Positional Series
Back

This is a standard position in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu where you are sitting with your opponent in between your legs facing away from you. Your chest is on their back. Variations include
Lesson Plans
Concepts
From Outside
- *Conventional Wisdom* Fall to the side you wish choke from
- *Don’t cross your feet*
- Create a frame around them with your legs but don’t waste energy squeezing just be tight
- Danaher Style
- Establish a Control Side
- If falling to the control side bring the bottom leg across the belly to block the hips
- If falling to the choke side hook the arm first before falling to that side
- Control opponents hands with a series of direct and indirect controls until you have one free hand and your opponent has none
- Have opposite control on the upper body and lower body. Meaning that the opponent can not rotate one way or the other easily.
From Inside
- Control their hands

- Work on escaping your hips and back out

- Don’t allow collar grips
- Keep your arms tight

Additional Information
Head Positioning
From Outside
- Keep your head on the opposite side of the choking side.
From Inside
- Head positioning from the bottom is not super important. Try to Get your head on the opposite side of the choking hand.
Leg Positioning
From Outside
- Depending on the variation but mostly your legs will be around the hips
- Your feet should be inside their legs not crossed. Heels pulling back slightly.
From Inside
- You should have your feet together for the most part working as one unit. Trying to pummel inside their feet with your knees.
Grips
From Top
- Seatbelt
- Double Lapel Control
- Double Wrist Control
- Danaher Series
- Direct Same Side Control

- Direct Cross Side Control

- Indirect Same Side Control
- Indirect Cross Side Control
- Estima Back Control (Next Edge Only name)
- Arm Trap – In a seatbelt position with your opponent’s arm trapped. You should trap the one on the same side as your over arm.
From Bottom
- Normally don’t grip. Create the movement with your hips and trap their arms with your arms and hands.
Grip Breaks
From Top
From Bottom
Distance
From Outside
- Be Super tight and control the hips
From Inside
- You want to create a lot of space.
Opponents Submission Setups
From Opponent on Inside
- Toe Hold on one of your inside feet
- Ankle lock if feet are crossed
Weight Analysis
From the Outside
- Your weight needs to be on your butt for the most part or on a side
- Do not allow your opponent to separate from you.
- Stay with the chest on their back
From Inside
- Your weight will be on the mat but you can manipulate it by getting off to the side and using your hips to escape
Ideal Body Type
- Works for all body types
Leverage Points
From Outside
- Hips
- Shoulders
- Head
- Wrists
From Inside
- Hips
- Arms
- Knees
Pro Grappler to Review
Marcelo Garcia