Crab Ride Top

Jan 23, 20269 min read

Crab Ride Top is a highly effective attacking position from the turtle, where the top practitioner controls the opponent from the side with a distinctive hook-and-grip configuration. This position creates a perfect platform for back attacks, submissions, and positional transitions while keeping the opponent trapped and unable to effectively defend or escape.

The position gets its name from the sideways orientation and the characteristic way the attacker ‘rides’ the opponent’s back and hips, similar to how a crab might cling to its prey. The top practitioner typically establishes control with one leg hooking under the opponent’s near hip while maintaining upper body control through strategic gripping on the far side. This asymmetrical configuration creates tremendous pressure and limits the bottom player’s mobility.

Crab Ride Top is particularly valued in modern no-gi grappling and MMA contexts, where it serves as an essential transitional position between turtle and back control. The position offers high-percentage pathways to the back, crucifix, and various submission attacks, making it a cornerstone of complete turtle attack systems taught by experts like Danaher and Garry Tonon.

Position Definition

  • Top practitioner positioned on the side of opponent’s turtle with hips oriented perpendicular to opponent’s spine, maintaining lateral control rather than directly on top
  • One leg (typically near leg) hooks under opponent’s hip or thigh with foot positioned inside opponent’s legs, creating an anchor point for control and preventing forward movement
  • Upper body control established through grips on opponent’s far side, typically controlling the far arm, shoulder, or collar while maintaining chest pressure against opponent’s ribs and shoulder blade
  • Opponent remains in defensive turtle position with at least one hand posted on the mat for base, unable to effectively turn toward the attacker or escape laterally due to the hooking leg
  • Top practitioner’s free leg (far leg) maintains base on the mat with knee and foot positioned for mobility, allowing adjustments and transitions while keeping weight distributed to maintain pressure

Prerequisites

  • Opponent in bottom turtle position with defensive posture
  • Ability to establish side control relative to opponent’s turtle
  • At least one controlling grip on opponent’s body or gi
  • Hip positioning that allows for leg insertion under opponent

Key Offensive Principles

  • Maintain perpendicular hip orientation to opponent’s spine to maximize control and create attacking angles
  • Use the hooking leg as an anchor to control opponent’s hip movement and prevent forward or lateral escapes
  • Keep chest pressure against opponent’s shoulder and ribs to flatten their posture and limit defensive mobility
  • Control opponent’s far side to prevent them from turning into you and establishing guard
  • Stay mobile with your free leg to adjust position and follow opponent’s movements
  • Create constant attacking threats to keep opponent defensive and reactive
  • Transition smoothly between crab ride variations and back attacks based on opponent’s defensive reactions

Available Attacks

Crab Ride to Back → Back Control

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 45%
  • Intermediate: 65%
  • Advanced: 80%

Back Control to Crucifix → Crucifix

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 35%
  • Intermediate: 55%
  • Advanced: 70%

Darce from Turtle → D’arce Control

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 30%
  • Intermediate: 50%
  • Advanced: 65%

Anaconda from Turtle → Anaconda Control

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 30%
  • Intermediate: 50%
  • Advanced: 65%

Guillotine from Turtle → Guillotine Control

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 25%
  • Intermediate: 45%
  • Advanced: 60%

Arm Triangle from Turtle → Arm Triangle

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 20%
  • Intermediate: 40%
  • Advanced: 55%

Transition to Mount → Mount

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 40%
  • Intermediate: 60%
  • Advanced: 75%

Side Control to Mount → Side Control

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 50%
  • Intermediate: 65%
  • Advanced: 80%

Opponent Escapes

Escape Counters

Decision Making from This Position

If opponent keeps strong turtle posture with head up and elbows tight:

If opponent drops head down and tucks chin defensively:

If opponent attempts to turn into you or sit through:

If opponent flattens out completely or rolls to their back:

If opponent extends far arm to post or defend neck:

Common Offensive Mistakes

1. Positioning too far forward over opponent’s shoulders instead of staying perpendicular to the spine

  • ❌ Consequence: Allows opponent to sit through and establish guard, or enables them to turn into you and escape
  • ✅ Correction: Keep hips oriented perpendicular to opponent’s spine with weight distributed laterally across their shoulder and ribs, maintaining the characteristic sideways crab position

