What Is a Back Take and Where It Appears
A back take is the transition that moves you from a neutral or offensive position (guard, top, scrambles) to behind your opponent’s shoulders and hips. From there, you secure seatbelt control, attach your chest to their upper back, and set hooks or a body triangle to control their hips. The back is prized because your partner can’t see attacks coming, their arms defend backward and downward, and you gain direct access to strangles without exposing many submissions in return.
Common scenarios for a BJJ back take include the turtle when your opponent refuses to concede side control, exposing the back after passes like knee cut or body lock, arm-drag sequences from seated or standing, berimbolo and crab ride transitions from open guard, swing-throughs from closed or half guard, and scramble moments after failed shots or granby rolls. Both gi and no-gi athletes rely on back takes because grips change but the positional goals remain: chest-to-back, seatbelt, and hip control.
Back Take Videos on BJJ University (Top 20 Videos, Top 10 Courses)
Systematically Attacking the Turtle Position by Gordon Ryan
$349.00 • BJJ Fanatics
The video features instructor Gordon Ryan who thoroughly explains and demonstrates his approach to attacking the turtle position step-by-step, focusing on handfighting, setting traps, and sinking hooks for back control. The approach taught in the video is largely responsible for Ryan's successful back control and submissions, with notable success in the ADCC. The instructional video is part of an eight-volume series that showcases how Ryan strategically gets to his opponents' backs and sinks in fight ending strangles. His methodical and detailed technique is easy to understand, setting the course for other grapplers wanting to improve their turtle position attacking techniques.
The Butterfly Re-Discovered Bundle by Adam Wardzinski
$317.00 • BJJ Fanatics
This four-part instructional video by Adam Wardzinski, a top-flight international competitor well-known for his butterfly guard, is designed to help you master this position in both gi and no-gi formats. The video explores techniques to build the butterfly guard from scratch and use it as a defensive tool to escape precarious situations or as an offensive weapon to execute sweeps, submissions, or back takes. The training also includes tips on how to launch attacks from complementary guards like the single leg X guard, supercharge your offense using lapels, and merge various butterfly positions like the classic, side, lazy, and half butterfly to form a comprehensive butterfly guard system.
Deep Half Revolution Bundle by Jeff Glover
$247.00 • BJJ Fanatics
The video, part of the "Deep Half Revolution Bundle," features Jeff Glover, a world-renowned expert in the deep half guard. He claims that everyone should employ this guard as it can be used to control the pace of a match. Through this instructional, Glover demonstrates techniques to sweep, submit, and attack the back from the deep half guard position, aiming to provide comprehensive training on this effective strategy.
Timeless Advanced Open Guard by Rafael Lovato
$247.00 • BJJ Fanatics
In this instructional video, world class black belt Rafael Lovato Jr. demonstrates advanced techniques from the open guard position. These techniques include single legs, come up sweeps, and back takes. He also discusses different ways to finish a fight from the bottom position using various submission holds. The video emphasizes the importance of establishing a firm grip and optimizing every performed technique.
See the Back Take The Back: Guard Passes To Back Takes by Giancarlo Bodoni
$197.00 • BJJ Fanatics
This instructional video features 2x ADCC champion Giancarlo Bodoni teaching how to transition from a guard pass to a back take. Bodoni, a standout of the renowned Danaher system, breaks down his unique pathways for forcing his opponent's reactions, dominating transitions, and converting guard passes into high-percentage back takes. He details the techniques and conceptual frameworks he applies, showing how once the guard pass begins, a competent practitioner can seamlessly transition into a back take.
Half Guard: BJJ Fundamentals - Go Further Faster by John Danaher
$197.00 • BJJ Fanatics
In the video, world-renowned Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach, John Danaher, provides an in-depth tutorial on Half Guard techniques as part of his Go Further, Faster Fundamentals series. This comprehensive module focuses on the central principles and strategies around Half Guard, including off-balances, sweeps, and back takes. Throughout the over eight hours of content, Danaher shares his expertise to help viewers improve their guard retention skills in BJJ.
