Gift Wrap Top represents one of the most dominant control positions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, combining the inherent advantages of back control with the additional benefit of neutralizing one of the opponent’s arms. This position exemplifies the systematic approach to modern back attacks where positional control is refined before submission attempts, creating a situation where the defender faces multiple threats with reduced defensive capabilities.
The primary strength of Gift Wrap Top lies in its fundamental asymmetry of control. While standard back control gives the attacker positioning advantage, the Gift Wrap adds the critical element of limb isolation. By trapping one of the defender’s arms across their own body, the top player eliminates half of the defensive tools available to their opponent. This creates a cascading advantage where every defensive action becomes significantly more difficult: neck defense requires both hands but only one is available, framing for escape requires two arms but only one can be used, and hand fighting becomes one-sided.
From a strategic perspective, Gift Wrap Top serves as a hub position within a comprehensive back attack system. It connects naturally to multiple high-percentage submissions including the rear naked choke (reduced hand fighting ability), straight armbar on the free arm (isolated limb), and various chokes from mounted positions if the attacker chooses to advance. The position also facilitates transitions to the crucifix, technical mount, and other dominant positions while maintaining the arm trap advantage.
The Gift Wrap requires technical precision in its establishment and maintenance. The arm trap itself must be secured with proper mechanics - threading under the armpit, controlling the wrist or forearm, and maintaining the trapped arm high across the chest. Simultaneously, the attacker must maintain fundamental back control principles including hook control or body triangle, chest-to-back connection, and proper hip positioning. Losing any of these elements allows the defender to begin escape sequences.
Understanding Gift Wrap Top requires recognizing it as part of a larger submission system rather than a destination position. The arm trap creates opportunities but also requires active pressure and offensive action. Maintaining the Gift Wrap indefinitely without attacking allows the defender time to develop defensive solutions or for the referee to intervene for stalling. The position demands a balance between patient control and aggressive submission hunting.
Position Definition
- One of opponent’s arms is trapped across their own body with attacker’s arm threaded under opponent’s armpit and controlling the wrist or forearm on the opposite side, creating a diagonal control line that immobilizes the limb throughout the position
- Attacker maintains back control position with hooks secured (at least one deep inside thigh hook) or body triangle established, with chest connected to opponent’s back and hips positioned directly behind opponent’s hips for maximum control leverage and pressure application
- Opponent’s trapped arm is maintained high across their chest toward the opposite shoulder, pulled tight enough to prevent arm extraction but not so tight as to create a pain submission, with consistent pressure ensuring the arm cannot be recovered through normal defensive movements
Prerequisites
- Back control has been established with hooks in or body triangle secured
- One of opponent’s arms has been isolated through initial grip fighting or transition
- Attacker has secured control of opponent’s wrist or forearm and threaded arm under opponent’s armpit
- Connection between attacker’s chest and opponent’s back has been established and maintained
- Opponent’s trapped arm has been brought across their body to the opposite shoulder
Key Offensive Principles
- Gift Wrap is transitional control position that creates submission opportunities rather than endpoint
- Maintain fundamental back control principles while adding arm trap - hooks and chest connection remain critical
- Trapped arm must be kept high on opponent’s chest to prevent recovery and maximize control effectiveness
- Use arm trap to reduce defensive capability before attempting submissions
- Position facilitates multiple attack vectors including chokes, armbars, and positional advancements
- Balance patient control with aggressive attacking to prevent stalling calls and maximize submission opportunities
- Gift Wrap connects to broader back attack system including crucifix, technical mount, and mounted submissions
Available Attacks
Rear Naked Choke → Won by Submission
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 45%
- Intermediate: 60%
- Advanced: 75%
Armbar on Free Arm → Armbar Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Transition to Crucifix → Crucifix
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 40%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 70%
Transition to Technical Mount → Technical Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Short Choke Attack → Won by Submission
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Bow and Arrow Choke Setup → Won by Submission
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 55%
Body Triangle Lock → Body Triangle
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 50%
- Intermediate: 65%
- Advanced: 80%
Transition to Mount → Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 40%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 70%
Kimura on Trapped Arm → Kimura Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent is passive and defending neck with free arm only:
- Execute Rear Naked Choke Attack → Won by Submission (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Transition to Technical Mount → Technical Mount (Probability: 30%)
- Execute Maintain control and set up body triangle → Body Triangle (Probability: 55%)
If opponent is actively trying to recover trapped arm with explosive movements:
- Execute Rear Naked Choke as Arm Recovery Creates Opening → Won by Submission (Probability: 65%)
- Execute Transition to Crucifix → Crucifix (Probability: 50%)
- Execute Reinforce Gift Wrap and Reset Control → Gift Wrap Top (Probability: 45%)
If opponent overextends free arm attempting to create frames or break grips:
- Execute Armbar on Free Arm → Armbar Control (Probability: 55%)
