Back Escapes Guide | BJJ App Wiki
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How to escape back control in BJJ: seat belt escape, turn-in defense, hook removal, and surviving the rear naked choke attempt.
Back control is the highest-scoring position in BJJ and the most dangerous for submissions. These escapes give you a systematic approach to surviving and recovering.
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Surviving Back Control Priorities
When taken to your back: immediately protect your neck (chin to chest, hands to collar), keep your hips below the attacker's hips, stay on your side (not flat on your back), and work methodically. Panic leads to giving up the neck. Take your time.
Seat Belt Escape (Roll to Guard)
The most reliable escape: grip both hands, pull the top arm's elbow down toward your hip, create space, tuck your chin, and roll to the attacking side — pushing their hooks off as you roll. This puts you in their guard or neutral position. Key: do NOT roll to the non-seatbelt side or you face a choke.
Turn-In Defense
When you cannot roll: create an angle by hip escaping sideways, strip the hooks by grabbing the attacking feet (pinch ankles together), turn in toward the opponent to face them, and recover to guard. This is riskier because you temporarily face a triangle risk while turning.
Hook Removal Fundamentals
Defend hooks by: crossing your feet (locks out their top hook), using your hands to peel hooks off one at a time (grab ankle and press down), pushing their top hook with your heel, and hip escaping to create hook removal angles. Never let them establish both hooks deeply.
Surviving the Rear Naked Choke
When they get the choke grip: tuck chin immediately, bridge upward to create space, use two hands to grip the choking arm (not just one), turn into the opponent as you strip the arm, and shoulder roll to facing position. Do not let the choke go deep — tap early if you cannot strip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Always roll to the seatbelt side (toward the arm that is underhooking, not the arm that is overhooking). Rolling to the wrong side puts the choke directly in position.
A body triangle makes escape significantly harder. Focus on: turning into the opponent rather than rolling, gripping the ankle of the triangle and pulling it loose, and creating hip escape angles. If they also have the choke grip, prioritize defending the choke first.
Back escapes often end in scrambles, not clean guard recovery. Accept this — any position other than having your back taken is an improvement. Practice scramble drills to handle the transitional chaos after escaping.
Related Guides
→ 🔗 Submission Chain Guide→ 🎯 Back Attacks Guide→ 🛡️ Guard Types Guide→ ⚔️ Passing Styles Guide→ 🩹 Injury PreventionGet the BJJ Wiki Newsletter
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Common BJJ Problems & FAQ
This often happens because your opponent's forearm is pressing into your trachea, restricting airflow. To escape, focus on creating space by driving your hips into their torso and simultaneously shrugging your shoulders to lift their arm off your neck, allowing you to breathe.
Against a heavier opponent, prioritize using your hips to create leverage. Drive your hips upwards and towards their side, simultaneously bridging your back to disrupt their base and create an angle to roll out. Focus on a powerful, explosive movement rather than trying to muscle through.
A common mistake is trying to simply pull away or stand up without disrupting the opponent's control. Instead, focus on anchoring your hips to the mat and using your legs to push off, creating a base to bridge and roll your opponent over your shoulder, thus breaking their posture and control.
More Questions
What is the most important thing to remember when escaping side control?
The most crucial element is to create space between yourself and your opponent. Think of it like trying to breathe; you need room to move and regain your guard or get to a better position.
My opponent is heavy on top, how can I get them off me?
Focus on framing with your arms and hips to create that necessary space. Use your legs to push their hips away, and your arms to create a barrier, preventing them from crushing you and allowing you to start your escape.
When should I try to shrimp out versus bridging?
Shrimping is generally best for creating space and re-establishing guard when your opponent is slightly off-kilter or you have some room. Bridging is more effective for creating a sudden, explosive pop to unbalance them and create an opportunity to escape.