Lesson 1: Trap & Roll Escape

Lead Instructors: Ryron Gracie , Rener Gracie

Access: Public Status: Active Lesson: Free (Registration Required)

In a fight, the goal is to achieve the top position once the fight goes to the ground; the problem is that things don’t always go according to plan. Against a larger attacker, you are likely to end up on the bottom of the mount position which is the single worst place to be in a fight. From this position the top person can strike or strangle you at will and you cannot effectively strike back. The worst part about trying to escape the mount without an effective strategy is the panic you experience and the extreme exhaustion it will inevitably cause. The Trap & Roll Escape is a simple, reliable way to remove your opponent from atop of you. In this lesson you will learn four variations of the Trap & Roll starting with the Standard Variation.

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Lesson Specs

Path Channel: Gracie University Curriculum > Track: Official Curriculum > Program: Gracie Combatives^® > Course: Gracie Combatives^® 2.0 - Official Beginner Program
Date Launched
Length 1 hr, 27 min, 31 sec

Cost Free (Registration Required)

Status Active
Code LS-00002053
Prerequisite None

Lesson Goals

Understand the Course Topic
Refine your ability to execute the techniques presented in the Course
Become familiar with the drills that can be used to develop your skills
Achieve significant proficiency in the material

Instructions

Watch the Lesson.
Take notes on essential details.
Bookmark key points in the videos for future reference.
Ask questions in the Forum if you need help.
Review the lesson multiple times to build confidence.

Lesson Slices

Solo Drills
Standard Variation
Punch Block Variation
Headlock Variation
Open Guard Pass
Bonus: Spread Hand Variation
Reflex Development Drill
Mindset Minute
Street Tip: Concrete Concerns

Lead Instructors

Ryron Gracie

Gracie University Chief Instructor

Ryron and Rener Gracie are the eldest grandsons of Grand Master Helio Gracie, the creator of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Their father is Rorion Gracie, one of the world’s foremost experts in self-defense. In 1993, Rorion created the Ultimate Fighting Championship to showcase the supremacy of the family’s self-defense system in a realistic “no holds barred” confrontation against all comers. Rorion’s younger brother, Royce, won 3 of the first 4 UFC tournaments proving that the leverage-based techniques of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu provided the most reliable way to defeat a larger, more athletic opponent. Ryron and Rener were born into this family tradition of testing the art against all challengers.

Rorion introduced his sons to the art as soon as they could walk. As children, they watched him teach private classes in their garage in Southern California. But, it wasn’t until they observed their father and uncles – Royce, Rickson, and Royler – easily winning challenge matches that they began to comprehend fully the effectiveness of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Even more important, Ryron and Rener recognized the profound impact the family’s art had on all who studied it. The life changing transformations of Gracie University students motivated the brothers to teach the art. While constantly perfecting their physical techniques, they worked equally hard to master the powerfully effective instruction methods developed by their forbearers. In 2003, Grand Master Helio Gracie awarded Ryron and Rener black belts in recognition of their mastery of his unique techniques and teaching methodologies.

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Rener Gracie

Gracie University Chief Instructor

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Other Lessons in This Course

Free!

Gracie Combatives 2.0 Intro Class

In this comprehensive introduction to Gracie Combatives, Ryron and Rener explain what inspired them to reproduce and rerelease the program.

Free (Registration Required)

Lesson 1: Trap & Roll Escape

The Trap & Roll Escape is a simple, reliable way to remove your opponent from atop of you.

Free (Registration Required)

Lesson 2: Americana Armlock

The Americana Armlock is a highly effective submission that can be used with minimal effort to defeat a larger opponent.

Free (Registration Required)

Lesson 3: Positional Control (Mount)

The mount is the most dominant position in a fight because it enables you to win the fight in a variety of ways while depleting your opponent’s energy.

Lesson 4: Take the Back (Mount)

In this lesson you will learn how to Take the Back as well as what to do if the opponent begins to slip away from your back mount control.

Lesson 5: Rear Naked Choke

Of all the techniques in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, the Rear Naked Choke has been responsible for more fight victories than all the rest combined.

Lesson 6: Leg Hook Takedown

The safest place to be in a fight, while standing, is in a clinch. From the clinch, your opponent’s striking power is almost entirely eliminated. In this lesson, we will teach you how to take the opponent down once you get there.

Lesson 7: Clinch (Aggressive Opponent)

The key to establishing a clinch on an aggressive opponent is to understand that there are two safe distances in a fight: all the way out, or all the way in.

Lesson 8: Punch Block Series (Stages 1-4)

The Punch Block Series will enable you to neutralize all punches and exhaust your opponent until the opportunity arises to execute a sweep or submission.

Lesson 9: Armbar (Mount)

The Armbar is one of the most dynamic submissions in jiu-jitsu since it can be applied from virtually any position, and it can be used to incapacitate even the largest opponent.

Lesson 10: Triangle Choke

In this lesson, we will discuss the Triangle Choke which is one of the most amazing techniques of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, since it gives any individual the ability to render their opponent unconscious from the bottom of the fight.

