Hand Fighting from Back is a medium complexity BJJ principle applicable at the Intermediate level. Develop over Beginner to Advanced.
Principle ID: Application Level: Intermediate Complexity: Medium Development Timeline: Beginner to Advanced
What is Hand Fighting from Back?
Hand Fighting from Back represents the critical defensive skill set required when an opponent has achieved back control and is attempting to establish choking attacks, particularly the rear naked choke. Unlike proactive hand fighting in neutral positions, hand fighting from back is a survival-oriented defensive framework focused on preventing opponent’s hands from connecting around the neck while maintaining breathing capacity and creating escape opportunities. This concept encompasses the biomechanical understanding, grip defense strategies, positional awareness, and mental composure required to defend against one of BJJ’s most dominant attacking positions. Hand fighting from back serves as both an immediate submission defense mechanism that prevents finishing attacks and a transitional platform that enables systematic escape sequences. The ability to effectively hand fight from back often determines whether a practitioner survives dangerous positions or succumbs to high-percentage submissions, making it one of the most essential defensive concepts in BJJ.
Building Blocks
- Protect the neck with hands as the primary defensive priority before considering escape options
- Keep elbows tight to body and hands high near neck to intercept choking attempts
- Control opponent’s wrists and forearms rather than trying to fight at the hands or fingers
- Create shoulder pressure against opponent’s attacking arm to prevent depth advancement
- Maintain chin tucked and head positioned defensively to eliminate choking space
- Never allow both opponent’s hands to connect around the neck simultaneously
- Address top attacking arm first as it poses the most immediate submission threat
- Breathe deliberately despite pressure to maintain composure and prevent panic
- Create systematic defensive sequences rather than random desperate movements
Prerequisites
Wrist Control Establishment: The ability to immediately identify and grip the attacking wrist before it can pass under the chin, using two-on-one control when possible to prevent arm advancement. This involves developing reflexive recognition of choking attempts and positioning hands to intercept the attack at the earliest stage possible.
Chin Protection Positioning: Maintaining defensive head position with chin tucked to chest, creating a physical barrier that opponent’s arm must navigate. This requires understanding the biomechanics of choking attacks and positioning the chin to eliminate the space necessary for effective choke application while still allowing breathing.
Forearm Frame Creation: Using the forearm as a defensive wedge between opponent’s attacking arm and the neck, creating structural pressure that prevents depth penetration. This skill involves understanding leverage principles and applying force perpendicular to the attack line rather than directly opposing superior strength.
Two-on-One Control Mechanics: Coordinating both hands to control a single attacking arm, using one hand for wrist control and the other for elbow or bicep control. This creates a strength advantage that can neutralize even powerful choking attempts through systematic leverage application.
Shoulder Pressure Application: Using shoulder shrugs and positional adjustments to create upward pressure against opponent’s attacking arm, making it difficult to achieve the depth required for effective choking. This involves understanding how shoulder elevation affects the space available for arm penetration.
Breathing Under Pressure: Maintaining calm, deliberate breathing patterns despite the psychological stress of back control, preventing panic that leads to ineffective defensive efforts. This requires mental conditioning and understanding that controlled breathing supports both physical performance and tactical decision-making.
Attack Recognition and Prioritization: Identifying which hand represents the more immediate threat based on position and depth, prioritizing defensive efforts accordingly. This involves understanding the anatomy of various choking attacks and recognizing early warning signs that indicate submission attempts.
Defensive Hand Transitions: Moving hands between defensive positions without creating windows of vulnerability, maintaining continuous protection while adapting to changing attack angles. This requires coordination and understanding of defensive sequences that provide layered protection.