- Execute Transition to Technical Mount → Technical Mount (Probability: 45%)
- Execute Maintain Gift Wrap and Attack Neck → Won by Submission (Probability: 50%)
If opponent attempts to turn into attacker or escape hips away:
- Execute Follow to Technical Mount → Technical Mount (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Transition to Crucifix → Crucifix (Probability: 50%)
- Execute Maintain Gift Wrap and Follow Movement → Gift Wrap Top (Probability: 55%)
If opponent rolls to belly exposing back of head and neck:
- Execute Short Choke or Rear Naked Choke → Won by Submission (Probability: 70%)
- Execute Transition to Crucifix with Arm Trap → Crucifix (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Bow and Arrow Choke Setup → Won by Submission (Probability: 50%)
Optimal Submission Paths
Direct Rear Naked Choke Path
Gift Wrap Top → Rear Naked Choke setup (reduced hand fighting) → Won by Submission
Armbar Chain
Gift Wrap Top → Isolate free arm → Armbar Control → Armbar Finish → Won by Submission
Crucifix Advancement
Gift Wrap Top → Opponent rolls to belly → Crucifix → Crucifix Submissions → Won by Submission
Mount Transition Path
Gift Wrap Top → Technical Mount (maintain arm trap) → Mount → Mounted Submissions → Won by Submission
Short Choke Finish
Gift Wrap Top → Opponent defends neck → Short Choke from Gift Wrap → Won by Submission
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 50% | 40% | 35% |
| Intermediate | 70% | 60% | 55% |
| Advanced | 85% | 75% | 70% |
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
The Gift Wrap position represents the systematic application of a fundamental principle in grappling: asymmetric control creates decisive advantage. In standard back control, the defender possesses two arms for defense while the attacker possesses two arms for offense - this creates a balanced equation where skilled defense can neutralize skilled offense. The Gift Wrap breaks this symmetry by removing one arm from the defensive equation entirely. Now the defender must perform multiple simultaneous defensive tasks with a single arm: neck protection, grip breaking, frame creation, and space management. This is geometrically impossible, creating what I call a ‘defensive deficit’ where the practitioner simply lacks the tools to solve all problems simultaneously. The mechanical key to Gift Wrap maintenance is understanding that the trapped arm’s position must be high across the chest toward the opposite shoulder. When maintained properly, this position creates a structural lock where the defender cannot generate sufficient force vectors to recover the arm through pulling or pushing. The arm trap becomes self-sustaining through positioning rather than strength. From an attacking perspective, the Gift Wrap creates multiple high-percentage pathways: the rear naked choke benefits from reduced hand fighting, the straight armbar becomes available on the isolated free arm, and transitions to the crucifix or technical mount occur naturally when the defender attempts to turn into or away from the position. The position exemplifies modern systematic back attack methodology where positional control is refined before submission attempts.
Gordon Ryan
Gift Wrap is one of my highest percentage finishing positions because it solves the main problem with regular back control - the constant hand fighting. When someone is defending a rear naked choke from regular back control, it’s this exhausting battle of you trying to get your arm under their chin while they’re using both hands to fight it off. Good defensive grapplers can make that really difficult and drain a lot of time off the clock. Gift Wrap changes everything because now they’re fighting that same battle with one arm instead of two, and the math just doesn’t work out for them. What makes this position so effective in competition is that it creates immediate offensive opportunities while still being relatively safe. I can attack the choke hard knowing that if they defend well, I can immediately transition to attacking the free arm with an armbar or advance to technical mount or crucifix. The key to finishing from here is patience combined with pressure - I’m not rushing the choke, I’m slowly working it deeper while they’re burning their grip strength trying to defend with one hand. Eventually their defense breaks down and the finish comes. The entry usually comes when I already have back control and they make a mistake with their hand positioning - reaches too high, drops their elbow, tries to grab my legs. That’s when I thread my arm under their armpit and lock in the Gift Wrap. Once it’s locked, the round is essentially over unless they’re significantly better than me, which is rare. It’s about as close to checkmate as you can get in grappling.
Eddie Bravo
The Gift Wrap is sick because it’s like putting someone in a straight jacket while you’re on their back - they’re half-disabled and freaking out. What I love about this position is that it works perfectly in the no-gi game where we don’t have collar grips to fall back on. In the gi you’ve got all these fancy chokes with the lapels, but no-gi back control can sometimes feel like you’re just wrestling for the rear naked choke without much else. Gift Wrap changes that by giving you this dominant control position that opens up multiple attack paths. From our 10th Planet perspective, we see the Gift Wrap as a natural connection point between the regular back mount, the truck position, and the twister system. They all involve controlling the person’s arm in some way while you attack from the back. What’s key is being fluid between these positions rather than being rigid. If I’ve got the Gift Wrap and they’re defending well, I might transition to the truck and go for a twister. If they defend that, I might come back to Gift Wrap but from the other side. It’s about creating this web of back attacks where they solve one problem and immediately face another one. Also don’t overlook the power of the Gift Wrap for setting up that short choke - when their arm is trapped across their body, you can sometimes just crank a choke using their own shoulder as part of the choking mechanism. It’s not the prettiest submission but it works, especially when people are tough and won’t tap to the traditional stuff. The whole position is about making them uncomfortable and creating that chaos where they eventually make a mistake you can finish with.