Submission escape

Escape the kneebar

Start here: your partner has the kneebar (Hiza Juji Gatame) set but not finished.

Escape · 1 of 5

Kneebar Escapes by Dean Lister

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Before it’s locked

  • Don’t leave your leg straight between theirs
  • Keep your knee bent and your hips close to theirs
  • Don’t let your knee get past their hips

The main escape

  1. Bend your trapped knee and keep it bent
  2. Close the distance: come toward their hips instead of pulling away
  3. Turn onto your side so your knee is no longer lined up over their hips
  4. Get the knee past their hips, then pull the leg out and start passing

Escape roadmap

The seven stages of this escape. Work from the top: the earlier you act, the less you need the later stages.

  1. 1
    Prevent
    • Don’t leave your leg straight between theirs
    • Keep your hips close
  2. 2
    Defensive posture
    • Keep the trapped knee bent
    • Turn onto your side
  3. 3
    Hand fight
    • Grab their top leg or foot
    • Stop their hands sliding your leg straight
  4. 4
    Make space
    • Close the distance to their hips
    • Never pull away
  5. 5
    Clear the structure
    • Get your knee past their hip line
    • Clear their legs off your thigh
  6. 6
    Late escape
    • Turn and bend the knee as they arch
    • Tap once your knee is straight over their hips
  7. 7
    Back to safety
    • Pull the leg out and start passing
    • Keep your knees close together

Escape options

Bend and close inBefore the leg is straight
Turn to your sideYour knee is lined up over their hips
Knee past the hipsOnce the knee is bent and you’re close
When to tap

Once your knee is straight over their hips and they arch back, tap.

Common mistake

Pulling the leg straight back, which straightens it for them.

Drill it

Partner starts with your leg trapped between theirs, your knee still bent. 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 it
Read about itGrapplearts articlesBJJ Heroes

My notes

Saved automatically.

← Sliding collar choke (Okuri Eri Jime)Toe hold →
Quick checkEscape the kneebar quick check4 questions

How it connects

The attack
Kneebar (Hiza Juji Gatame)
Caught in
Leg lock defense
Escape to
Passing open guard
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