When you first begin your Brazilian Jiu Jitsu journey at El Dorado Hills Jiu Jitsu, one of the key concepts you’ll encounter is learning to control your opponent from dominant positions. Among the most powerful and fundamental of these is back control. Mastering this position early on can set the stage for your long-term success in BJJ.
What is Back Control?
Back control occurs when you have your legs hooked around your opponent’s hips, your chest against their back, and ideally, your arms controlling their upper body. This is one of the most dominant positions in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu because your opponent has few options to attack or defend, while you have several submission opportunities available. Most notably, the rear naked choke is a finishing move often executed from this position.
Why Should Beginners Focus on Back Control?
- Dominance and Safety
Back control offers a significant advantage in both competition and self-defense. From this position, you are behind your opponent, out of reach of their strikes or counters, giving you the ability to control their movement without being vulnerable to attack. Learning this early gives beginners a sense of safety and control during rolls. - Submission Opportunities
From the back, there are many submission options that are both fundamental and effective. The rear naked choke is often one of the first submissions taught, as it capitalizes on the control you have over your opponent’s body. Once you have back control, submissions feel within reach, building your confidence as a beginner. - Transitional Awareness
Learning to maintain back control also helps beginners develop an understanding of transitions. It’s common for opponents to try and escape back control, and learning to follow them, adjust your hooks, and maintain control will strengthen your overall game. As you progress, you’ll learn how to seamlessly transition between back control, mount, and other dominant positions. - Defense Training
While back control is an offensive powerhouse, understanding this position as a beginner will also help you improve your defense. You’ll learn what to avoid and how to escape when an opponent gains back control on you, which is just as important as learning how to maintain it.
How to Approach Back Control as a Beginner
At El Dorado Hills Jiu Jitsu, we emphasize drilling back control with a focus on proper technique and patience. As a beginner, here are a few things to keep in mind when practicing this position:
- Stay tight to your opponent: Keep your chest glued to their back, with your hooks securely in place. This makes it harder for your opponent to escape.
- Focus on control before submission: Don’t rush to finish your opponent. Learn how to maintain control first, and submissions will follow.
- Be aware of your opponent’s escape attempts: A good defense from your opponent will be trying to roll or escape your hooks. Anticipating and preventing their escapes will improve your game immensely.
Back control is one of the most powerful and effective positions in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and it’s a position that beginners should learn early on. By mastering this position, you’ll gain confidence in your ability to control an opponent and finish the fight, whether in a competitive match or a self-defense situation.
At El Dorado Hills Jiu Jitsu, our curriculum ensures that every student, no matter their level, builds a strong foundation in back control and other fundamental positions. Start your journey by learning how to control, submit, and defend from the back—and watch your BJJ game transform!
