BJJ Graph

Backside 50-50

Jun 15, 20259 min read

Backside 50/50

bjjstateleglockentanglementmodern

State Properties

  • State ID: S056
  • Point Value: 2 (Advantageous control position)
  • Position Type: Dominant leg entanglement
  • Risk Level: Low
  • Energy Cost: Low to Medium
  • Time Sustainability: Medium

State Description

The Backside 50/50 (often called “B50/50” or “Reverse 50/50”) is an advanced leg entanglement position that represents a significant positional improvement over the standard 50/50 configuration. Unlike the traditional 50/50 where both practitioners have equal access to each other’s legs, the Backside 50/50 creates an asymmetrical advantage by positioning the practitioner behind the opponent’s leg with enhanced heel hook exposure. This position is characterized by the practitioner controlling the opponent’s leg in a modified 50/50 configuration while establishing a back-side angle that dramatically increases submission potential while simultaneously reducing the opponent’s counter-attacking options. The position has become increasingly prominent in modern no-gi competition as part of the evolution of sophisticated leg lock systems, particularly through the influence of competitors like Gordon Ryan and Craig Jones.

Visual Description

You are positioned behind your opponent’s leg, seated or on your side, with their leg trapped between yours in a modified 50/50 entanglement, creating a significant asymmetrical advantage. Your inside leg typically hooks over their thigh or knee, while your outside leg controls their ankle or foot, maintaining a tight connection through your hips to expose their heel for potential submissions. Your body is angled to the backside of their leg, allowing you to apply strategic hip pressure and control their knee line, severely limiting their ability to rotate or counter-attack. Your upper body may be engaged in controlling their posture or hands to prevent defensive frames, ensuring that their counter-options are minimized while you set up high-percentage leg locks like the inside heel hook.

Key Principles

  • Establish control of opponent’s leg in modified 50/50 configuration
  • Create and maintain backside angle for enhanced heel exposure
  • Control opponent’s knee line to prevent defensive rotation
  • Apply strategic hip pressure to maximize breaking mechanics
  • Prevent opponent from establishing defensive frames or grips
  • Limit opponent’s mobility through proper weight distribution
  • Control upper body positioning to enhance leg control
  • Create dilemmas between submission defense and positional escape

Prerequisites

  • Strong understanding of standard 50/50 mechanics
  • Recognition of transitional opportunities
  • Knowledge of rotational leg control principles
  • Defensive awareness against counter-attacks
  • Understanding of heel hook breaking mechanics

State Invariants

  • Asymmetrical leg entanglement favoring practitioner
  • Practitioner positioned at backside angle relative to opponent’s leg
  • Enhanced heel exposure for inside heel hook
  • Opponent’s counter-attacking options significantly reduced
  • Clear pathway to submission completion
  • Practitioner’s legs securely controlling opponent’s entangled leg

Defensive Responses (When Opponent Has This State)

Offensive Transitions (Available From This State)

Counter Transitions

Expert Insights

  • Danaher System: Views the Backside 50/50 as one of the premier control positions within the leg entanglement hierarchy, emphasizing its role as an improved variation of the standard 50/50. Focuses on precise mechanical details for controlling the opponent’s knee line and preventing defensive rotations while maximizing heel exposure. Particularly emphasizes methodical progression from control to breaking mechanics when applying the heel hook.
  • Gordon Ryan: Has made the Backside 50/50 a cornerstone of his leg lock system, demonstrating its effectiveness at the highest levels of competition. Emphasizes the importance of establishing complete control before initiating breaking mechanics, with particular focus on trapping the opponent’s defensive options before committing to the submission. Views the position as offering one of the highest percentage finishing opportunities in the leg lock hierarchy.
  • Eddie Bravo: While not traditionally as focused on this specific position, acknowledges its effectiveness within modern leg lock systems. When addressing the position, emphasizes creative transitions to and from the position rather than extended control within it, consistent with the 10th Planet philosophy of continuous movement between positions.

