Escape to the Knees

What it is

The escape to the knees is the side control escape you use when guard recovery is not available. You bridge into them for space, get the underhook, and turn onto your knees driving into them. From there you come up to your feet or into a wrestling scramble, both far better than staying pinned on your back.

When to use it

• They are in side control with their hips blocking the shrimp, so the knee cannot come back in.
• They lean their weight back toward your hips, leaving the near arm free to reach under.
• You already have the underhook on the near side and your frame on their neck.

How to do it

1. Set your frames: the near forearm across their neck or collar bone, the far hand on their hip, and bridge to lift their weight.
2. In the space from the bridge, turn onto your side toward them and shoot the near arm under their armpit for the underhook.
3. Bring your bottom knee under you as you turn, so your hip comes off the mat and you are on your knees facing their side.
4. Keep your head tight on the underhook side, by their shoulder, and drive into them with the underhook pulling their hip toward you.
5. Finish by standing up with a technical stand up, taking the back, or driving them over if they are light.

Key details

• The bridge makes the space, the turn uses it. One flows into the other without a pause.
• Head on the underhook side, tight to their body. A loose head gets crossfaced on the way up.
• Turn into them, not away. Away gives the back with no fight.
• Get the hips off the mat as soon as you turn. A player on one hip is still pinned.

Common mistakes

• Mistake: turning without the underhook. They crossface you and drive you flat, or take your back.
• Mistake: turning away from them to get up. They take the back or sprawl on you in turtle.
• Mistake: coming up slowly with the head high. They front headlock you and the guillotine is there.

What they will try

• They whizzer the underhook and drive you flat again or run around to the back.
• They sprawl and take a front headlock as you come to your knees.