Back Take

Last updated: May 26, 2026

What is a back take in BJJ?

A back take is an action, not a position. It describes the transition that ends with the attacker positioned behind the opponent, chest pressed against their upper back, with control points secured. The position that results from a back take is called back control or back mount.

In BJJ’s positional hierarchy, the back sits at the top. The defender cannot see incoming attacks. The major muscle groups that normally drive a bridge, frame, or roll are pinned out of position. The neck is fully exposed to chokes. That combination is why coaches teach students to chase the back from almost any position they end up in.

Under International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) rules, securing back control with both heels positioned between the opponent’s thighs (and not crossed), plus a controlling grip, held for three seconds, is worth four points. That is the highest single position value in the rulebook alongside the mount. The transitional moment of the back take itself does not score. The controlled position does.

How a back take works

The mechanics come down to two questions: how to get there, and how to stay there.

Getting there requires angle and timing. The attacker has to move from a position where the opponent is facing them, or partially facing them, to a position behind their torso. This usually happens by pulling the opponent’s centre of gravity past their own base. An arm drag pulls them forward and across centreline. From a top position like guard/" data-glossary-id="3903">half guard, the chair sit motion pulls the opponent over backwards. Against a turtled opponent, the attacker circles to one side as their opponent rotates to defend.

Staying there requires control points. The standard configuration involves two hooks (the attacker’s feet placed inside the opponent’s thighs or hips) and a seat belt grip (one arm across the chest, the other under the armpit, hands clasped). Some attackers swap the seat belt for a body triangle, where one leg locks across the opponent’s torso and traps the foot behind the opposite knee. Chest-to-back contact is non-negotiable in either setup. The moment that contact breaks, the position becomes escapable.

Back take vs. back mount vs. back control

This is where most of the confusion lives. The three terms get used interchangeably in casual conversation, but in BJJ, they refer to distinct things.

Term	What it is	IBJJF points
Back take	The transition or action of getting to an opponent’s back from another position	Not scored on its own; points are earned for the position it leads to
Back control	The position held with both hooks in (between the opponent’s thighs, no crossed feet) and a controlling grip, opponent’s back to the attacker’s chest	4 points after 3 seconds
Back mount	A specific configuration of the back position where the opponent is flattened face-down and the attacker is centred on their torso	4 points after 3 seconds

The clean way to think about it: a grappler “takes” the back, then “has” back control or back mount. The take is the verb. The resulting positions are back control and back mount.

A scoring nuance is worth knowing here. Crossing the feet behind the opponent’s body invalidates the four points under IBJJF rules, which is why coaches drill students to keep their feet hooked inside the thighs rather than crossed at the ankles, where they would also be vulnerable to a straight ankle lock.

Common back take entries

Back takes can come from almost any position. The most frequent setups, at a recognition level:

Entry	Where it starts	What it looks like
Arm drag	Guard or standing	Attacker controls the opponent’s wrist and elbow, drags the arm across their centreline, then circles to the back
Chair sit	Half guard, side control, or turtle	Attacker secures an underhook, sits back as if into a chair, and pulls the opponent over the top
Gift wrap	Side control or knee on belly	Attacker traps the opponent’s own arm against their face, freeing space to slide to the back
From turtle	When the opponent turtles to defend	Attacker locks a seat belt and walks their hips to the side, then inserts hooks
From mount	When the opponent rolls to escape	Attacker rides the rotation and takes the back as the opponent turns

Each of these has its own technique articles and instructional series. For the purpose of understanding what a back take is, the point is that the back take is not tied to a single starting position. It is a goal that can be pursued from anywhere on the mat.

Why the back is the most dominant position

The back’s dominance has several layers. The most obvious is vision: a defender who cannot see the attacker’s hands has no way to anticipate grip changes or set-up attempts, since most of the position’s threats happen out of sight.

Leverage matters as much. Most escapes from dominant positions rely on the chest and front-facing arm muscles. Framing in side control or bridging out of mount only works when the attacker is in front of the defender, not behind.

And the neck is fully available. That access is why the rear naked choke and the bow and arrow choke, two of the highest-percentage finishes in gi BJJ, both originate from back control. In no-gi, the rear naked choke is the default finish.

The position neutralises size and strength differences more thoroughly than any other dominant position in BJJ. Marcelo Garcia, a multiple ADCC and IBJJF world champion who competed at around 170 pounds, built his career around taking the back and finishing with chokes against larger opponents. Modern grapplers like Gordon Ryan and Garry Tonon have similarly orbited the back-attack game in their own careers. The same logic carries to MMA, where the defender pinned in back control loses access to most of their striking and reactive defence.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many points is a back take worth in BJJ?

Under IBJJF rules, securing back control with both hooks in (heels between the opponent’s thighs, not crossed) and a controlling grip earns four points after a three-second stabilisation. The transitional moment of the back take itself does not score. The controlled position does.

What’s the difference between a back take and back control?

A back take is the action of getting to the opponent’s back. Back control is the position itself, established once hooks are inserted and a seat belt or body triangle is locked. The take is the verb. The control is the noun.

Why is the back considered the best position in BJJ?

The defender cannot see incoming attacks. Most escape mechanics rely on the chest and arms, which the back position pins out of use. The neck is also fully exposed to chokes. Size and strength advantages are heavily reduced in this position.

What submissions come from a back take?

The rear naked choke is the most common finish. The bow and arrow choke is the highest-percentage gi submission from back control. Armbars become available when the opponent over-defends the neck, and other chokes like the short choke and body triangle squeeze round out the standard attack list.

Who is the most famous back take specialist?

Marcelo Garcia is the most influential. His arm drag to back take to choke sequence shaped how modern grapplers approach the position. Gordon Ryan and Garry Tonon are also widely recognised for relentless back-attack games.

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Sources

1. International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation. “IBJJF Rule Book, Version 4.0.” Accessed May 2026.
2. Evolve Daily. “Take The Back: 3 Basic Backtakes For Beginners In BJJ.” Accessed May 2026.
3. BJJ Fanatics. “The Phenomenal Back Control of Marcelo Garcia.” Accessed May 2026.
4. Jitsu IQ. “Back Take.” Accessed May 2026.
5. NAGA Fighter. “What is Back Control in BJJ?.” Accessed May 2026.
6. BJJ Eastern Europe. “Here’s Why Back Mount Is The Ultimate Position In BJJ.” Accessed May 2026.

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