Truck Control

The Truck Position is a highly versatile control position in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) that allows for transitions to dominant positions, submissions, or back takes. It is commonly associated with the Twister system and leg attacks like the Banana Split. The Truck involves trapping the opponent’s leg between your legs while maintaining control of their hips and torso, effectively immobilizing them and creating openings for attacks.


Key Characteristics

Type

  • Control position

Primary Targets

Entry Points


How to Achieve the Truck Position

Entry From Turtle Control

  • Control the opponent’s hips by gripping their waistband, belt, or upper thigh.
  • Hook their near-side leg with one of your legs, securing it tightly.
  • Roll over your shoulder toward their far side while keeping their leg trapped.

Entry From Back Control

  • While in Back Control, trap one of the opponent’s legs with your leg (commonly referred to as a "Twister Hook").
  • Transition your other leg to control their far-side leg.
  • Roll to the Truck by releasing your upper body grip (Seatbelt) and focusing on leg and hip control.

Entry From a Scramble

  • During transitions, hook one of the opponent’s legs and use momentum to roll into the Truck.

Key Details for the Truck Position

Leg Control

  • Use your legs to trap one of the opponent’s legs between yours tightly. This prevents them from escaping and sets up attacks.

Hip Control

  • Keep your hips heavy on their trapped leg and maintain tight Connections to immobilize them.

Upper Body Options

  • You can control their far-side arm, torso, or head depending on the attack or transition you’re planning.

Attacks From the Truck Position

Banana Split

  • Trap the opponent’s leg and stretch it apart from their body to attack the groin and hamstrings.

Twister

  • Transition from the Truck to isolate the opponent’s upper body and apply a spinal lock.

Back Take

Calf Slicer

  • Trap the opponent’s leg tightly against your shin or calf and apply pressure to create a slicing submission.

Advantages of the Truck Position

Control

  • The Truck is a dominant position that gives you significant leverage over the opponent’s hips and legs.

Versatility

  • Allows for a variety of attacks, including submissions and positional transitions.

Dynamic Entry

  • Can be entered from multiple positions, making it an adaptable part of your game.

Common Mistakes

Loose Leg Control

  • If the opponent’s leg isn’t tightly trapped, they can escape or scramble.

Ignoring Upper Body

  • Failure to control the opponent’s upper body can allow them to roll away or counter your attacks.

Forcing Submissions

  • Rushing for a submission like the Twister or Banana Split without proper control can lead to losing the position.

Strategy

The Truck Position is a key tool in modern BJJ, especially for grapplers who favor dynamic and creative attacks. It’s often part of a sequence, leading to powerful submissions or dominant control like the back. To master the Truck, focus on tight Connections, smooth transitions, and developing awareness of your opponent’s reactions.

Tip

The Truck is a highly rewarding position but requires practice to set up and maintain control. Drill entries from Back Control and Turtle Control to integrate it into your game effectively!

Advancing Truck Control

Transitions from Truck Control

Back Take

From Truck Control, release the trapped leg and rotate your hips while guiding the opponent's hips. Insert your second hook to establish Back Control and secure a seatbelt grip for further control.

Twister Transition

Maintain control of the trapped leg and upper body. Isolate the opponent’s far arm by pulling it across their body, then transition your body to align perpendicular to theirs for the Twister submission.

Mount Transition

Release the opponent’s trapped leg, step over their hips, and establish Mount by controlling their upper body and hips as you move.


Submissions from Truck Control

Banana Split

Trap one of the opponent’s legs between your legs while controlling their hips. Pull their leg toward their head or away from their other leg, creating tension in the groin and hamstrings for the submission.

Calf Slicer

Use your shin or calf against the opponent’s trapped leg. Apply pressure by folding their leg into their body while maintaining tight control of their upper body and other leg.

Twister

After isolating the opponent’s far arm, apply rotational pressure on their spine by locking their head and controlling their far shoulder while maintaining leg control.


Sweeps from Truck Control

Roll-Through Sweep

If the opponent attempts to escape, use their momentum by rolling them forward while maintaining control of their leg. This creates a reversal where you can land in a dominant top position.

Reverse Sweep

From Truck, if the opponent pushes against you, use their force to reverse their position, allowing you to sweep them onto their back and transition to Side Control or Mount.


Passes from Truck Control

Leg Drag Pass

Trap one leg in the Truck while gripping the opponent’s pants or ankle. Rotate your hips to the opposite side, dragging their leg across their body to bypass their guard.

Back Step Pass

While controlling their leg, step back over their hips, transitioning to Side Control or Knee on Belly by pinning their lower body to the mat.


Escapes from Truck Control

Granby Roll Escape

Use a Granby Roll motion to create space and disengage from the Truck. This works well if your opponent’s leg control is loose.

Leg Pummel Escape

Pummel your leg free from the Truck by kicking it downward and turning your hips, aiming to reestablish a Guard position or scramble to safety.


Takedowns from Truck Control

Trip and Roll Takedown

From a standing or scrambling position, trap the opponent’s leg as they attempt to escape. Use your weight to roll them over by pulling their leg and controlling their hips.

Leg Control Sweep to Takedown

If the opponent tries to stand, maintain control of their leg and roll under them, forcing them off balance and taking them down to the mat.


These options highlight the versatility of the Truck Position, allowing you to flow between control, submissions, sweeps, and positional dominance based on your opponent's reactions. Mastering these techniques requires tight control and the ability to adapt dynamically during transitions.

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