under your armpits).
• Chest-to-chest with heavy pressure.
• Cross-facing you aggressively.

Step-by-Step Execution

1. Hands on Hips: Instead of framing on the waist, place your hands (or stiff arms) directly on their hip bones or thighs. Your arms act as rigid posts.
2. The Kip: Rapidly swing your legs up and down (like a gymnast’s kip-up) to bounce your hips off the mat. This bouncing motion disrupts their connection to you.
3. The Wedge: As your hips bounce up, you create a tiny gap under their butt. Slide your knees into this gap.
4. The Push: Use your shins and knees to lift their hips into the air. You are now supporting their weight with your legs, not your chest.
5. The Transition: From this elevated position, you can easily enter Single Leg X (Ashi Garami) or Butterfly Guard to attack leg locks immediately.​

Troubleshooting: Why You Are Still Stuck

Problem: They have a Grapevine (Legs Hooked).
When they hook your legs, you can’t bridge or shrimp effectively.
Solution: Do not panic. Simply extend one of your legs straight down until it clears their hook, then curl it back up to the center. Repeat on the other side. Or, use the “Safety Frame” to pry their foot off with your other foot.

Problem: They are Smothering Me.
They are chest-to-chest, and you can’t breathe.
Solution: Use the Hydraulic/Kipping Escape. Trying to Upa a smothering opponent is exhausting. Use your legs (the strongest part of your body) to kip them off your chest.

Problem: I Get Armbarred When I Push.
You are pushing their chest or face.
Solution: Never push the upper body. Always frame on the hips. The hips are the center of gravity. If you control the hips, you control the mount.

Drills to Master Mount Escapes

You cannot learn these by reading. You must drill them.

1. The “2-Minute Survival” Drill: Have a partner mount you. Their goal is to hold you down (no submissions). Your goal is to survive and keep your frames.
2. The “Alternating” Drill: Attempt the Upa. When they post their hand to stop it, immediately switch to the Shrimp Escape.
3. The “Kipping” Drill: Practice the kipping motion solo. Lie on your back, hands on your thighs, and bounce your hips up and down rapidly to build the rhythm.

Conclusion

The Mount Escape is a battle of inches.

If you rush, you lose. If you panic, you lose. You must be methodical. Use the Upa to punish their aggression, the Shrimp to escape their pressure, and the Hydraulic Escape when they try to smother you.

Master these three mechanics, and the Mount will no longer be a position of fear—it will be just another problem to solve.