Back Take Sweep

The Back Take Sweep is a dynamic technique where you use your opponent's movement or balance to transition from a guard position into gaining Back Control. This sweep is effective because it combines elements of off-balancing your opponent, controlling their posture, and transitioning smoothly to a dominant position.

Key Principles

Frames and Connections

  • Maintain strong frames to control your opponent's posture and create openings for the sweep.

Angles and Leverage

  • Shift your position to create the right angle to expose your opponent's back.

Grip Control

  • Secure Underhooks or other grips to prevent your opponent from reestablishing posture or escaping.

Weight Distribution

  • Exploit your opponent's misalignment by shifting their center of gravity, making it easier to sweep.

Steps for a Basic Back Take Sweep

Set-Up from Guard

Off-Balance Your Opponent

Angle Creation

  • Shrimp or adjust to a side angle, making their back accessible.
  • For instance, in Butterfly Guard, use a hook to lift and turn them.

Establish Grips and Hooks

Execute the Sweep

  • Pull their upper body toward you while elevating their hips or legs.
  • Simultaneously, slide your body into position to secure Back Control.

Secure Back Control

  • Immediately establish both Hooks and a seatbelt grip or Gift Wrap control to stabilize the position.
  • Flatten them out or maintain control to prevent escape.

Applications

The Back Take Sweep is highly versatile and can be adapted for use in many guard scenarios:

  • From Butterfly Guard, lift and transition directly to Back Control.
  • In De La Riva, control their hips to turn and climb their back.
  • When attacking with sweeps like the Scissor Sweep, if your opponent counters, use the opportunity to transition to their back.
Tip

Always aim to maintain tight control during the transition to prevent your opponent from scrambling or reestablishing posture.

By understanding the fundamentals of Angles, Base, and Frames, you can effectively integrate the Back Take Sweep into your game, turning guard play into a powerful offensive tool.

Positioning

The Back Take Sweep can be executed from various positions where you have access to destabilize your opponent's base and create angles to transition to their back. Here are some of the primary positions:

Guard Positions

Butterfly Guard

  • Using Hooks to elevate your opponent and create space to transition to their back.
  • Off-balance their center of gravity by pulling their weight forward or laterally.

De La Riva / Reverse De La Riva

Closed Guard

  • Use grips and angles to destabilize them, turning their posture to the side and climbing to their back.
  • Often combined with attacking sweeps like the Scissor Sweep.

Half Guard / Deep Half Guard

Open Guard Variations

Transitioning from Failed Sweeps

Failed Scissor Sweep

  • When your opponent counters, use the angle created to slide to their back.

Failed Butterfly Sweep

  • If they post to block the sweep, insert a hook to transition to their back.

Standing or Semi-Standing Positions

Combat Base

  • Off-balance their kneeling posture and transition behind them.

Opponent Standing in Your Guard

  • Use grips on their legs or lapel to pull them forward and climb to their back.

Other Positions

Turtle Guard

Half Guard Passing Counter

Side Control Bottom to Guard

  • Recover guard, then transition to a Back Take Sweep during their posture adjustment.
Adaptation is key. Pay attention to your opponent's posture and base. Many Back Takes come from exploiting the smallest shift in their weight or grip.

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