Back Take From Closed Guard

In today's blog post, you are going to learn a simple and basic fundamental technique that has been proven to work at the highest level of competitions - the back take from closed guard.

This technique is one of the basic fundamental techniques that you learn during your first month of training jiu jitsu.

However, don't let the fact that this is a simple fundamental technique fool you. 

It has been proven to work at the highest level of competitions by world champions like Roger Gracie and Mica Galvao. 

By mastering the back take from closed guard, you'll be able to take your opponent's back and secure the dominant position immediately. 

Not only will you be able to control your opponent, but you'll also score 4 points in IBJJF tournaments.

But that's not all. 

The back take from closed guard is a versatile technique that can be used in a variety of situations. 

With some adjustments, you can utilize this technique for MMA or even self defense situations.

So, get ready to learn step-by-step how to execute this powerful technique by watching my instructional video below.

Breaking the opponent's grip.

When your opponent is inside your closed guard, they'll often try to control your hip and mobility by gripping your collars and applying pressure to your solar plexus.

This can make it difficult for you to attack, leaving you feeling stuck and unable to make any progress.

That's why the first step in most closed guard attacks is to break your opponent's grip. 

One effective way that I like to use is by using a two-on-one grip on my opponent's sleeve.

To break the grip, you'll need to crunch your body slightly and thrust your hips upward while also pushing your opponent's sleeve in the same direction. 

With the right leverage, you'll be able to break the grip and regain control of your mobility and hip movement.

Check out the animated image above for a visual reference.

Exposing your opponent's back.

The next step in this technique is to start exposing your opponent's back. 

One of the key concepts in jiu jitsu is that if you can see your opponent's back, you can take it.

To begin exposing your opponent's back, you'll need to throw the arm that you're currently gripping to the opposite side. 

For example, if you're gripping your opponent's right arm, you'll want to throw it to their left side.

To do this, maintain your grip on the sleeve using a cross hand grip. 

This means that you'll grip your opponent's right arm with your right arm as well.

As you throw your opponent's arm to the side, use your legs to pull their body downward. 

This combination of movements will break your opponent's posture and expose their back, giving you the opportunity to take control of the match.

See the animated image above for a better understanding on how I execute the technique.

Grabbing opponent's belt.

Once you've successfully exposed your opponent's back, it's crucial to keep your arm that's gripping their sleeve stiff. 

This will allow you to maintain control of their arm and prevent them from returning to the center line.

If you fail to keep your arm stiff, your opponent may be able to escape and you'll have to start over again.

Remember that you now have a free hand.

Now that you have a free hand, it's time to use it to grab your opponent's belt. 

If the belt isn't available for whatever reason, you can grab any fabric from the back of their gi.

See how I do it in the animated image above.

Shrimp, shrimp and shrimp until opponent's back is attached to your chest.

The back take from closed guard is almost complete! 

Now, you'll need to open your guard and place the foot of your top leg on the mat.

Use this foot to push off the mat and start shrimping to bring your opponent's back attached to your chest. 

It may take a few shrimps to get the chest-to-back connection just right.

I demonstrate how you do the technique in the animated image above.

Securing the back take.

Once you've achieved the chest-to-back connection, it's time to release the cross hand grip. 

Your arm that was gripping your opponent's sleeve can now go over their shoulder, while your other arm goes below their armpit to secure a seat belt grip.

Next, swing your top leg over to secure the leg hooks on your opponent's hips. 

This will help you maintain control of your opponent and prevent them from escaping.

Congratulations! You've successfully executed the back take from closed guard.

Check the animated image above on how to execute this final step.

The back take from closed guard is a fundamental and important technique in BJJ that can give you a significant advantage over your opponent. 

By mastering this technique, you'll be able to take control of the match and secure the dominant back mount position, which can earn you valuable points in IBJJF tournaments.

To execute the back take from closed guard successfully, you'll need to follow a series of steps carefully.

Throughout each step, it's important to maintain control of your opponent and focus on executing each movement with precision.

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