Shoot To Kill: Wrestle, Scramble, Submit by Garry Tonon
$197.00 • BJJ Fanatics
This instructional video features Garry Tonon, a Dynamic Grappler, ADCC Medalist, 5-time EBI Champion, and a founding athlete in the Danaher Death Squad. He teaches a mix of advanced techniques and transitions such as takedowns, back takes, ashi garami, front headlocks, and more to develop a dynamic, fight-ending style. The instruction focuses on finishing takedowns and scrambles in positions able to end the fight effectively. It is a comprehensive source to hone grappling skills to enhance fight potential.
World Class Back Takes From Bottom by Felipe Pena Preguica
$197.00 • BJJ Fanatics
This instructional video by Felipe Pena covers diverse scenarios and guards from which you can transition to take your opponent's back – including closed guard, half guard, De La Riva, 50/50, spider guard, and more. Techniques range from beginner to advanced. The video also covers key concepts for gaining control over your opponent, including threatening with chokes as you advance your position. These are the same techniques that helped Pena earn multiple world titles and double gold at ADCC 2017.
The Reverse De La Riva System by Mikey Musumeci
$197.00 • BJJ Fanatics
This instructional video features BJJ competitor/instructor Mikey Musumeci teaching powerful sweeps and back takes from the Reverse De La Riva position. Musumeci provides unique insights into timing for maximum effectiveness during these techniques. He also covers key concepts of framing, gripping, and off-balancing to maintain control. Furthermore, Musumeci reveals the applicability of Reverse De La Riva skills in both Gi and No-Gi scenarios.
The Fastest Way: To Increase Your Submission Percentage (No Gi) by John Danaher
$197.00 • BJJ Fanatics
This video features John Danaher, a legendary coach and instructor, teaching high-percentage techniques, back takes, and powerful submission strategies to increase your submission percentage in BJJ No Gi. The focus of the video is on the rear strangle, a king of submissions, and its variations. It also includes development of a diverse armdrag system from open guard that forces opponents to expose their back for high-percentage back takes. The video shows how to take the back from various positions like standing, half guard, open guard, closed guard, mount, side mount, and even from inferior positions.
Core Mechanics: Control Before Hooks, Hooks Before Finish
Back takes succeed when you respect a simple order of operations: control before hooks, hooks before the finish. First establish chest-to-back connection and seatbelt (one arm over the shoulder, one under the armpit, hands connected). Use your head as a post behind their head, your shoulder pinning their trap, and your sternum pressing their upper back. This compresses space so they can’t rotate.
Next, control the hips. Traditional hooks place your insteps inside their thighs with heels pulling inward. Alternative control is the body triangle, which locks your legs around their torso. The triangle offers powerful control but can limit your hip mobility; choose it when you’re focused on holding the position or when your opponent is explosive. In either case, your top leg should be heavy, your knees pinching, and your heels active to track hip movement.
Hand fighting is the key battle. Use the seatbelt “tight side” (the arm over the shoulder) to anchor their far shoulder and the “under side” to trap near-side defenses. Threaten wrist traps, cross-wrist grips, or diagonal control to peel hands off your choking arm. Aim to hide and protect your choking hand behind their shoulder before threading under the chin. You don’t need the neck fully exposed—compress and lift the chin line with your forearm while staying patient and tight.
Finishing details for the rear naked choke: slide the choking arm deep, palm up, elbow pointing to the floor. Connect your biceps to one carotid and your forearm to the other. Your non-choking hand reinforces by going behind their head. Squeeze your elbows toward each other, expand your chest, and think “hug the shoulders” rather than cranking the neck. If the chin is tucked, attack short strangles across the jawline to create reactions, switch to short choke grips, trap an arm with your legs, or transition to collar chokes in the gi.
Safety note: never crank the neck sideways or apply crushing jaw pressure recklessly. For the body triangle, be mindful of rib and spine pressure—apply gradually and release if your partner signals discomfort. As with all chokes, prioritize smooth pressure, clear taps, and controlled drilling.
Back Take Turtle (5 Videos, 1 Courses)
Systematically Attacking the Turtle Position by Gordon Ryan
$349.00 • BJJ Fanatics
The video features instructor Gordon Ryan who thoroughly explains and demonstrates his approach to attacking the turtle position step-by-step, focusing on handfighting, setting traps, and sinking hooks for back control. The approach taught in the video is largely responsible for Ryan's successful back control and submissions, with notable success in the ADCC. The instructional video is part of an eight-volume series that showcases how Ryan strategically gets to his opponents' backs and sinks in fight ending strangles. His methodical and detailed technique is easy to understand, setting the course for other grapplers wanting to improve their turtle position attacking techniques.
