Skip to content
Positional
Escape · shrimp

Knee-elbow escape from side control

The main escape from side control: you shrimp and use your knee to get back to closed guard. It's built on the shrimp and the hip escape.

Flow map
1 in · 1 out
Starting position
BottomSide Control
You are hereKnee-elbow escape from side controlEscape
Where it leads
BottomClosed Guard
Prerequisites
  • Elbow frame at his hip as your starting point
  • Hips not fully pinned: you still have a bit of space
  • Ready to work in small steps instead of one big move
Mechanics · 4 steps
I
Frame your elbow at his hip to block the cross-face
The frame at the hip is your first line of defense: it stops the cross-face and gives you space.
II
Shrimp: drive your hips hard to the side to make space
The shrimp is what creates space: moving your hips out opens a gap between your bodies. To do it, you have to turn onto your side.
III
Slide your knee into the space between you
The knee in that gap is a barrier: once it's in, his weight can't flatten you again.
IV
Bring the knee across and close your guard
Knee across means closed guard. You're back in a position you can attack from.
Defenses · if he… then you…
Opponent
Drives in even harder to kill the space after your shrimp
Your response
Several small shrimps instead of one big one. Each one wins you a little more room.
Opponent
Switches to north-south when he feels your knee
Your response
Keep escaping toward north-south or switch to the pendulum escape.
Common mistakes
No elbow frame, so the cross-face stops you from turning
The cross-face turns your face away and you can't shrimp in the right direction.
One big shrimp instead of several small ones
A big shrimp is easy to block. Small movements add up.
The knee comes in too late after the shrimp
The space closes, the knee doesn't get in and you start over. He's alert to every attempt.
Lying flat, both shoulder blades on the mat
To make space you need the right angle and enough room. You also need to be mobile. With your whole back glued to the mat, you lose all of it.
DRILLS · IMPROVEMENT EXERCISES
Section in development. Plan: for each technique/position I'll add solo or partner drills to strengthen your movement patterns and timing.