Cross Body Ride Top is a dominant controlling position used when the opponent is in turtle position. The top practitioner controls the opponent’s back from a perpendicular angle, using body weight and strategic grips to prevent escapes while setting up back takes and submissions. This position is characterized by the top player’s chest positioned across the opponent’s back, with hooks or control points established to prevent the bottom player from either standing up or rolling through.
The Cross Body Ride is a critical transitional position in no-gi grappling and serves as a gateway to back control, the crucifix, and various submission attacks. It allows the top player to apply heavy shoulder pressure while maintaining mobility to follow the opponent’s defensive movements. The position is particularly effective because it neutralizes the turtle position’s defensive advantages while creating multiple offensive pathways.
Modern approaches to the Cross Body Ride emphasize dynamic control rather than static holding, with practitioners constantly adjusting weight distribution and grip placement based on the opponent’s reactions. This position represents the intersection of technical control and athletic adaptability, requiring practitioners to read and respond to defensive movements while maintaining dominant positioning throughout the engagement.
Position Definition
- Top player’s chest positioned perpendicular across opponent’s back, creating heavy cross-body pressure through shoulder and upper torso contact with opponent’s spine and shoulder blade area
- Opponent in turtle position with knees and hands/elbows on mat, back exposed and facing downward, unable to achieve standing or supine positions
- Top player maintains at least one hook (arm or leg) controlling opponent’s near side, preventing rotation and escape while serving as anchor point for transitions
- Weight distribution directed through shoulder and upper body into opponent’s back, collapsing their turtle structure while maintaining top player’s base on opposite side
- Top player’s hips positioned to side and slightly back, allowing mobility to follow opponent’s movements while maintaining perpendicular angle of attack
Prerequisites
- Opponent in defensive turtle position with back exposed
- Top player has achieved perpendicular angle relative to opponent’s spine
- Initial control established via collar tie, overhook, or seatbelt grip
- Top player’s weight successfully loaded onto opponent’s back
- Bottom player’s forward movement or standing attempts have been neutralized
Key Offensive Principles
- Maintain perpendicular angle with chest across opponent’s back to maximize pressure and control options
- Keep weight heavy on opponent’s shoulders to collapse their turtle structure and limit mobility
- Use near-side hook (arm or leg) as primary anchor point while opposite side maintains base and mobility
- Stay mobile and ready to follow opponent’s rotation, avoiding being rolled through or escaped
- Transition decisively when opponent exposes back or extends limbs, capitalizing on defensive reactions
- Control opponent’s hips and shoulders simultaneously to prevent explosive escapes or position changes
- Maintain constant pressure to drain opponent’s energy while preserving your own through efficient weight distribution
Available Attacks
Turtle to Back Control → Back Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 40%
- Intermediate: 60%
- Advanced: 75%
Crucifix from Turtle → Crucifix
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 65%
Crab Ride to Back → Crab Ride
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 70%
Transition to Mount → Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Bow and Arrow Choke → Back Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 20%
- Intermediate: 35%
- Advanced: 55%
Rear Naked Choke → Back Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 60%
Armbar from Back → Back Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 15%
- Intermediate: 30%
- Advanced: 50%
Twister → Twister Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 10%
- Intermediate: 25%
- Advanced: 45%
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent stays static in turtle or attempts to hide arms close to body:
- Execute Turtle to Back Control → Back Control (Probability: 70%)
- Execute Crucifix from Turtle → Crucifix (Probability: 60%)
If opponent attempts forward roll, granby, or explosive rotation:
- Execute Back Take Generic → Back Control (Probability: 65%)
- Execute Crab Ride to Back → Crab Ride (Probability: 55%)
If opponent extends near arm to post or defend neck:
- Execute Crucifix from Turtle → Crucifix (Probability: 70%)
- Execute Armbar from Back → Back Control (Probability: 50%)
If opponent attempts to stand or elevate hips significantly:
- Execute Crab Ride to Back → Crab Ride (Probability: 65%)
- Execute Turtle to Back Control → Back Control (Probability: 60%)
If opponent flattens completely to belly exposing back:
- Execute Rear Naked Choke → Back Control (Probability: 65%)
- Execute Bow and Arrow Choke → Back Control (Probability: 55%)
Optimal Submission Paths
Shortest path to submission
Cross Body Ride Top → Turtle to Back Control → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke
High-percentage crucifix path
Cross Body Ride Top → Crucifix from Turtle → Crucifix → Armbar from Crucifix
Bow and arrow sequence
Cross Body Ride Top → Crab Ride to Back → Crab Ride → Bow and Arrow Choke
Twister system path
Cross Body Ride Top → Transition to Truck → Truck → Twister
Mount to submission path
Cross Body Ride Top → Transition to Mount → Mount → Armbar from Mount
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 50% | 40% | 15% |
| Intermediate | 65% | 60% | 30% |
| Advanced | 80% | 75% | 50% |
Average Time in Position: 30-90 seconds before transition to back control or escape
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
The cross body ride represents a critical control point in the systematic approach to back attacks. The position’s effectiveness lies in its geometric superiority - by establishing a perpendicular angle to the opponent’s spine, you create mechanical disadvantage for all their escape attempts while maintaining multiple pathways to dominant positions. The key technical element is understanding weight distribution: your pressure must be directed through the shoulder into the opponent’s scapula and thoracic spine, collapsing their turtle structure while your hips remain mobile and positioned away from reversal attempts. This position exemplifies the principle of asymmetric control where minimal energy expenditure on your part requires maximum defensive effort from the opponent. When executing transitions from cross body ride, maintain continuous pressure throughout - the most common technical failure is releasing control pressure before securing the next position. The cross body ride should be viewed not as a static position but as a dynamic control state from which multiple finishing sequences can be initiated based on the opponent’s defensive reactions.
Gordon Ryan
In competition, the cross body ride is one of my highest-percentage positions for securing back takes against elite opponents. What makes this position so effective at the highest levels is that it puts your opponent in a position where all their escape options lead directly into your offensive sequences. When I establish cross body ride, I’m immediately thinking about the back take, but I’m also ready to capitalize on the crucifix if they post their arm or transition to mount if they flatten out. The competition reality is that turtle is still a common defensive position even at black belt, so being dominant from cross body ride is essential for any serious competitor. My approach emphasizes staying heavy but mobile - you need to make them carry your weight but be ready to flow with their escape attempts rather than fighting them. Against high-level opponents, I’ve found the most success comes from using the cross body ride to exhaust their defensive energy before finishing the back take, rather than rushing the transition. The position also sets up my favorite submissions - once I transition to back control from here, the finishing rate on the rear naked choke or bow and arrow is extremely high because the opponent is already compromised from defending the ride.
Eddie Bravo
The cross body ride in the 10th Planet system is all about setting up the truck position and twister, but it’s also a sick position for straight-up back takes. What people don’t realize is how dynamic you can be from this position - you’re not just holding them down, you’re constantly hunting for the submission or the next position upgrade. One of my favorite sequences is using the cross body ride to bait the opponent into trying to roll, then catching them mid-roll and taking the back or hitting the crab ride. The key is staying loose and ready to flow with their movement rather than being static and heavy. We drill a lot of situations where the bottom guy is trying everything to escape and you’re just flowing from cross body to truck to twister to back control. The beauty of the position is that it’s low-risk, high-reward - even if they start to escape, you’re in a great position to follow them and end up in an even better spot. For no-gi, this position is absolutely essential because without the gi grips, controlling turtle requires this kind of dynamic, body-weight-based control. I teach my students to think of the cross body ride as a launching pad for all the crazy shit we do from turtle - it’s the position that makes everything else possible.