Common Errors

  • Error: Insufficient backside angle
    • Consequence: Leads to reduced heel exposure, making submissions like the heel hook less effective and increasing the chance of defensive rotation.
    • Correction: Ensure you position yourself fully behind the opponent’s leg, maintaining a clear backside angle to maximize submission potential.
  • Error: Poor knee line control
    • Consequence: Creates a defensive rotation opportunity for the opponent, allowing them to turn and reduce your control or counter-attack.
    • Correction: Focus on controlling the opponent’s knee line with your legs and hips to prevent any rotational movement.
  • Error: Premature breaking attempt
    • Consequence: Results in position compromise as rushing the submission can loosen your control, giving the opponent a chance to escape.
    • Correction: Establish complete control over the leg and upper body before initiating breaking mechanics for submissions.
  • Error: Neglecting upper body positioning
    • Consequence: Leads to reduced overall control, allowing the opponent to create frames or disrupt your position with their hands.
    • Correction: Use your arms to control the opponent’s posture or hands, ensuring they cannot establish defensive grips.
  • Error: Insufficient hip pressure
    • Consequence: Causes suboptimal breaking mechanics, making it harder to finish submissions like the heel hook effectively.
    • Correction: Apply strategic hip pressure to isolate the opponent’s leg and enhance the leverage for breaking mechanics.

Training Drills

  • Entry and Control Maintenance: Practice Backside 50/50 entry and control maintenance against progressive resistance, focusing on establishing the backside angle.
  • Transition Flows: Drill transition flows between standard 50/50 and Backside 50/50 to improve fluidity and recognition of opportunities.
  • Breaking Mechanics: Work on breaking mechanics with controlled pressure application, ensuring proper technique for submissions like the heel hook.
  • Defensive Recognition and Counters: Focus on defensive recognition and counter drills to anticipate and neutralize opponent’s escape attempts.
  • Position Maintenance: Practice position maintenance against active defensive movement, maintaining control over the knee line and upper body.

Decision Tree

If opponent attempts to hide heel:

Else if opponent elevates hips defensively:

Else if opponent tries to create frames:

Else if position becomes compromised:

Position Metrics

  • Position Retention Rate: Beginner 70%, Intermediate 80%, Advanced 90%
  • Advancement Probability: Beginner 75%, Intermediate 85%, Advanced 95%
  • Submission Probability: Beginner 65%, Intermediate 75%, Advanced 85%
  • Position Loss Probability: Beginner 20%, Intermediate 15%, Advanced 10%
  • Average Time in Position: 10-30 seconds

Optimal Paths

Standard heel hook path: 50 → 50 Heel Hook → Inside Heel Hook → Won by Submission

Positional advancement path: 50 → Transition to Top Position → Top Position → positional progression sequence

Alternative submission path: 50 → Cross Ashi Transition → Cross Ashi Garami → Inside Heel Hook → Won by Submission

Historical Context

The Backside 50/50 gained prominence in the mid-2010s as part of the broader evolution of the modern leg lock game. While the standard 50/50 had been established earlier, the backside variation represented a significant refinement that addressed many of the criticisms of the traditional position (such as its symmetrical nature and defensive stalemates). The position was popularized by practitioners from the Danaher Death Squad, particularly Gordon Ryan and Craig Jones, who demonstrated its effectiveness in high-level competition. The position exemplifies the ongoing technical evolution in BJJ, where established positions are continually refined and improved upon as the meta-game develops.

Timing Considerations

  • Optimal Conditions: Most effective when opponent’s leg is isolated and their posture is compromised, allowing for quick setup of the backside angle before they can defend.
  • Avoid When: Less effective if opponent maintains strong posture or controls your legs, reducing the likelihood of securing the advantageous angle.
  • Energy/Fatigue Factors: Low to medium energy cost means it can be maintained for a reasonable duration, but prolonged engagement can lead to fatigue in the legs and hips.

Ruleset Considerations

The Backside 50/50’s utility varies across competition rulesets:

  • IBJJF: Limited application in the gi with inside heel hooks prohibited, often requiring alternative submissions or transitions.
  • ADCC: Fully legal and highly effective, particularly in the advanced divisions where heel hooks are a primary threat.
  • Professional Submission-Only Formats: Represents one of the highest percentage finishing positions, frequently used in leg lock systems.
  • MMA: Less common due to striking vulnerability but still applicable in ground exchanges where control can be maintained.

Computer Science Analogy

The Backside 50/50 functions as an “asymmetric state transformation” in the BJJ state machine, where a potentially neutral position (standard 50/50) is converted into a highly advantageous one through a specific geometric reconfiguration. This creates a form of “state space advantage” where the controlling player’s action space remains fully accessible while the opponent’s viable actions are severely constrained. The position exemplifies the concept of “asymmetric information” in game theory, where one player (the controlling practitioner) has complete information about submission threats while the defending player must operate with partial information due to the compromised visual and proprioceptive feedback created by the position.

Graph View

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