BJJ Graph

Harness

Dec 09, 20259 min read

The Harness Position, also known as the Seat Belt or Seatbelt Control, is a fundamental back control configuration where the attacking practitioner secures one arm over the opponent’s shoulder and the other under the opposite armpit, creating a powerful control mechanism that resembles a seat belt. This grip structure is the cornerstone of modern back attack systems and provides exceptional control while maintaining multiple offensive pathways to submissions, particularly the rear naked choke.

The harness grip creates a mechanical advantage by connecting the attacker’s hands at the opponent’s centerline, typically with a grip over grip connection or a more advanced rear naked choke grip configuration. This control structure allows the top practitioner to maintain proximity to the opponent’s back, control their posture, and prevent effective escape attempts. The position is distinguished from other back control variations by the specific grip configuration rather than hook placement, making it applicable from standing, seated, or fully established back control positions.

Strategically, the harness position serves as a transitional control point and a submission platform for the top player, while presenting a critical defensive challenge for the bottom player. From this configuration, top practitioners can attack the neck directly, transition to other control positions like the gift wrap or crucifix, or use the grip structure to maintain control while adjusting hook placement. Bottom practitioners face the challenge of defending submissions while working systematic escapes to turtle, guard, or standing positions. The harness is particularly effective in no-gi grappling where gi-based grips are unavailable, and it forms the technical foundation for virtually all modern back attack and defense systems.

Key Principles

  • The harness grip creates a structural control system where defensive efforts can feed back into tighter control rather than weakening it

  • Top priority for bottom player is controlling the choking arm with two-on-one grip before attempting any positional escapes

  • Top priority for top player is maintaining chest-to-back connection and keeping choking arm high near the neck

  • Hook control is secondary to grip control - the seat belt grip is more valuable than both hooks combined

  • Bottom player must turn toward the under-hook side to disrupt alignment and create escape pathways

  • Top player creates submission dilemmas where defending the choke opens armbars and vice versa

  • Position sustainability depends on proper body connection and weight distribution rather than pure grip strength

Top vs Bottom

 BottomTop
Position TypeDefensiveOffensive/Controlling
Risk LevelHighLow
Energy CostMediumMedium
TimeShort to MediumLong

Key Difference: Seat belt grip prioritizes submission proximity

Playing as Bottom

→ Full Bottom Guide

Key Principles

  • Immediately address the choking arm by controlling the wrist or hand with both defensive hands to prevent rear naked choke completion

  • Maintain chin protection by tucking chin to chest and using shoulder pressure to block choking arm from sliding across neck

  • Control opponent’s bottom arm (under-hook side) to prevent them from completing the harness lock and to create escape opportunities

  • Prevent or remove hooks by keeping knees together, squeezing legs, and using hip movement to deny space for hook insertion

  • Create angles and rotation by turning toward the under-hook side to disrupt opponent’s alignment and create escape pathways

  • Maintain connection to the mat with hands and feet to prevent being rolled or lifted into more vulnerable positions

  • Stay calm and systematic in defense rather than panicking, as frantic movements often expose the neck or allow deeper control

Primary Techniques

Common Mistakes

  • ❌ Reaching back or trying to grab opponent’s head without controlling the choking arm first

    • Consequence: Exposes the neck completely and allows opponent to easily secure rear naked choke by sliding arm across undefended neck
    • ✅ Correction: Always prioritize controlling the choking arm with two-on-one grip before attempting any offensive hand fighting or positional escapes

  • ❌ Panicking and making explosive, uncontrolled movements without systematic defense

    • Consequence: Burns energy rapidly, creates openings for chokes and submissions, and often results in worse position or deeper control for opponent
    • ✅ Correction: Stay calm, breathe steadily, and work through defensive priorities systematically: control choking arm, protect neck, prevent hooks, then escape

  • ❌ Allowing opponent to lock hands together or complete the harness grip structure

    • Consequence: Significantly increases opponent’s control and makes grip breaking extremely difficult, reducing escape opportunities substantially
    • ✅ Correction: Fight hands aggressively before they lock by controlling opponent’s bottom arm and preventing the grip from being completed

