Become Fighter
Back control: hooks and seatbelt: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu guide
The strongest position in the sport and how to keep it.
Back control is the best place to be: your opponent cannot hit you and you have two arms to their one throat. You win by staying glued on while they try to scrape you off.
The structure is simple: a seatbelt over one shoulder and under the other arm, plus two hooks inside their hips. Learn the structure before any choke. If you have the structure, the choke follows.
Key points
- Seatbelt: one arm over the shoulder, one under the armpit. Hands clasp on their chest.
- Chest to their back with no gap. Your head sits on the side of their neck.
- Hooks go on the inside of their thighs, with the toes pointing out. Never cross your ankles.
- Keep your hips close to their tailbone. If you lose that connection, they slide out.
- Pull the shoulder of the under-arm side towards the mat to stop them running to that side.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Crossing your ankles. Crossed ankles can be hurt by a twisting escape. Keep the hooks separate.
- Leaving a gap between chest and back. Stay glued. A gap lets them turn into you.
- Going for the choke too early. Secure the structure first. A rushed choke gives up the position.
The rest is in the app
The step-by-step breakdown, the timed drill with the coach calling the shots and the quiz are part of Become Fighter Pro, where this lesson sits in the Top control module of Jiu-jitsu foundations.
Get it on Google Play. Coming soon to the App Store.
More from Top control
- Side control: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu guide
- Mount: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu guide
- Knee on belly and transitions: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu guide
← All Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu lessons
Combat sports training is hard on the body. Warm up, stay within your limits and check with a doctor first if you have a health condition. Practise in a clear space and stop if you feel pain or dizziness. Learn partner work only under a qualified coach.