Granby Roll

Also known as: Granby · Shoulder Roll · Wing Roll

The wrestling shoulder roll that saves the turtle: roll across your upper back underneath the attacker’s pressure and come out facing them in open guard.

Escape · Gi & No-gi · Difficulty 3/5 · Usually learned at Blue belt

Starts from Turtle as the turtled player → lands in Open Guard.

The details that make it work

1. Post your head and inside shoulder, then roll across the shoulder blades — never straight over the head.
2. Your legs swing through the gap between you and the attacker, re-inserting as frames and hooks.
3. Time it against a re-grip: roll when their hands are moving, not when the seatbelt is locked.

Where it goes wrong

• Granbying with a locked seatbelt on you, which rolls you straight into back control.

How opponents counter it

• Lock the seatbelt before the roll starts
• Follow the roll and re-pin the hips

Is the Granby Roll legal in competition?

Legal in all major rulesets at all levels (IBJJF, ADCC, sub-only). Rules change — always confirm against the current official rulebook for your event.

Related techniques

• Sit-Out
• Back Take from Turtle
• Side Control Escape (Frames & Shrimp)

All moves from Turtle · Back to Grapplepedia