{"slug":"back-control","name":"Back Control","aliases":["back mount","rear mount","taking the back"],"category":"position","format":"both","level":"fundamental","summary":"A dominant rear position that controls the opponent's hips and upper body while exposing high-percentage choking attacks.","overview":["Back control places the attacker behind the opponent's shoulders with chest-to-back connection and lower-body control through hooks, a body triangle, or another hip clamp. Most rulesets award it highly because the defender cannot easily face the attacker.","Reliable back control is a sequence of controls, not a race to the neck. The attacker manages the shoulder line, keeps the hips connected, and alternates between restraining escape and creating choking access."],"keyPrinciples":["Keep your chest aligned behind the opponent's shoulders.","Control the shoulder line before chasing the neck.","Use the legs to follow the hips without crossing the feet dangerously.","Maintain a strong side and understand when to switch sides."],"entries":[{"label":"Arm drag","description":"Move behind the shoulder after redirecting an arm across the centerline."},{"label":"Turtle breakdown","description":"Open an elbow-knee connection and insert upper- and lower-body controls."},{"label":"Berimbolo","description":"Follow the hip rotation from guard into a rear control."}],"continuations":[{"label":"Rear naked choke","description":"Win hand position and connect a choking arm while preserving chest-to-back control."},{"label":"Armbar","description":"Transition over an isolated arm when the defender commits both hands to the neck."},{"label":"Mount","description":"Follow a turning escape and settle on top without losing upper-body control."}],"defenses":[{"label":"Protect the neck","description":"Address the choking hand before trying to remove lower-body control."},{"label":"Put shoulders on the mat","description":"Move off the attacker's chest and rotate toward a facing position."},{"label":"Clear the hip line","description":"Remove hooks or the body triangle once immediate choking danger is controlled."}],"relatedTechniqueSlugs":["rear-naked-choke","berimbolo","crab-ride","mount"],"athleteSlugs":["marcelo-garcia","gordon-ryan","ethan-crelinsten","ffion-davies"],"rulesetNote":"Scoring and permitted grips vary by promotion and division. Check the current organizer rules before competing.","sources":[{"label":"IBJJF rule book and rules resources","url":"https://ibjjf.com/books-videos","type":"rules"},{"label":"ADCC official rules and legal-technique guides","url":"https://adcc-official.com/pages/adcc-rules","type":"rules"}],"lastUpdated":"2026-07-25","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/back-control","markdownUrl":"https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/back-control.md","jsonUrl":"https://www.ossmeta.com/api/public/techniques/back-control","relatedTechniques":[{"slug":"rear-naked-choke","name":"Rear Naked Choke","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/rear-naked-choke"},{"slug":"berimbolo","name":"Berimbolo","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/berimbolo"},{"slug":"crab-ride","name":"Crab Ride","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/crab-ride"},{"slug":"mount","name":"Mount","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/mount"}],"associatedAthletes":[{"slug":"marcelo-garcia","name":"Marcelo Garcia","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/marcelo-garcia"},{"slug":"gordon-ryan","name":"Gordon Ryan","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/gordon-ryan"},{"slug":"ethan-crelinsten","name":"Ethan Crelinsten","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/ethan-crelinsten"},{"slug":"ffion-davies","name":"Ffion Davies","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/ffion-davies"}],"sourceSite":{"name":"Ossmeta","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com"}}