In the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu , escaping from the mount position is considered one of the most challenging tasks. Mount is a dominant position where the opponent sits on your torso, offering them numerous submission opportunities. It can be extremely frustrating to escape once someone is mounted on you, especially when facing a skilled practitioner. However, Miha Perhavec, a BJJ black belt, has brought attention to a mount escape technique taught by the legendary UFC fighter and submission grappler, Demian Maia. In a recent YouTube video, Miha breaks down and demonstrates this incredible escape, discussing its effectiveness and potential.

The Origin of the Escape

Miha recounts his experience training in New York when Demian Maia visited his gym. Despite being exhausted, Miha had the opportunity to spar and practice techniques with Maia, who is renowned for his grappling prowess. During positional sparring rounds from the mount position, Maia repeatedly executed a unique and highly effective escape that left a lasting impression on Miha. This technique wasn’t one of the conventional escapes commonly taught in BJJ, and Miha had never seen it before.

The Demian Maia Frame Escape

Miha refers to the technique as the “Demian Maia Frame Escape.” He emphasizes that while he doesn’t know if it has an official name, this title pays tribute to Maia, who holds the record for the most submissions in UFC history, just behind Charles Oliveira.

The escape works by creating a strong frame across the opponent’s hips. One hand is placed on the opponent’s hip while the forearm forms a barrier across their belt line. This prevents the opponent from moving up, which is a critical movement required for executing submissions such as arm bars, mounted triangles, and arm triangles.

Miha explains that the position of the elbow and the way it cups the opponent’s hips are crucial. This setup prevents the opponent from advancing their position or setting up submissions. The key is to keep the elbow tight and start rotating in one direction, exploiting the opponent’s reactions to escape.

Real-World Application

Miha acknowledges that demonstrating such a technique in a controlled environment can be different from applying it in a live sparring session. To prove its effectiveness, he tests the escape against a skilled black belt, Austin. Despite being caught in one submission out of five attempts, Miha successfully escapes four times, illustrating the technique’s reliability and efficiency.

Why This Escape Stands Out

Miha believes this mount escape technique has significant potential for development and could become a go-to move for many practitioners. Its effectiveness lies in its simplicity and the use of leverage rather than strength, making it accessible to BJJ enthusiasts of all sizes and skill levels.

Conclusion

The Demian Maia Mount Escape showcased by Miha Perhavec is a testament to the evolving nature of Jiu-Jitsu techniques. It highlights how even subtle, seemingly simple adjustments can create highly effective solutions in challenging situations. For those looking to enhance their escape game, this technique is worth studying and integrating into their practice.