# Back Control

> A dominant rear position that controls the opponent's hips and upper body while exposing high-percentage choking attacks.

- **Canonical page:** https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/back-control
- **Markdown:** https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/back-control.md
- **JSON:** https://www.ossmeta.com/api/public/techniques/back-control
- **Category:** position
- **Format:** both
- **Level:** fundamental
- **Aliases:** back mount, rear mount, taking the back
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-25

## What it is

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.

## Key principles

- 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.

## Common entries

- **Arm drag:** Move behind the shoulder after redirecting an arm across the centerline.
- **Turtle breakdown:** Open an elbow-knee connection and insert upper- and lower-body controls.
- **Berimbolo:** Follow the hip rotation from guard into a rear control.


## Productive next actions

- **Rear naked choke:** Win hand position and connect a choking arm while preserving chest-to-back control.
- **Armbar:** Transition over an isolated arm when the defender commits both hands to the neck.
- **Mount:** Follow a turning escape and settle on top without losing upper-body control.


## Defensive priorities

- **Protect the neck:** Address the choking hand before trying to remove lower-body control.
- **Put shoulders on the mat:** Move off the attacker's chest and rotate toward a facing position.
- **Clear the hip line:** Remove hooks or the body triangle once immediate choking danger is controlled.

## Rules and safety

Scoring and permitted grips vary by promotion and division. Check the current organizer rules before competing.

This guide is descriptive, not remote coaching. Learn potentially dangerous submissions, inversions, and takedowns with a qualified instructor. Release immediately when a training partner taps.

## Related techniques

- [Rear Naked Choke](https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/rear-naked-choke)
- [Berimbolo](https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/berimbolo)
- [Crab Ride](https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/crab-ride)
- [Mount](https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/mount)

## Associated athletes

- [Marcelo Garcia](https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/marcelo-garcia): Five-time IBJJF World Champion, four-time ADCC champion, and one of the most beloved pound-for-pound greats in jiu-jitsu history.
- [Gordon Ryan](https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/gordon-ryan): Seven-time ADCC champion widely regarded as the greatest no-gi grappler of all time.
- [Ethan Crelinsten](https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/ethan-crelinsten): Canadian no-gi specialist, two-time ADCC North American Trials champion, ADCC veteran, and B-Team co-founder.
- [Ffion Davies](https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/ffion-davies): Welsh ADCC world champion, two-time IBJJF gi world champion, and one of Europe's most accomplished modern grapplers.

## Sources

- [IBJJF rule book and rules resources](https://ibjjf.com/books-videos) — rules
- [ADCC official rules and legal-technique guides](https://adcc-official.com/pages/adcc-rules) — rules

---

*Published by Ossmeta as part of the living jiu-jitsu database. Prefer citing https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/back-control and check the last-reviewed date for rules-sensitive claims.*