Upa vs elbow escape
The upa bridges and rolls the top person over. The elbow escape moves your hips out to get your guard back. Both are mount escapes.
Mount: the other person sits on your chest. Bridge: you push your hips up high from your back. Shrimp: you push off one foot and slide your hips away. Guard: your legs are between you and them.
Loading 3D view
Both escapes start here: you are on your back, and they sit on you. Mount in the library ›
Side by side
| What to look at | Upa | Elbow escape |
|---|---|---|
| Main movement | Bridge and roll over your shoulder | Shrimp your hips away, then slide your knee in |
| What you trap | One arm and the foot on the same side | Nothing. You frame on their hip and knee. |
| Where you end up | On top, inside their closed guard | On the bottom, with your guard back |
| Best when | Their weight is forward, with a hand on the mat near your head or on your chest | They sit up tall, or they post wide to stop the upa |
| Common mistake | Bridging straight up. Bridge over your shoulder instead. | Lying flat and pushing with your arms. Turn on your side and move your hips. |
| Other names | Bridge and roll | Knee-elbow escape |
When to use which
- They post a hand on the mat near your head: trap that arm and use the upa.
- They sit up tall on your hips: use the elbow escape.
- You try the upa and they post wide to stop it: switch to the elbow escape.
- You try the elbow escape and they lean forward on you: switch to the upa.
You are under mount. Your partner reaches for your collar with one hand. You trap that arm and the foot on the same side. You bridge over your shoulder and roll them into your closed guard.
You are under mount. Your partner sits up tall on your hips. Their hands are not on the mat. Which escape fits?
In the library
Read the full pages: Upa and Elbow Escape.
Train it on the Path
The Mount escapes unit turns this into short lessons: you see a position and pick the best move.
Mount escapes is part of the Blue belt, included in Rolla Plus. Start free with Foundations and the white belt.