Back Take from Turtle

What it is

The back take from turtle is how you get from on top of a turtled opponent to back control: chest on their back, seatbelt, one hook in, then either roll them over on top of you or break them down flat. Back control scores 4 points once the hooks are in and held. The order is fixed: seatbelt before hooks, hooks before the choke.

When to use it

• They turtle to avoid a pass or after a stuffed takedown.
• They come up to their knees from side control or a scramble and stay there.
• They try to stand or sit out from turtle and their back is turned to you.

How to do it

1. Get your chest on their back with your hips behind theirs.
2. Lock the seatbelt: top arm over the shoulder, other arm under the armpit, hands joined with the choking hand hidden underneath.
3. Put in the near-side hook, heel inside their thigh.
4. Roll: fall to your side on the hook side and pull them over on top of you as you hold the seatbelt.
5. Or break them down: drive your hips into them and pull them flat onto their belly.
6. Put in the second hook and settle into back control.

Key details

• Seatbelt first. The grip keeps you attached if the hook or the roll goes wrong.
• Chest to back the whole way. Any gap is space for them to turn in.
• Roll with them, not under them. They land on top of you with your chest still on their back.
• Hooks inside the thighs, never crossed.

Common mistakes

• Mistake: forcing a hook in with no seatbelt. They sit out or roll and come up facing you.
• Mistake: rolling with the seatbelt loose. They fall away and land on top in side control.
• Mistake: reaching under the arm with nothing else. They trap it and roll you over.

What they will try

• They sit out or turn toward you before the seatbelt locks.
• They grab your hands and peel the seatbelt as you roll.
• They keep their elbows on their knees so the hook cannot get in.