Entries That Consistently Lead to the Back
From turtle: Use a spiral ride or seatbelt-insert approach. Insert your near-side hook behind their thigh as you pull them into your lap, or roll to the strong side while keeping your head tight behind theirs. If they tripod, chase the far hip with your top hook. If they sit to guard, follow and insert hooks before they square back up.
From guard: Closed guard gives arm-drag and hip-bump-to-back options. Arm drags work well from seated or shin-to-shin: control their wrist, drag the tricep across your centerline, and chase the far hip immediately. From De La Riva, reverse DLR, or crab ride, tilt them and connect chest-to-back before they turn to face. Berimbolo chains convert off their posted leg; keep your grips, rotate under the near hip, and climb to the back by tracking their hips rather than racing for the seatbelt too early.
From passing: Knee cut and body lock passes commonly expose the back when opponents turn on their side or turtle to avoid side control. As they turn away, collect the seatbelt, drive your chest into their scapula line, and insert your near hook. Keep your weight off the mat and on their shoulders to prevent granby rolls. If they roll, float with your hips and follow their turn, reattaching with hooks as soon as space opens.
From scrambles and wrestling: Failed shots and front headlock exchanges often gift the back when the bottom player comes to knees with elbows flared. Circle to the outside, block the far hip, and connect your chest to their back before committing to hooks. If they sit, slide into chair sit or hip drag to finish the back take.
Back Take Crab Ride (4 Videos)
Troubleshooting and Common Mistakes
Mistake: Reaching for the choke before control. Solution: Win chest-to-back and seatbelt first, glue your head behind theirs, then address hands. Think position, then submission.
Mistake: Loose hip control. Solution: Keep active hooks and knee pinch; track their hips with your heels. If they start sliding down, raise your knees, re-hook, or switch to body triangle if safe and appropriate.
Mistake: Getting peeled to the weak side. Solution: Identify your choking-arm side as the strong side. If they fall to the weak side, use your top leg as a shelf across their hip, post your top foot on the mat, and re-center to the strong side. Use cross-wrist control to pin their near hand.
Mistake: Losing the seatbelt in scrambles. Solution: Connect your hands early with a gable grip or S-grip. Keep elbows tight to your ribs. If you lose connection, shift to a two-on-one wrist ride or crab ride until you can reattach.
If the chin is down: Don’t force it. Attack short choke variations, jawline pressure with control, or trap an arm with your top leg to remove a defender. You can also threaten transitions—collar chokes in gi, bow-and-arrow grips, or switching to a strangle from the top side if they try to turn in.
If you’re slipping off: Slide your lower hook deeper, pull their hips up with your heels, and scoot your hips under their ribs. Sticky chest pressure plus micro hip adjustments keep you glued to the back.
Back Take Half Guard (3 Videos, 3 Courses)
Deep Half Revolution Bundle by Jeff Glover
$247.00 • BJJ Fanatics
The video, part of the "Deep Half Revolution Bundle," features Jeff Glover, a world-renowned expert in the deep half guard. He claims that everyone should employ this guard as it can be used to control the pace of a match. Through this instructional, Glover demonstrates techniques to sweep, submit, and attack the back from the deep half guard position, aiming to provide comprehensive training on this effective strategy.
Half Guard: BJJ Fundamentals - Go Further Faster by John Danaher
$197.00 • BJJ Fanatics
In the video, world-renowned Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach, John Danaher, provides an in-depth tutorial on Half Guard techniques as part of his Go Further, Faster Fundamentals series. This comprehensive module focuses on the central principles and strategies around Half Guard, including off-balances, sweeps, and back takes. Throughout the over eight hours of content, Danaher shares his expertise to help viewers improve their guard retention skills in BJJ.
The Flat Half Guard by Jonatas Novaes
$79.00 • BJJ Fanatics
The instructional video features Jonatas Novaes, a Black Belt instructor and multiple time championship winner, teaching his unique Flat Half Guard techniques. These techniques were developed to stand up against larger opponents and involve reactive half guard strategies. Novaes provides insight into high percentage sweeps, slick back takes, and sneaky submissions that are suitable for BJJ players of all ages, ranks, and sizes. The aim is to improve the bottom game with new, dangerous tools.
