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Escape · Submission escape · Fundamental
Armbar escape (hitchhiker)
An escape (submission escape) you hit from Closed guard (top) and Mount (bottom), landing you in Closed guard (top). Fundamental level.
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How to do it
Works from
Puts you in
- Turn your thumb out to the side, like a hitchhiker, so your elbow faces sideways instead of up
- Rotate your body toward their head, staying on your shoulder
- Keep turning until your elbow points at the ceiling
- Come up into their guard or on top
How it connects
- Starts from
- Closed guard (top)Mount (bottom)
- Similar escapes
- Triangle escapeGuillotine escapeRear naked choke defense
- Also from Closed guard (top)
- Over-under passStack passStanding guard break
Get it right
Key details
- Act before your elbow is straight
- Turn toward their head, not away
Common mistake
Pulling the arm straight back instead of rotating.
If they defend it
They follow the turn: stack them and keep the arm bent.
Safety and research
Read about itGrapplearts articlesBJJ Heroes
Practice
Quick checkArmbar escape (hitchhiker) quick check4 questions
My notes
Saved automatically.
More from these positionsOther techniques that start where this one does
Over-under passPass or back take → Side control (Yoko Shiho Gatame)Stack passPass or back take → Side control (Yoko Shiho Gatame)Standing guard breakPass or back take → Passing open guardUpa (trap and roll)Escape → Closed guard (top)Elbow-knee escapeEscape → Half guardTriangle escapeEscape → Passing open guardGuillotine escapeEscape → Side control (Yoko Shiho Gatame)