When Rob Biernacki and I released the BJJ Back Attacks Formula instructional some of the readers of my email newsletter grabbed the app right away and asked some great questions related to the rear mount in BJJ.
As it turns out, my partner in rear mount crime was coming back through town recently, so it seemed like a good idea to film videos answers to those questions.
Here are the questions we received, followed by some brief commentary from me, and then a video showing the complete answer.
What About Triangling Legs During the Rolling Back Attack?
First of all I would like to thank you for all the work you put into your videos and emails. I’d also like to thank Rob for his explanations. He covers every aspect of the techniques he shows and he seems to know a lot about body mechanics, which makes the videos even more interesting!
The app was very useful for me, and I will make sure to watch the videos many times in order to master the techniques shown in it. My question is the following:
When performing the rolling back attack, I’ve realized that Rob simply gets into the right position and then rolls. However, wouldn’t making a triangle with your legs make the transition to the rolling back attack more secure? If Rob were to triangle his right foot behind his left knee and then roll, would that make it harder for an opponent to counter or stop the technique? Would it be worse?
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.
Thanks from Spain!
Ignacio.
Hi Ignacio,
I’m glad you like the app. And I’m thrilled that you’re interested in the rolling back attack! It’s a great technique to focus on, despite the fact that it looks kind of fancy.
The vast majority of flashy grappling techniques don’t actually work against a quality opponent. And if someone does actually manage to pull off one of these fancy schmancy moves then it’s usually only because there’s a HUGE skill, size or strength discrepancy.
But the rolling back take is one of those exceptions. It’s fancy and – best of all – it actually works!
There are lots of high level competitors who’ve hit this move against really tough opponents who knew it was coming and couldn’t stop it. So it’s something that you need to know (or at least be aware of so you can counter it).
Now to your question about triangling your legs or not…
You definitely see competitors and high level black belts do this move different ways.
It’s hard to explain just with words (which is why we filmed the video below), but here are the key differences between the two methods.
If you triangle your legs before rolling then you’re getting a getter grip on the leg. But at the same time it’s a bit more telegraphic, requires a bit more flexibility, and it’s harder to get your legs into position to roll.
Without the triangle you’ll have less grip and so you’ll have to use a different form of control. On the plus side, though, you’ll need less flexibility and it’s also a lot easier to get your legs under you to build the base you’re going to need to power into a roll against a resisting opponent.
The video below shows you both the basics of the rolling back attack, and then addresses the pros and cons of both methods (i.e. legs triangled and not triangled).
Don’t write off this technique. Like I said right at the beginning, it’s fancy and it works.
What’s Better, the Strong or the Weak Side of Rear Mount
I really like this instructional so far. However I have a question about Rob’s suggestion that the player with the back mount wants to be on the strong side. Could you explain this assertion? I seem to find it easier to obtain the weak side position and am wondering if it might be best to stay there.
Thanks,
F.
Dear F,
Thanks for the question!
The interesting thing thing is that there are people who are strong side advocates (like Marcelo Garcia) and others who are weak side advocates (like Rener Gracie).
Rob and I just shot a brand new Youtube video quickly reviewing the difference between the strong and weak sides of rear mount.
After that quick introduction we then go into considerable detail about each variation. We break down whether one version is better for gi or no gi, what the effects of body type are on rearmount (short and stocky vs. long and lanky), and the one arm position you absolutely must learn if you want to start playing weak side rearmount.
Check out that video below – hopefully it answers your question!
How Do I Trap An Arm While Rear Mounting?
First of all, thank you so much to you and Rob for putting out a solid app. We’re already implementing this stuff at our gym.
Here’s my question: how do you transition to the strong side after you’ve trapped an arm during the chair sit. Rob mentions that he always looks to trap the arm as he takes the back with that move, but, assuming he’s successful, he can no longer use the twister hook or the leg drag hook to get to the strong side. What do you recommend?
Thanks,
Bob
Hi Bob,
It’s great that you’re zeroing in on this aspect of taking the back. Yes, taking the back and getting to rear mount puts your opponent into a terrible position, but if you know what to do then you can make this position even worse for your opponent!
Normally in the rear mount your opponent still has two hands available to defend. But if you can take one of those arms out of commission as you take the back then that guy is completely hooped and you can choke him silly.
Here’s a video we shot for you showing exactly how to take a great technique – the chair sit method of taking the back – and make it even better by taking one of his arms completely out of commission during the process…
What’s the Easiest Way for a Big Guy to Take the Back?
Thanks for the great app, and greetings from Australia. I had to work really hard to get through enough of it to ask a useful question!
I’m a white belt with 4 months BJJ experience. If it matters, I’m also pretty big – 186cm tall and 105kgs.
I love the game and I’m just starting to feel like I understand something. However, the back is still a mystery to me.
Your app is so big I’d really appreciate your advice on which back take method you think is the highest percentage and therefore the one I should incorporate into my game first.
Thanks!
K
Dear K,
I’ve created lots of apps, DVDs and other instructionals focusing on helping smaller player take out bigger, stronger opponents.
But sometimes the big guys get left out, and they deserve some help too…
Well, here’s an answer to your question about the easiest way for a big guy to take the back. It doesn’t involve a lot of rolling or gymnastics, so you could seriously watch it now and use it on the mats later today.
Check it out:
How do You Combine Your Rear Mount Submissions?
