Crab Ride
Also known as crab hooks, double unders ride
A rear-hip riding position that uses the feet behind the opponent's knees or thighs to elevate, steer, and expose the back.
At a glance
- Family
- Transition
- Format
- Gi & no-gi
- Level
- Advanced
- Connections
- 4 techniques
Concept
What it is
Crab ride places the attacker behind the opponent's hips with both legs threaded underneath or around the thighs. The feet act as steering hooks while the upper body controls the waist, allowing the rider to lift the hips and prevent the opponent from fully facing them.
The position appears in berimbolo systems, leg-drag counters, wrestling rides, and no-gi back-take sequences. It is transitional by nature: the goal is usually to expose the back, settle a leg drag, or follow a roll into stable control.
Core mechanics
Key principles
- Stay attached to the waist while the hooks manipulate the knees.
- Keep your head and chest behind the opponent's hip line.
- Elevate one side at a time to create rotation.
- Climb to upper-body control as soon as the back becomes available.
System map
How it connects
Jiu-jitsu techniques work in sequences. These are common conceptual routes in, productive next steps, and the defensive priorities that shape the exchange.
Common entries
Berimbolo
Follow the hip rotation and place the feet behind the opponent's legs.
Leg-drag counter
Invert and attach behind the passer's knees as they direct the legs.
Turtle ride
Insert hooks behind the thighs while controlling the waist from the rear.
Next actions
Back control
Pull the hips toward you and climb from waist control to the shoulders.
Leg drag
Turn the opponent's knees across and come on top beside the hips.
Technical mount
Follow a hip turn and settle one knee behind the back.
Defensive priorities
Sit to a hip
Put one side on the mat to reduce the rider's ability to elevate both legs.
Hand fight the waist
Break the upper-body attachment before spinning toward the opponent.
Clear one hook
Recover a knee to the floor and rebuild a facing position.
Competition connections
Athletes associated with Crab Ride
Keep exploring
Related techniques
Transition
Berimbolo
An inversion-based transition from De La Riva and related guards that follows the opponent's hip to expose the back or create a sweep.
Position
Back Control
A dominant rear position that controls the opponent's hips and upper body while exposing high-percentage choking attacks.
Pass
Leg-Drag Pass
A passing position that directs both of the guard player's knees across one hip, exposing the side and often the back.
Guard
De La Riva Guard
An outside-hook open guard used to control a standing opponent's lead leg and create sweeps, back takes, and transitions.
Rules and reference sources
Rules evolve. The official organizer documents below are the source of truth for competition legality; the guide above explains the technique conceptually.