On this page Before it’s locked Main escape Roadmap Options Drill it Quiz How it connects Before it’s locked Never push them with your arm across their face Keep your arm inside, close to your chest Watch for their head dropping beside yours The main escape Turn the palm of your trapped arm to your ear so the arm stays alive Tuck your chin and bridge toward your trapped-arm side Walk your hips away so they can’t step to the finishing side Recover guard before they settle Escape roadmap The seven stages of this escape. Work from the top: the earlier you act, the less you need the later stages.
1 Prevent Never push across their face with one straight arm Keep your arms inside, close to your chest 2 Defensive posture Turn the palm of the trapped arm to your ear so it stays alive Get on your side, facing them 3 Hand fight Grab your own hand or collar to keep the arm in Push their head away with your free hand 4 Make space Bridge toward your trapped-arm side Walk your hips away so they can’t step to the finishing side 5 Clear the structure Pull the trapped arm back across your face Hip-escape so the head-and-arm loop has no anchor 6 Late escape Keep walking your hips away as they step over Tap when their head pins your arm and they’ve stepped to the side 7 Back to safety Recover guard before they settle Or turn to your knees and face them Escape options Hand to ear The head-and-arm is just closing
Bridge into it They’re still in mount and haven’t stepped off
When to tap If their head pins your arm and they’ve stepped to the side, tap.
Common mistake Bridging away from your trapped arm, which drives your shoulder deeper into your neck.
Drill it Partner starts with the arm triangle locked but still in mount. Round 1 at 30% resistance, round 2 at 60%, then live. Your partner applies the finish slowly; you tap the moment you reach the “when to tap” point. Switch roles each round.
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Quick check Escape the arm triangle quick check 4 questions
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