I really enjoyed the “drilling back movements” section of the app. All of the info is great, and I felt that this was an excellent addition to tie it all together, allowing us to drill the moves in a realistic way that could help to train our reactions to those “trigger moments.”
Can you offer something along these lines specifically for attacks from the back (i.e. armbar, chokes etc)? I know much of the info is in the app, but I would love to see a similar flow of realistic attacks against real defense positions and movements, and see the next step when the person defends that attack etc.
I find I can get to the back, but it is too easy for me to get stuffed, and I’m not finishing as often as I feel I should be from this position.
Thanks!
L.
Hi L,
Struggling with how to correctly combine your attacks is a very common problem. But it’s one well worth solving!
You see, if you learn how to do this properly then your opponent’s defense to one attack will lead you directly into your next attack. His defence will start setting up your offence!
Get this concept down (and a few practical submission attack combinations too) and then rear mount will become a pretty sweet place to be for you…
Watch the video, then go train and choke somebody out for me!!!
How To Tap Out Ultra Defensive Judo Players in BJJ Class?
I love all the stuff you do. Just so you know, it was your fantastic free material that persuaded me to buy your – How to defeat Bigger Stronger Opponents 1 & 2, and also your Brandon Mullins videos.
I’ve now got the BJJ Back Attacks. Loved it and posted a review on iTunes.
Here is my question: our family does a lot of Judo. We come to you and your site to improve our ground work.
A common situation in Judo is that your opponent goes down and immediately goes to a fully prone position (not turtle) and then they tighten into the Full Judo Choke Defense Mode. I’d like to attack that position with the RNC. What do you recommend?
Regards,
P.
Hi P,
If you do jiu-jitsu long enough you’ll inevitably run into the ‘Yeah I couldn’t do anything to you but you couldn’t make me tap‘ guy.
Someone who refuses to engage, hides his neck and his arm, and then commits absolutely all of his strength, energy and determination to defense.
And as you allude to, as often as not it’s Judo players who’ve wandered into a BJJ class that commit this sin.
It’s not really their fault. If I roll to my stomach in Judo then you really have a very limited amount of time to launch an offense. All I need to do is successfully stall for a few seconds and we get stood back up again by the referee.
So they’ve been taught that this is OK behavior. And they get quite good at it too!
But for the rest of us who actually want to engage with our opponents it sucks when you run into this extreme defensiveness.
Fortunately the video we shot for you shows you exactly how to tap out someone who’s being a doggedly defensive d**k.
Check it out:
Does the 2-on-1 Armdrag Work to Get Rear Mount from Closed Guard?
I’ve just downloaded your Back Attacks Formula instructional and I’m working my way through the content. It’s dense and I’m finding myself watching segments several times to capture all the nuances. Bravo! It’s a value and worth the full price!
In my academy not many guys go for back attack and even fewer are intentionally employing strategy to maneuver to the back. It’s going to be my signature!
Quick question, in your instructional you demonstrate getting to the back from butterfly guard using the 2-on-1 arm drag (i.e. rotational arm control). Could you also use the arm drag to get to the back from the closed guard?
For example could you use the two on one position to create the turn and pendulum your outside leg while shrimping your hip out from under to make space for him to fall? Or is there too friction to do this successfully?
Regards,
G.
Dear G,
It’s a really good exercise to take techniques that you learn in one position and try to find ways to apply them in other positions.
For example the V-armlock (or Americana) can be applied from the mount, sidemount, kesa gatame, and many other positions. The human shoulder, after all, only bends a certain distance before it gets damaged, regardless of what position you’re in.
When it comes to guard sweeps there are definitely techniques that you can hit from more than one position; the 2-on-1 armdrag you’re asking about is one of them.
But you do have to make some modifications to get it to work properly…
The video we shot for you down below first breaks down the body mechanics of the 2-on-1 armdrag.
Then it introduces the ‘counterpoint’, a concept that amplifies your power and basically immobilises your opponent by making him trip over you.
And then we show you how to deploy the 2-on-1 in both the Butterfly Guard and Closed Guard.
Hope this video helps…
How Can I Trap the Arms on Both Sides and/or Go to the Crucifix Position from Rearmount?
The app with Rob is fantastic. The details are just amazing. Now I haven’t completed watching the app yet so my question might even be on there and I apologize for the redundancy.
Is there any particular reliable sequence whereby (while on the back) you can reliably execute an arm trap to make my ability to choke even easier? I sometimes get into these by chance, but I was wondering whether there might be a more reliable way to do this than by chance.
I am also a big lover of the crucifix. I love it because I can use my entire body to trap both arms and even the legs which gives me a clear path to set the choke in.
Terry
Hi Terry,
There are a lot of rear mount masters who are forever trapping one of their opponent’s arms with their legs.
A lot of people think that this requires extreme levels of flexibility, but that’s not necessarily true. If you know how to use science and leverage to get your opponent’s limbs into the right place then trapping one of his arms requires no more flexibility than walking up a flight of stairs.
This video below goes into a ton of detail about the exact body mechanics and adjustments you need to trap the arm from rearmount so that you can choke your opponent unimpeded by his defending arms.
I think it’ll be really useful for upping your finishing percentage from rear mount!
30 Second Preview of the Back Attacks Formula Instructional
OK, if you’ve read down to here, then there’s one more short video I want you to watch.
This is a 30 second preview to the BJJ Back Attacks formula. It’s the fastest way to find out exactly what Rob and I cover in this 3.5 hour BJJ instructional.
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