  • ❌ Straightening the back or creating space between back and opponent’s chest

    • Consequence: Allows opponent to insert hooks more easily, establish body triangle, or create better angles for rear naked choke
    • ✅ Correction: Maintain rounded posture with back slightly curved and stay connected to opponent’s chest to limit their ability to establish deeper control

  • ❌ Neglecting to address hooks and allowing opponent to establish full back control

    • Consequence: Dramatically reduces mobility and escape options while increasing opponent’s positional points and submission opportunities
    • ✅ Correction: Actively prevent hook insertion by keeping knees together, squeezing legs, and using hip pressure to deny space for hooks

  • ❌ Turning away from the under-hook side instead of toward it

    • Consequence: Plays into opponent’s control structure and makes their harness more effective while reducing escape angles
    • ✅ Correction: Turn toward the under-hook side to disrupt opponent’s alignment and create the most effective escape pathway

Playing as Top

→ Full Top Guide

Key Principles

  • Maintain constant chest-to-back connection with forward pressure through the core, never allowing space to develop between bodies

  • Keep hands clasped together in the seat belt configuration, with proper hand position (palm-to-palm or gable grip) that resists opponent’s grip breaking attempts

  • Use hooks actively to control opponent’s hips and prevent turning, with feet positioned inside thighs and heels pulling toward you

  • Keep head positioned safely to the side or behind opponent’s head, never allowing it to drift in front where it can be controlled

  • Distribute weight through chest and hooks rather than relying solely on arm strength to maintain position

  • Adjust grip height and tightness based on opponent’s defensive reactions - higher grip for choke setups, lower for preventing forward rolls

  • Maintain hip proximity to opponent’s hips to prevent them from sitting up or creating angles for escape

Primary Techniques

Common Mistakes

  • ❌ Crossing feet when both hooks are in

    • Consequence: Opens vulnerability to straight ankle lock or footlock, potentially losing position and getting submitted from a dominant position
    • ✅ Correction: Keep feet uncrossed with heels pulling toward your hips, using insteps to hook inside opponent’s thighs for control without creating submission opportunities

  • ❌ Allowing space to develop between chest and opponent’s back

    • Consequence: Gives opponent room to turn into guard, strip grips more easily, or escape to turtle position, fundamentally compromising the position’s effectiveness
    • ✅ Correction: Maintain constant forward pressure through your chest, keeping it glued to opponent’s back with your weight distributed through core and hooks

  • ❌ Gripping hands too low on opponent’s torso near the belt line

    • Consequence: Reduces control effectiveness, makes it easier for opponent to strip grips, and limits offensive options for high-quality choke attacks
    • ✅ Correction: Keep hands clasped high on the chest or sternum area where grip is harder to break and choking mechanics are more effective

  • ❌ Positioning head directly behind opponent’s head where they can drive it backward

    • Consequence: Allows opponent to create painful pressure on your face, potentially causing injury and forcing you to adjust position or release grips
    • ✅ Correction: Keep head to the side, typically opposite your choking arm, or tucked low behind opponent’s shoulder to avoid backward pressure

  • ❌ Relying entirely on arm strength to maintain the seat belt grip

    • Consequence: Leads to rapid fatigue, weakened grip over time, and increased vulnerability to opponent’s grip breaks as match progresses
    • ✅ Correction: Use proper body connection, chest pressure, and hook control to maintain position, treating the grip as a connection point rather than primary control mechanism

  • ❌ Failing to adjust hooks when opponent begins turning or bridging

    • Consequence: Allows opponent to remove hooks completely, turn into guard, or escape to less disadvantageous positions like turtle or half guard
    • ✅ Correction: Actively adjust hook positions as opponent moves, sometimes removing one hook strategically to maintain the more important seat belt grip and overall back position

  • ❌ Attacking submissions prematurely without establishing solid positional control first

    • Consequence: Gives opponent escape opportunities during transition, potentially losing a dominant 4-point position while attempting low-percentage submissions
    • ✅ Correction: First secure all control elements - both hooks in, tight seat belt grip, chest connection, proper head position - before initiating submission attacks