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BJJ Fundamentals

Lesson 35 – Back Control Retention 

Warm Up (5min)

  • Line Drills
    • Fordward Hip Escapes
  • Partner Drill
    • Collar-Sleeve Control

Lesson (30min)

Diagonal (2-Point) Control

  1. Start in back control with a seatbelt grip and symmetrical hooks
  2. Release your strangle arm and the hook on the opposite side
    • Ensure you are controlling both sides of uke’s body; your hooking arm and leg should make a diagonal line across uke’s torso
  3. Uke rotates away from you
  4. Use either your arm of your leg to keep yourself connected to uke’s back, following their rotation
    • Make sure you drill against both directions of uke’s rotation, as well as changing the side of your underhooking arm in your initial seatbelt grip

Forward Hip Escape

  1. Start in back control with a seatbelt grip and symmetrical hooks
  2. Uke falls to the side and removes one of your hooks, but stays between your knees
  3. Perform a forwards hip escape to make your hips point upwards
    • Plant your toes firmly on the mat so that you can pull your hips to the centre
    • Ensure uke stays between your knees throughout the movement
  4. Roll to the opposite side and re-insert your hook

Tripod & Roll – Single Rotation

  1. Start in back control with a seatbelt grip and symmetrical hooks
  2. Uke falls to the side and removes one of your hooks, then sits outside of your knees
  3. Drive uke’s head forwards and switch your hips towards the mat, coming up to a tripod
    • Don’t settle for mount by letting uke put their back onto the mat, make their upper body face downwards
  4. Shoot your knee towards your elbow near the mat to put uke back between your knees
    • Ensure your knee goes to the far side as much as possible, so that you end up being uke and not side-on
  5. Roll to the opposite side and re-insert your hook

Tripod & Roll – Double Rotation

  1. Continue from the tripod and roll, before the hook is re-inserted
  2. Uke tries to rotate faster than you, using the momentum of your roll
    • If uke manages to bring their elbow in front of your body, they will escape
  3. Perform a second roll and throw your far-side hook in before uke can complete their escape
    • Keep your hips higher than uke’s hips, staying behind them and keeping them between your knees throughout the movement