What to Study First to Build a Reliable Back-Take Game
Start with positional hierarchy and retention: understand why seatbelt plus hooks is the gold standard and how to keep it. Drill entries that naturally present the back without excessive risk: turtle chair sit, arm drag to back, and knee cut to back exposure. Aim for one clean entry from top, one from bottom, and one from scrambles so you can find the back in most rounds.
Next, develop hand-fighting layers. Practice peeling grips with cross-wrist control, catching the top hand, and hiding your choking hand. Add a basic finishing sequence: rear naked choke, short choke, and collar choke (gi). Then learn to trap an arm with your legs for a higher finish rate.
Finally, integrate counters and re-attacks. Study how opponents escape (shoulder scraping to the mat, two-on-one on your choking arm, sliding under your bottom hook) and drill recaptures—switch sides, re-seat with your hips, or transition to mount when back exposure is lost. The ability to maintain and regain the back often matters more than the flashiness of your initial entry.
Back Take Open Guard (2 Videos, 3 Courses)
Timeless Advanced Open Guard by Rafael Lovato
$247.00 • BJJ Fanatics
In this instructional video, world class black belt Rafael Lovato Jr. demonstrates advanced techniques from the open guard position. These techniques include single legs, come up sweeps, and back takes. He also discusses different ways to finish a fight from the bottom position using various submission holds. The video emphasizes the importance of establishing a firm grip and optimizing every performed technique.
Lapel Guards I Shamelessly Stole by Maksym Witkowski
$79.00 • BJJ Fanatics
The video Being an instructional by Maksym Witkowski, teaches about the use of underutilized lapel guards. It offers strategic and highly effective variations of the lapel guard that can disrupt dominant players and use their momentum against them. Witkowski provides unique lapel setups that are useful for controlling, sweeping, and taking backs, especially useful for smaller grapplers or those facing high-level opponents. The video places importance on creating chaos and opportunities from seemingly impossible positions.
The Chair Guard by Nisar Loynab
$79.00 • BJJ Fanatics
The video features Nisar Loynab teaching the Chair Guard position. He focuses on the correct entries to get into the position from various scenarios, such as being in a standing position. Further, he demonstrates how to maintain control over the opponent by using strong grips and controls. Towards the end, he guides viewers on how to perform surprising back takes from this guard.
Use BJJ University to Study Back Takes the Smart Way
BJJ University is a free, curated learning hub designed to make your training time efficient. Use the navigation menu to explore categorized videos, clips, breakdowns, and instructional resources by instructor, technique, position, category, and training topic. You’ll find focused collections on entries from turtle, guard, and passing, plus hand-fighting and finishing systems so you can build a complete pathway from entry to submission.
Browse the Back Take technique pages to compare different coaching styles and details, then save your favorites. Return after class to review the one or two cues that made a difference. Bookmark BJJ University and share it with teammates or friends who want organized, free Brazilian jiu-jitsu study resources—no more scattered tabs or guesswork.
FAQs
What makes the back the strongest position in BJJ?
From the back you attack the neck directly while your opponent has limited ability to counterattack. They can’t see or frame effectively, and you control their hips with hooks or a body triangle, creating consistent paths to strangles and transitions.
Should I use hooks or a body triangle?
Use hooks for mobility and dynamic attacks; choose a body triangle for maximum control when opponents are explosive or when you need to stall their movement. Apply body triangles gradually and monitor partner comfort and taps.
How do I stop opponents from escaping to the weak side?
Pin their near wrist, keep your top knee as a shelf across the hip, and bring the battle back to your strong side. If they turn hard, switch to a chair sit or re-seat your hips underneath them and reattach the seatbelt.
What’s the fastest entry to learn first?
Arm drag to the back from seated guard is often the quickest win for beginners—simple grips, clear angle change, and direct chest-to-back connection. Pair it with a basic chair sit from turtle for top players.
Is the rear naked choke safe to practice?
Yes when applied with control. Focus on carotid compression, avoid twisting the neck, squeeze gradually, and release on the tap. Communicate with your partner and reset if the chin is trapped or if pressure is on the jaw or spine.