Another fundamental movement in BJJ is the side shrimp. While the regular shrimp is necessary for escaping mount and retaining guard, the side shrimp is essential for escaping side control. Nevertheless, for some reason it isn’t really taught all that often (apart by those who’ve trained with people from SBG, or Rickson or his students, as I hear…). It just might be that the trade secret Ryan Hall has replaced the shrimp with is the side shrimp, given the influence of Rickson and all, but we’ll never really know until he tells us. In any case, here’s how to do it:
Side Shrimps
- Start from the Corpse Position (both shoulders and both hips on the ground = you’re dead).
- One, post a leg (heel off the ground!), push off of it and move your hips sideways, trying to get on one cheek; two, pull your near shoulder back, trying to get on one shoulder.
- Again, one, move your hips a bit more, two, pull your near shoulder back more.
- Repeat until you are in the Fetus Position (on one hip, on one shoulder = you’re about to be born).
The key to the movement is maintaining a one-two rhythm in moving your hips sideways and pulling your shoulder back.
Here’s a video of my students Vince and Seth demonstrating a good basic partner drill that helps one to learn how to do side shrimps:
After doing this drill for a while, you should be able to do side shrimps on your own. In future posts I will cover how to incorporate them into side control escapes.
Enjoy!
I like your blog. Good job!
Oh, yeah the vid I’m commenting on. LOL! This is a drill and movement that I agree isn’t really taught often today. Back when I was training originally under Frank Cucci, who was under Rickson, we did practice this movement. Almost exactly as the drill in the vid, but I haven’t heard or seen it for well over 10 years or so. I’m going to incorporate it into our kids class tomorrow night.
Thanks for posting.
Thanks for the comment! Very interesting!
Hey I!
Really good blog Mr Relland! Thank you!
This hip movement is one of the things that my instructor Ricardo focuses on alot. Since I begun drilling this I’ve noticed a big improvement in my movement and elusiveness.
Thx again!
/C
Wow! Talk about a great start with your blog Indrek, I love it! Thanks for posting the side shrimp, I’ve been makin a concerted effort to learn it lately and any additional input is always welcomed! My coach Bruno Panno also stresses keeping the posting leg nearly vertical, he said that’s how Rickson does it!
Kind Regards
Felipe
What’s up with the bracelet around his ankle? An Estonian thing or what, jewelry FTW?? Not very practical in grappling…
Does Vince look Estonian to you?
Biologically speaking, no.
But maybe his nationality is Estonian anyways.