The back is the most dominant position in grappling sports such as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Submission Grappling, and Mixed Martial Arts, both in the stand-up and on the ground (back mount). In the stand-up, it allows you to employ explosive takedowns, which typically require leaving the opponent with seconds to recover, and it enables you to apply some of the most powerful chokes in grappling when on the ground. In this article, we will discuss five effective ways to get to the back from the standing position.
What Is Back Control?
Back control happens when an athlete controls the opponent from the rear by placing their heels between the opponent’s thighs without crossing their legs. Doing so allows them to trap at least one of the opponent’s arms without trapping it above the shoulder line. Some advantages of having back control include the fact that the opponent cannot see your attacks coming from behind, making it difficult for them to anticipate your moves. It also allows you to control one or both of their arms by trapping them while maintaining control from behind.
Generally, the defender has limited options to defend from the back control. A grappler can have back control but not be in the back mount position, but if a grappler is in the back mount position, they inherently have back control. With the back control, a good grappler can transition to the back mount to secure a better position. From here, it is easy to apply chokes or even rain down strikes (ground and pound) in MMA.
5 Ways To Get Back Control From Standing
Finding the path to the back from standing can be challenging, as the opponent is constantly facing you. This is why it’s important to set your takedown entries properly by creating angles, misdirections, or explosively getting into them without a second thought.
Observing how the opponent manages their balance—by tracking their movement patterns and which foot they place their weight on—can also be helpful. Below are some ways you can get the back control from the standing position.
1) Duck Under
The duck under to back take is one of the common ways to get back control from standing. Its versatility makes this entry effective, as it works from the collar tie, wrist control (you control the opponent’s wrist, or the opponent controls your wrist), triceps control, or the underhook.
There are different ways and styles to hit the duck under, but the most common is from the collar tie with one triceps control or underhook. If you’re going to hit the duck under on the left side, use your left arm to apply a tricep control or an underhook while your right arm applies a collar tie. Have your left leg as your lead leg.
You can break the opponent’s balance by snapping the opponent’s head down with your right arm or pushing them with your frames. If the opponent pushes back, swiftly change your level and pull them down by hanging on them using your grips as you step outside with your left leg and head going under their arm to behind their shoulders.
A quick level change will leave the opponent’s body hanging as you swiftly step and move to the back. You can maintain your collar tie throughout the movement, allowing you to drag the opponent down as you finish the technique. If your opponent is stronger and you find it difficult to break their grips, you can always use their wrist control to perform the duck under.
2) Arm Drag
The arm drag is another effective way to take the back and can be done both standing and on the ground. There are different ways to set up and do the arm drag, but typically, it is done with wrist control. With the opponent facing you, assuming you’re going to your left side, control the opponent’s wrist using your left hand. You can apply a collar tie with your right arm to distract the opponent, but don’t hold onto it.
Pull the opponent’s wrist down or move their arm to the side laterally to open space. After you create space between their arm and torso, use your right hand to grab the same arm on the upper triceps or near the armpit, as this part is usually thicker and less slippery. There are two ways you can perform this. First, you can drag the opponent down to your right side without stepping with your feet, or you can step your right foot between the opponent’s legs and pull yourself to them as you go behind. Make sure to practice the variation that suits your style better.
As you get behind the opponent, make sure you place your head behind the opponent’s shoulder as you grab their far hip or lats using your left hand. Doing so prevents the opponent from running away or facing you, a common defense for the arm drag. Finish with the body lock back control without the opponent’s near arm trapped.
3) Snap Down To Front Headlock To Back Take
The snap down is one of the most effective ways to break the opponent’s posture and balance from the stand-up. Wrestlers drill the snap down countless times before or after their training; hence, when facing an experienced opponent, expect to get directed down the mats. Typically, the snap-down is done from the collar tie.
To perform, have your right hand do the collar tie by grabbing behind the opponent’s head (crown) and not on the neck, as the neck is usually the sturdier part. Have your left leg as your lead leg and your left arm with a tricep or underhook. Snap the opponent’s head down quickly as you pull them down with your left hand and step your right leg back a bit. Swiftly place your chest behind their head as you sprawl and drop your weight down to prevent them from coming up.
Switch to the front headlock position and make sure to pull the opponent’s trapped arm across their face as your head blocks their shoulder to prevent them from grabbing your hips as you move to the left side to take their back.
4) Throw By
The throw by is an effective counter-attack when the opponent grabs an aggressive collar tie. Likewise, when applying the collar tie, applying the collar tie with your right (lead hand) means having your right leg behind and your left leg as your lead leg. With the opponent having a collar tie with their right arm, curl your left arm. Place your left forearm under the opponent’s right triceps and step over your left leg to your left side.
Explosively, bring their right arm over your head by moving your left arm up as you rotate your body, throwing it to the right side. As you do these movements, don’t let go of the collar tie with your right arm, as this allows you to pull the opponent down while securing the back control.
5) Russian Two-On-One
There are different ways to utilize and finish the Russian two-on-one. If the opponent grabs a collar tie with their right hand while posting their forearms on your torso, use your left shoulder to shrug it away as you face to your right side to pop their collar tie off. As you throw their collar tie over, catch the opponent’s wrist with your right hand using a C-grip. Use your left hand to grab their bicep from the under and drop your chest and shoulder on the opponent’s right shoulder to pressure them down.
Now that you have the Russian two-on-one grip, the usual way to get to the back is by sliding the opponent’s arm forward as you switch your left hand to the opponent’s far hip to take their back. As you get more advanced, opponents will typically defend the two-on-one by circling to the side or posting on your head. You can transition to the arm drag by letting go of your right-hand grip on the opponent’s right wrist to their triceps while maintaining your left-hand control. Switch your left-hand control and grab the opponent’s far hip to get to the back.
Conclusion
Getting behind the opponent from the standing position is one of the most effective ways to take down even the heaviest opponents. Remember to create angles and move laterally when facing stronger or heavier opponents, as this will allow you to isolate their leg or find a way to get behind them. Try these different back control entries from the standing position and see how they fit in your game!
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