2. Failing to maintain constant pressure with chest against opponent’s shoulder and ribs

  • ❌ Consequence: Opponent can regain strong turtle posture, create space to escape, or turn into you effectively
  • ✅ Correction: Drive chest pressure continuously into opponent’s shoulder blade and ribs to keep them flattened and defensive, using your body weight rather than arm strength

3. Allowing the hooking leg to become passive or losing the hip anchor

  • ❌ Consequence: Opponent can easily move forward, circle away, or create the space needed to escape or recover guard
  • ✅ Correction: Actively maintain the leg hook under opponent’s hip with your foot positioned inside their legs, using it as an anchor to control their movement and create attacking opportunities

4. Gripping only the near side instead of controlling the far side of opponent’s body

  • ❌ Consequence: Opponent can turn toward you more easily, establish defensive frames, or escape to guard without significant resistance
  • ✅ Correction: Focus control on opponent’s far side through grips on far arm, far shoulder, or far collar to prevent them from turning into you and to set up back attacks

5. Keeping too much weight on the free leg instead of committing to the position

  • ❌ Consequence: Reduces pressure on opponent and makes your position unstable, allowing easier escapes and reducing attacking effectiveness
  • ✅ Correction: Shift majority of weight onto opponent while keeping free leg mobile for adjustments, balancing control with the ability to transition smoothly

6. Staying static without creating attacking threats or advancing position

  • ❌ Consequence: Allows opponent time to strengthen their defensive turtle posture, plan escapes, and potentially create scrambling opportunities
  • ✅ Correction: Constantly threaten back takes, submissions, and positional advances to keep opponent reactive and defensive, never allowing them to settle into stable turtle

Training Drills for Attacks

Crab Ride Establishment Drill

Partner starts in turtle with moderate resistance. Practitioner works to establish proper crab ride position from various starting points (standing behind turtle, side of turtle, after failed guard pass). Focus on getting perpendicular hip orientation, inserting the hooking leg correctly, and establishing far side control. Partner gradually increases resistance as practitioner improves.

Duration: 5 minutes per partner

Back Take Flow Drill

Starting from established crab ride, practitioner flows between different back attack entries while partner maintains defensive turtle. Practice inserting hooks, establishing seat belt control, and adjusting body position. Partner can defend moderately but should not attempt full escapes. Focus on smooth transitions and maintaining control throughout the sequence.

Duration: 5 minutes per partner

Submission Chain Drill

From crab ride position, practice flowing between darce, anaconda, guillotine, and arm triangle setups based on partner’s defensive reactions. Partner defends realistically but taps early. Emphasize recognizing which submission is available based on head position, arm placement, and body orientation. Build muscle memory for submission entries from this position.

Duration: 5 minutes per partner

Positional Sparring: Crab Ride vs Turtle Escape

Top player starts in crab ride position and works to maintain control while advancing to back or submission. Bottom player works to escape to guard, standing, or create scrambles. Reset when either player achieves their goal. Track success rate for both players and adjust resistance level as needed.

Duration: 3-minute rounds, multiple rounds

Crab Ride Reaction Drill

Partner in turtle randomly performs different defensive actions (turning in, sitting through, driving forward, flattening out). Practitioner must react with appropriate counter-transitions from the decision tree. Coach calls out defensive actions or allows partner to choose. Build automatic responses to common turtle escape attempts.

Duration: 5 minutes per partner

Optimal Submission Paths

Highest percentage path to submission

Crab Ride Top → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke (65% overall success for advanced practitioners)

Fastest path to submission

Crab Ride Top → Darce Choke (can finish in 8-12 seconds with proper setup)

No-gi specialist path

Crab Ride Top → Crucifix → Rear Naked Choke or arm isolation submissions

Gi-specific path

Crab Ride Top → Bow and Arrow Choke (uses collar grips established during crab ride)

MMA application path

Crab Ride Top → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke (most reliable in MMA context with strikes)

Success Rates and Statistics

Skill LevelRetention RateAdvancement ProbabilitySubmission Probability
Beginner50%55%25%
Intermediate65%70%45%
Advanced80%85%65%

Average Time in Position: 30-90 seconds before advancing or opponent escaping

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