Where to Apply
Back Control: Primary defensive context where hand fighting prevents opponent from establishing choking grips while both hooks are in, requiring constant vigilance and reactive wrist control
Seat Belt Control Back: Defending against the seatbelt grip configuration by controlling the top hand before it can transition to choking position, often using two-on-one control to neutralize the more dangerous attacking arm
Body Triangle: Hand fighting becomes more critical when body triangle is locked as hip escape options are limited, requiring complete reliance on hand fighting to prevent submission while working systematic leg extraction
Standing Back Control: Defending against standing rear attacks where gravity and opponent’s body weight create additional choking pressure, requiring aggressive wrist control and chin protection while working to establish grounded position
Turtle: Preventing opponent from establishing back control by fighting hands as they attempt to thread under the body, addressing potential choke setups before back position is fully established
Harness: Defending against the harness grip where one arm is already deep, requiring emergency hand fighting protocols to prevent the second hand from connecting while working to strip the deep grip
Gift Wrap: Managing the compromised position where one arm is controlled by opponent, using the free arm to defend the neck while preventing opponent from capitalizing on the trapped arm configuration
Crucifix: Emergency hand fighting when both arms are severely compromised, using limited mobility to create chin protection and prevent choke completion despite positional disadvantage
Mounted Crucifix: Defending against submission attempts from this dominant position by maintaining hand fighting focus on neck protection despite the additional control points opponent has established
Rear Triangle: Fighting hands while managing the additional constraint of triangle pressure, requiring modified hand positions that address both the choke threat and the triangle compression
Standing Rear Clinch: Applying hand fighting principles in standing contexts where opponent attempts to establish rear control, preventing grip establishment before back control is fully achieved
Technical Mount: Defending against transition to back control by maintaining hand fighting awareness as opponent establishes mounting position with back attack potential
Twister Control: Using hand fighting principles to defend neck while managing the extreme positional constraint of twister control, prioritizing neck defense over positional escape
How to Apply
- Opponent achieves back control or hand begins moving toward choking position: Immediately raise hands to high defensive position near neck with elbows tight to body, establishing preemptive defensive posture before attack develops
- Identify which hand represents more immediate threat based on depth and position: Prioritize control of the top attacking arm (typically opponent’s arm reaching for the far side of neck) as it poses the most direct submission danger
- Attacking arm begins to pass under or around chin toward neck: Establish two-on-one wrist control on attacking arm using both hands, with one gripping wrist and other controlling elbow or forearm to prevent advancement
- Opponent applies pressure to drive attacking arm deeper despite wrist control: Create shoulder pressure by elevating shoulder toward ear while maintaining wrist control, using skeletal structure to block arm penetration rather than relying solely on grip strength
- Second hand begins approaching to connect for choke completion: Maintain primary control on deep arm while using chin and head position to block connection point, creating physical barrier that prevents both hands from linking
- Pressure increases and breathing becomes restricted: Focus on controlled breathing to prevent panic while reassessing grip positions, looking for opportunities to improve wrist control or create space through small positional adjustments
- Window of opportunity appears to improve position: Transition from pure defensive hand fighting to integrated escape attempts, maintaining hand control on primary threat while using hip movement or other escape mechanics to improve overall position
- Escape attempt creates new attack angle or opponent adjusts positioning: Immediately re-establish defensive hand position based on new configuration, cycling back through decision tree to address evolved threats while continuing systematic escape efforts
Progress Markers
Beginner Level:
- Can maintain basic wrist control for short periods before opponent overcomes grip
- Recognizes when choke is being applied but response is reactive rather than preemptive
- Demonstrates awareness of chin tucking principle but struggles to maintain position under pressure
- Shows tendency toward panic breathing and tense body posture when back is taken
- Can identify which arm is more dangerous but struggles to maintain priority during dynamic exchange
Intermediate Level:
- Establishes two-on-one wrist control reflexively when back control is achieved
- Integrates shoulder pressure with hand fighting to create layered defense
- Maintains defensive hand position while beginning to work escape movements
- Demonstrates controlled breathing and mental composure for extended periods under back control
- Successfully prevents submission completion against intermediate-level attackers for significant duration
- Recognizes different choking attack patterns and adjusts defensive strategy accordingly
Advanced Level:
- Prevents even skilled opponents from establishing deep grips through preemptive defensive positioning
- Seamlessly transitions between defensive positions without creating submission windows
- Uses hand fighting as platform for systematic escape sequences rather than pure survival
- Demonstrates nuanced understanding of leverage points and can defend while conserving energy
- Recognizes and capitalizes on offensive opportunities created by opponent’s choking attempts
- Successfully defends against multiple high-level attackers in succession without submission
Expert Level:
- Hand fighting is so effective that opponents struggle to establish even basic attacking grips
- Can defend one-handed while using other hand for offensive frames or escape mechanics
- Teaches subtle details and troubleshooting for common defensive problems
- Demonstrates ability to remain calm and systematic even against world-class attacking sequences
- Uses defensive hand fighting to create opponent reactions that facilitate specific escape paths
- Has developed personalized defensive variations suited to individual body type and attributes