How do I escape mount in BJJ?

Q: How do I escape mount in BJJ?

The two fundamental mount escapes are the trap and roll (upa) and the elbow-knee escape (shrimp). The trap and roll works by trapping the opponent arm and foot on the same side, then bridging to reverse the position. The elbow-knee escape uses hip movement to create space and recover guard. Drill both escapes until they become automatic.

Detailed Explanation

Mount is one of the worst positions to be in, so having reliable escapes is critical. The trap and roll is your explosive option. Trap their wrist, hook their foot with yours, bridge high and to the side, and roll them over. Timing is everything because a good mount player will anticipate and base out. The elbow-knee escape is your technical option. Frame against their hip, shrimp your hips away, get your knee inside their leg, and recover half guard or full guard. This escape is less reliant on timing and works against even very skilled opponents. In practice, you should chain these escapes together. If the bridge is blocked, immediately shrimp. If the shrimp is blocked, wait for them to adjust and bridge. The combination of threats makes you much harder to keep mounted. Advanced escapes include the heel drag, where you hook their foot and slide it over your knee to recover half guard.