Back Take Defense
☰Contents
Back take defense for BJJ — preventing the back take, blocking seat belt, defending turtle position, and escaping to guard.
Preventing your opponent from taking your back is a critical defensive skill. The back is the most dominant position in BJJ — learn to defend it before it's established.
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Prevention — Before They Get to Your Back
Frame Against Seat Belt
When someone is working to establish seat belt control, create frames with your arms to prevent both arms from wrapping you. Address the top arm first.
Elbow to Hip
Drive your elbow down to your hip to block the seat belt from being established. This simple frame prevents the classic back take from turtle position.
Turtle Defense
Hip Alignment
In turtle position, keep your hips aligned away from their body. This prevents them from inserting hooks and rolling you.
Inside Elbow Control
Fight for inside elbow position. If you can control their inside arm, they cannot fully wrap the seat belt and take your back.
Escaping the Back Take
Hip Escape to Guard
Once they have partial back control, hip escape to the side, clear the hooks, and recover guard position systematically.
Common Mistakes
- Turtling without framing — invites the back take
- Letting them establish hooks before defending
- Turning into your opponent (creates choke opportunities)
- Forgetting the second hook after clearing the first