Elbow Escape (Elbow-Knee): BJJ Mount Escape Guide

Beginner · Gi & No-Gi · Mount Escape

The elbow escape (also called the elbow-knee escape or shrimp escape from mount) is the most reliable mount escape in BJJ. It uses hip movement and framing to create space and recover the guard or half guard position.

Contents

Why the Elbow Escape Works

The mount is powerful because you cannot bridge efficiently with their weight spread across your hips. The elbow escape solves this by moving your hips sideways instead of upward, creating a different mechanical problem for them.

Step-by-Step Elbow Escape

Flatten your elbows to your sides (prevents collar choke setup)
Create a frame on their hip with one forearm
Hip escape (shrimp) toward the framed side
As you shrimp, insert your knee between you and them
Your knee insertion converts mount to half guard
Work from half guard to recover full guard

💡 Pro Tip: The key timing is getting your knee in the moment your hip creates space. If you shrimp without inserting the knee, they fill the space and you reset.

Two Directions

The elbow escape can work to either side. Go toward the side where you can create the most hip escape room, usually away from their weight distribution.

Against High Mount

When they have high mount (sitting on your chest), the elbow-knee is harder. Create an elbow frame first, then shrimp out from under their weight.

Against Hooks

If they have leg hooks (S-mount entries), address the hooks first by framing on their ankle before executing the hip escape.

Common Mistakes

Shrimping without inserting the knee — they just follow
Crossing arms in front of the chest — leaves neck exposed
Not framing before shrimping — no leverage for hip movement
Stopping at half guard — continue working to full guard