The Back Take from Ashi Garami represents a critical strategic pivot in the modern leg lock game, allowing practitioners to convert leg entanglement control into the most dominant position in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. When an opponent successfully defends leg attacks by hiding their heel or creates defensive frames that prevent submission finishes, the back take offers an alternative path to victory that maintains offensive momentum rather than resetting to neutral positions.
This transition exploits a fundamental vulnerability in leg lock defense: when opponents sit up aggressively to address leg attacks or attempt to extract their trapped leg, they often expose their back. The technique requires recognizing the precise moment when opponent commits their weight forward and redirecting their momentum to facilitate the transition. Rather than forcing submissions against strong defense, the back take follows the principle of flowing to the path of least resistance while maintaining constant threat.
The back take from ashi has become increasingly important in modern competition as leg lock defenses have improved. High-level practitioners use the threat of leg attacks to create back take opportunities, and the threat of back takes to create leg lock openings. This creates a systematic dilemma where defending one attack opens vulnerability to the other, embodying the interconnected nature of positional grappling at advanced levels.
From Position: Inside Ashi-Garami (Top)
Key Attacking Principles
What are the key principles for executing Back Take from Ashi?
- Recognize when opponent’s defensive posture creates back exposure by sitting up or reaching toward you
- Maintain control of trapped leg throughout transition to prevent complete escape and preserve attacking options
- Use opponent’s forward momentum against them by redirecting rather than resisting their defensive movement
- Establish upper body control before releasing leg control to ensure seamless transition to back position
- Create angle toward opponent’s back before initiating transition rather than moving directly behind
- Maintain constant forward pressure during transition to prevent opponent from recovering guard or standing
Prerequisites
What do you need before attempting Back Take from Ashi?
- Inside Ashi-Garami established with inside leg across opponent’s hip and outside leg hooking behind their knee
- Opponent sitting up aggressively or reaching forward toward your legs creating back exposure
- Opponent’s heel defended or rotated away making immediate leg attack submission unlikely
- Clear path to opponent’s back without obstructions from their defensive frames or grips
- Your upper body positioned to reach opponent’s torso as you release leg control
Execution Steps
How do you execute Back Take from Ashi step by step?
- Recognize the trigger: Identify when opponent sits up to address leg control or reaches forward to create defensive frames, exposing their back as they shift weight toward you.
- Secure upper body connection: Before releasing any leg control, reach with your inside arm to secure a grip on opponent’s far shoulder, collar, or underhook position to establish upper body control.
- Release inside leg: Remove your inside leg from across opponent’s hip while maintaining outside leg hook, using this leg to push off the mat and begin circling toward their back.
- Circle toward back: Hip escape and circle your body toward opponent’s back, using your outside leg hook as an anchor point while your inside leg swings around to establish first hook behind their hip.
- Establish seatbelt control: As you arrive at opponent’s back, secure seatbelt grip with one arm over their shoulder and other under their armpit, hands clasped together controlling upper body.
- Insert second hook: Release remaining leg control on opponent’s original trapped leg and insert second hook inside their thigh, completing back control with both hooks and seatbelt established.
- Consolidate position: Pull opponent onto their side or take them down to the mat, establishing chest-to-back connection with full back control including both hooks deep and harness secured.
Possible Outcomes
| Result | Position | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Success | Back Control | 55% |
| Failure | Inside Ashi-Garami | 30% |
| Counter | Turtle | 15% |
Opponent Counters
How might your opponent counter Back Take from Ashi?
- Opponent immediately stands and runs away when they feel leg control release (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Maintain grip on their leg or pants as you transition, using their standing motion to pull yourself up to standing back control or immediately shooting for takedown → Leads to Inside Ashi-Garami
- Opponent turns into you and establishes closed guard as you release leg control (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Keep your inside leg ready to backstep and prevent guard closure, or accept closed guard top position as still advantageous compared to failed leg lock → Leads to Inside Ashi-Garami
- Opponent sprawls hard and pushes your upper body away preventing back connection (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Return to leg entanglement immediately by re-establishing inside ashi control since opponent’s sprawl often re-exposes their leg for submission attacks → Leads to Inside Ashi-Garami
- Opponent reaches back and establishes whizzer or overhook preventing hook insertion (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Response: Use body lock or mat return to establish control despite whizzer, or transition to truck position using their overhook as a lever point → Leads to Turtle
Safety Considerations
What are the safety concerns for Back Take from Ashi?
This transition involves releasing leg control and moving dynamically to opponent’s back, which carries lower injury risk than most leg lock positions but requires controlled practice. Primary safety concerns include avoiding explosive movements that could torque opponent’s knee as you release leg control, and ensuring controlled descent when taking opponent to mat from back position. Practice initially at slow speed to develop the timing and pathway. When drilling with resistance, communicate clearly about intensity levels. The transition itself does not apply joint stress but careless execution during release of leg control could strain opponent’s knee if their leg is still entangled during explosive movement.