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Submission escape
Escape the bow and arrow choke
Start here: your partner has the bow and arrow choke set but not finished.
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Caught in
Escape to
Before it’s locked
- Keep your chin down and both hands near your collar when they take your back
- Strip the first cross-collar grip before it gets deep
- Don’t let them pin your arm with their leg
The main escape
- Slide your hips down toward your feet so your head drops below the collar grip
- Put your hand on their choking elbow, not their sleeve, and push it up and across your face
- Turn under the elbow toward them as the grip loosens
- Clear the hook and recover guard or half guard
Escape roadmap
The seven stages of this escape. Work from the top: the earlier you act, the less you need the later stages.
- 1Prevent
- Strip any cross-collar grip as it arrives
- Keep your arms between your neck and their hands
- 2Defensive posture
- Chin down and hips sliding toward your feet
- Keep your far arm free; don’t let their leg trap it
- 3Hand fight
- Hand on their choking elbow, not their sleeve
- Your other hand protects the collar from the second grip
- 4Make space
- Slide down so the grip sits on your jaw
- Turn your shoulders flat toward the mat
- 5Clear the structure
- Push the choking elbow up and over your face
- Free your trapped arm from under their leg
- 6Late escape
- Turn under the elbow toward them
- Tap when the collar is deep and your arm is pinned under their leg
- 7Back to safety
- Clear the hook and recover guard or half guard
- Keep both hands on your collar as you come out
Escape options
Elbow pushThe collar grip is in but your arm is free
Slide down and turn inThey have the grip but haven’t pulled you sideways yetOpen back escape to guard →
When to tap
If the collar is deep, they’ve pulled you sideways and your far arm is trapped under their leg, tap.
Common mistake
Grabbing their sleeve instead of their elbow, a much weaker lever.
Drill it
Partner starts with your back, a deep cross-collar grip and their leg over your shoulder, not pulling yet. 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.
How they apply itRead about itGrapplearts articlesBJJ Heroes
My notes
Saved automatically.
Quick checkEscape the bow and arrow choke quick check4 questions
How it connects
- The attack
- Bow and arrow choke
- Caught in
- Back control (defend)
- Escape to
- Half guard