Running Escape

What it is

The running escape is a survival posture under side control that turns into an escape. You turn away from them onto your side, top knee tucked toward your elbow, arms guarding your neck, so there is nothing to attack. From there you hip out and recover guard, or come up to your knees. The tucked knee and the guarded neck are what keep it from becoming a roll that gives up the back.

When to use it

• They have heavy side control with a crossface and the elbow escape toward them is shut down.
• They sit on your hips in knee on belly and you cannot get a frame in.
• You are flat and tired and need a safe position to rest in before you move again.

How to do it

1. Turn away from them onto your side, keeping your back curled rather than flat.
2. Bring your top knee up tight, toward your elbow, so the leg blocks their hip and there is no gap to put a hook in.
3. Guard your neck: top hand on the back of your neck or covering the collar, elbow tight to the body.
4. Walk your feet and hip away from them, taking small steps, so your hips slide out from under their chest.
5. Turn back toward them as the space opens, bringing the bottom knee between you to recover guard, or post the hand and come up to your knees.

Key details

• Knee tucked tight to the elbow. The gap between them is where their hook goes.
• Hands protect the neck all the time. If a hand drops, a choke is ready.
• Keep moving the hips away. Lying still in the posture is survival, but only movement escapes.
• Turn back toward them to finish. The escape ends facing them, not with your back to them.

Common mistakes

• Mistake: turning away with the knee down and the arms loose. Your back is wide open and they take it at once.
• Mistake: lying flat on your stomach instead of staying on your side. That is turtle without the base, and easy to attack.
• Mistake: staying in the posture too long. They settle in, control the hips and wait for the hand to drop.

What they will try

• They follow your hips and sit behind you to take the back when you turn away.
• They push the tucked knee down and drive a hook in, or drop their knee on your hip to stop the walk.