Principle-led escapes from knee ride and mount that hold up under pressure.
The Bottom Line
You will learn posture-first escapes that work when you are tired. You will drill a few high-percentage routes rather than dozens of moves. You will not get submission chains.
⚡️ Quick facts
Best for: Older or returning athletes
Skip if: You want offenses
Tech focus: Bridge And Roll, Stiff Arm Escape, Knee Thread Escape
Biggest takeaway: Principles beat scrambles
📋 Jump to a section (Click to expand)
What You'll Learn
Principle-first escapes for mount and knee ride that emphasize posture, frames, bridge-and-roll, stiff-arm hip escapes, knee thread, and timing. Built for repeatable reactions and older athletes with mobility constraints.
Primary Techniques You'll Drill
- Bridge And Roll
- Stiff Arm Escape
- Knee Thread Escape
- Shoulder Walk
- Kipping Escape
- Elbow Escape
- Back Door Escape
- Posture Frames
- Anti Windshield Wiper
Format & Level
- Instructional style: Conceptual, System Based, Drill Heavy
- Skill level: All Levels
- Format: Both
- Runtime: 2 hours and 47 minutes
- Volumes: 4
Should You Buy It?
Wait for daily deal. I included this to pair with offense picks so readers can build both sides of the position.
Why Stephen Whittier?
Stephen Whittier is a veteran coach and 4th-degree black belt who specializes in translating principles for everyday practitioners.
Community feedback
Here’s a summary of common feedback from platforms like Reddit’s r/bjj.
😍 Why People Love It
- Older practitioners cite Whittier for back-friendly escapes.
- Community recommends principle-first material for beginners and returners.
- AMA shows approachability and clear Q&A on escape choices.
🤔 Common Criticisms
- Some criticize production in other Whittier releases.
- Athletes wanting comp footage look elsewhere.
- A few prefer athlete-led meta over coach frameworks.
Smart Alternatives
- Escaping From Side Control and Knee on Belly – Broader bottom escapes including side control problems. (Price: $79.00, 6 vols)
- Pin Escapes & Turtle Escapes (Danaher) – Advanced fundamentals and modern framing theory. (Price: $197.00)
Sources & References
Official listing: View First Principles Escapes: Mount and Knee Ride on BJJ Fanatics
Your next step
You have the breakdown, community feedback, and my final thoughts. Now it’s your move.

