In a physical altercation, the goal is to achieve the top position once the fight goes to the ground; the problem is that things don’t always go according to plan. Against a larger attacker, it is possible that you end up on the bottom of the mount position, which is the single worst place to be in a fight. From this position, the top person can strike or strangle you at will and you cannot effectively strike back. The worst part about trying to escape the mount without an effective strategy is the panic you experience and the extreme exhaustion it will inevitably cause. The Trap and Roll Escape is a simple, reliable way to remove your opponent from on top of you.

The mount is the ideal position in a ground fight since it gives you the ability to immobilize the adversary without hurting them. When you put someone on their back, they will almost always go into “fight-or-flight” to get out from underneath you. In this lesson you are going to learn how to neutralize your attacker’s escape attempts.

Instead of trying to punch or kick a larger opponent, we recommend you establish the clinch (a standing control position) and take them to the ground where you can have a lot more control, exhaust your attacker, and/or have the option to escape when you feel ready.

The advantage of establishing an upper body clinch is that you are close to your opponent and their punches are less effective. Before you decide to clinch someone you often have an opportunity to say a few words. Choose your words wisely! Most fights can be avoided with verbal jiu-jitsu. In this lesson you will learn how to close the distance between you and your attacker and establish the clinch, as well as the calm confidence necessary to help de-escalate some situations.

If you are unable to maintain the mount, you can use your legs to wrap the opponent in a position called the guard. The guard is the “secret weapon” for any jiu-jitsu practitioner. These techniques can only be executed, however, if you survive the barrage of punches that your opponent will inevitably attempt. The Punch Block Series will enable you to neutralize all punches and exhaust your opponent until an opportunity arises to take action to secure your escape.

If you have to be on your back in a fight you want the opponent in your guard. The top priority from the bottom of the guard is to stay safe and avoid punches, and once that’s accomplished, getting back to safety is the objective. In this lesson, you are going to learn different techniques for standing up and disengaging from the bottom of the fight.

Any time you find yourself trapped underneath your opponent in the mount position you should aim to use the Trap and Roll escape because it will place you on top of your opponent. If your opponent is too big or prepared for this move, the Elbow Escape is the next option. Today, you will start with the Standard Variation and then learn a few variations that can come in handy in more challenging situations.

Against a much larger opponent, there is a good chance you will find yourself on the bottom of the fight. And if this happens, the safest thing to do is to get your opponent in your guard because from there, you can neutralize punches and stay safe with less effort. If your opponent is able to get past your guard, you will need to use the Shrimp Escape to put them back in the guard. In this lesson, you will learn three variations of the Shrimp Escape, starting with the Block and Shoot Variation.

Your positional objective in every fight should be to achieve the top position and gain voluntary compliance from the aggressor. In this lesson, you will learn how to establish the side mount, one of the most powerful positions of control, and prevent the most common escape attempts a larger opponent is likely to use. You’ll also learn how to transition to the mount position once they have exhausted, if you choose to do so.

While trapped in your guard, larger opponents tend to drive their weight forward in their attempt to control you with their body weight. What they don’t realize is that their forward lean will often create the perfect opportunity for you to off balance them and completely reverse the position. The Elevator Sweep is one of the simplest and most reliable techniques for this situation.