### Side Control Hip Escape **Overview:** The Side Control Hip Escape, often colloquially referred to as "Shrimping" from Side Control, is a fundamental guard recovery technique in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It allows the practitioner to create space, reposition their hips, and regain a more defensive or neutral position. **Purpose:** To escape an opponent's Side Control and transition into a more advantageous position, typically Closed Guard or Half Guard. ### Step-by-Step Instructions **1. Frame Up:** - **Objective:** To create space and alleviate some pressure from the opponent's control. - **Execution:** - Use the arm closest to your opponent to frame across their neck and chest. - Ensure your forearm and elbow apply consistent pressure to maintain a gap. - The other arm should frame on their hip to prevent them from advancing further. **2. Bridge and Shrimp:** - **Objective:** To slide your hips away from the opponent, creating space. - **Execution:** - Bridge your hips upwards to destabilize their grip slightly. - As you come down from the bridge, immediately rotate your hips and push off the floor with the foot of the leg furthest from them. - Shrimp your hips away from their body, sliding them under the framed arm. **3. Reposition Legs:** - **Objective:** To recover guard by inserting your knee and leg between you and your opponent. - **Execution:** - Once your hips have shifted away, insert your closest knee (knee shield) between yourself and your opponent. - Aim to bring your foot closer to your glutes for effective knee placement. **4. Guard Recovery:** - **Objective:** To return a more neutral or advantageous position. - **Execution:** - Continue the shrimping motion if necessary to replace the knee with the foot, solidifying the guard. - Pull your free leg around for full guard or half guard, depending on the available options. ### Tips and Variations: - **Breath Control:** Maintain calm, even breath throughout the process to ensure you don’t exhaust prematurely. - **Shrimp with Purpose:** A well-coordinated shrimping motion is crucial for creating sufficient space; ensure the movement is fluid and directed. - **Adapting to Resistance:** If attacked with head pressure, consider turning your face towards them to alleviate pressure and adjust your frames. ### Common Mistakes: - Failing to maintain strong frames, which can lead to being reconsolidated in side control. - Not using the legs effectively; the power in shrimping comes from the effective use of your base leg against the mat. ---