Lesson 11: Elevator Sweep

Any time a larger opponent is driving all their weight forward from within your guard, there is a good chance that they are actually creating an opportunity for the Elevator Sweep.

Lesson 12: Elbow Escape (Mount)

If your opponent is too big, or the Trap & Roll is not possible, the Elbow Escape will serve as your emergency escape.

Lesson 13: Positional Control (Side Mount)

This position gives you unparalleled control of your opponent with the lowest energy expenditure due to the inherently strong base it provides the top person and the rate at which it depletes the bottom person.

Lesson 14: Body Fold Takedown

Once you establish the clinch, there is a good chance that they will get desperate and try to hit you in the face. In doing so, they will lean back and unknowingly create the perfect opportunity for the Body Fold Takedown.

Lesson 15: Clinch (Conservative Opponent)

In the event that your opponent approaches you conservatively during the fight, and you would like to close the distance, you can use the “surprise entry” method to establish the clinch.

Lesson 16: Headlock Counters

The Headlock Counters from the mount will keep you from getting rolled off of a larger opponent and prepare you to take advantage of the submission opportunities that will inevitably arise.

Lesson 17: Double Leg Takedown

If you anticipate difficulty in establishing the clinch, however, the Double Leg Takedown is a great alternative.

Lesson 18: Headlock Escape 1

The Frame Escape is the first of two headlock escape strategies that we recommend you perfect for use against larger adversaries in a ground fight.

Lesson 19: Armbar (Guard)

Whenever someone attacks your neck or face from within your guard, they are giving you the opportunity to catch them in an Armbar.

Lesson 20: Double Ankle Sweep

The Double Ankle sweep is a premium example of how leverage and timing can overcome size and strength.

Lesson 21: Pull Guard

If you pull the opponent in your guard, you can neutralize the punches, exhaust their energy, and eventually win the fight in a variety of ways.

Lesson 22: Headlock Escape 2

If you are caught by surprise, and don’t have enough time to use the first option, you can resort to option number two - the Leg Hook Escape.

Lesson 23: Guillotine Choke

You have already learned how to establish the clinch if they attempt to knock you out while standing. If instead, they try to tackle you, you should resort immediately to the Guillotine Choke.

Lesson 24: Shrimp Escape

If your opponent is able to get past your guard, you will need to use the Shrimp Escape to put them back where they belong.

Lesson 25: Kimura Armlock

Although this technique can be applied from several different positions, we have chosen to teach it to you from the bottom of the guard, since that is where you are most likely to end up against a larger opponent.

Lesson 26: Standing Headlock Defense

Without the proper escape strategy, the Standing Headlock can be a very painful and demoralizing experience, but with the proper technique you can turn the tables and use their hold to your advantage.

Lesson 27: Punch Block Series (Stage 5)

In this lesson you will learn how to defend from Stage 5 as well as what to do if the opponent tries to throw your legs aside in their quest for a knockout punch.

Lesson 28: Hook Sweep

If your opponent is leaning forward from Stage 4 but has one leg forward for base, you may have difficulty dropping them back into Stage 1, and this is precisely when you would use the Hook Sweep to reverse the position.

Lesson 29: Rear Takedown

Any time your head ends up under your opponent’s arm, you can use it to transition into the Rear Clinch control position, from there you can set up the Rear Takedown.

Lesson 30: Haymaker Punch Defense

The Haymaker Punch Defense is used when a determined attacker comes at you from a distance with the objective of putting all of their bodyweight behind one fight-ending punch. Because of this punch’s power and predictability, the best option is to slip underneath it and get behind your opponent.

Lesson 31: Take the Back (Guard)

When a person drives all their weight forward from within your guard, they unknowingly create a perfect opportunity for you to take their back especially when they are attacking your neck or face with one of their hands.

Lesson 32: Guillotine Defense

Although the proper clinch position should prevent the Guillotine Choke, your opponent may surprise you if your head is too low, and in this lesson, you will learn the most important Guillotine Defense principles.

Lesson 33: Elbow Escape (Side Mount)

If your opponent is able to prevent the Shrimp Escape, the best thing to do is conserve energy and wait until the opponent transitions from side mount to full mount so that you can use the Elbow Escape to recompose the guard.

Lesson 34: Standing Armbar

Many confrontations begin with an opponent pushing your chest with one or both hands unknowingly creating the perfect opportunity for you to apply the Standing Armbar.

Lesson 35: Twisting Arm Control

The beauty of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is that it enables you to defeat virtually anyone while controlling the amount of damage you inflict. The Twisting Arm Control is a premium example of this because you can use it to set up a choke, armbar, or simply control your opponent until they surrender.

Lesson 36: Double Underhook Pass

In the unlikely event that you find yourself in your opponent’s closed guard during a street fight, you can use the Double Underhook Guard Pass to break their guard and get to a more powerful position of control.

GC Test – Introduction

Once you complete the Gracie Combatives course online, or at a Certified Training Center, you may test for your Gracie Combatives belt if you are at least 14 years of age. Award of the Gracie Combatives belt signifies that you embody the core self-defense principles and are proficient in the foundational techniques ...