The Back Take from Top Hindulotine represents one of the highest-percentage transitions in the front headlock attack system. When an opponent defends the guillotine choke by turning away to relieve neck pressure, they expose their back as a direct consequence of their defensive movement. This technique capitalizes on that predictable reaction, converting a potential submission loss into dominant back control.
The mechanical beauty of this transition lies in using the opponent’s own escape energy against them. As they rotate to face away from the choking pressure, you maintain upper body control while your legs transition from sprawl base to hooks. The opponent’s defensive turn becomes the entry mechanism for one of the most dominant positions in grappling. This creates a true dilemma: defend the choke and give up your back, or face the choke and risk being finished.
Strategically, the back take option makes your Hindulotine attacks significantly more dangerous. Opponents who know you will take their back if they turn become hesitant to execute the primary escape, allowing more finishing opportunities on the guillotine itself. The mere threat of this transition improves your overall submission percentage from the position.
From Position: Hindulotine (Top) Success Rate: 58%
Possible Outcomes
| Result | Position | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Success | Back Control | 65% |
| Failure | Hindulotine | 25% |
| Counter | Turtle | 10% |
Attacker vs Defender
| Attacker | Defender | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Execute technique | Prevent or counter |
| Key Principles | Maintain constant grip pressure during the transition to pre… | Control the speed and depth of your turning escape to avoid … |
| Options | 6 execution steps | 3 defensive options |
Playing as Attacker
Key Principles
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Maintain constant grip pressure during the transition to prevent opponent from completing their escape rotation
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Use opponent’s turning momentum as the entry mechanism rather than forcing the transition against resistance
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Establish seat belt control before releasing any guillotine grip components to maintain connection
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Insert hooks sequentially starting with the bottom hook as opponent’s hips become accessible during their turn
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Keep chest-to-back connection throughout to prevent opponent from creating separation space
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Time the grip transition precisely when opponent commits to the turn but before they can flatten or re-square
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Anticipate the turn by feeling for shoulder rotation and hip movement under your control
Execution Steps
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Recognize the turn: Feel opponent’s shoulder rotation and hip movement as they initiate the escape turn away from your c…
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Follow with chest: Maintain chest-to-back connection by following their rotation with your upper body. Do not allow any…
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Release and re-grip: As they complete the turn, release the guillotine grip and immediately establish seat belt control w…
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Insert bottom hook: Slide your bottom leg between their legs, inserting your foot inside their thigh with toes pointing …
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Insert top hook: Bring your top leg over their hip and insert the second hook inside their opposite thigh. Both hooks…
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Consolidate control: Adjust your position to establish full back control with proper seat belt grip, both hooks deep, and…
Common Mistakes
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Releasing guillotine grip before establishing seat belt control
- Consequence: Creates a gap in control allowing opponent to escape, turn to face you, or stand up before you secure back position
- Correction: Overlap controls during transition: begin establishing seat belt while still maintaining some guillotine pressure, only fully releasing when new control is secure
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Chasing the back take against opponent who is not turning
- Consequence: Attempting to force the turn gives up the Hindulotine position without gain, often resulting in loss of control entirely
- Correction: Only transition to back take when opponent initiates the turn; if they are not turning, continue attacking the guillotine or switch to other front headlock attacks
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Allowing space between chest and opponent’s back during transition
- Consequence: Opponent can frame, create distance, and either complete escape or achieve turtle position that is harder to attack
- Correction: Maintain constant chest-to-back pressure throughout entire transition sequence, following their movement closely
Playing as Defender
Key Principles
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Control the speed and depth of your turning escape to avoid giving the attacker momentum to follow into back control
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Block seat belt establishment immediately by keeping elbows tight to your body and framing against the attacker’s arms during the grip transition
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Deny hook insertion by keeping knees together and hips low to the mat, eliminating the space needed for the attacker’s legs to enter
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Exploit the grip transition window when attacker releases guillotine but has not yet secured seat belt as your primary escape opportunity
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Maintain shoulder-to-mat connection on the turning side to prevent being pulled onto your side where hooks become accessible
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Prioritize achieving tight turtle over attempting to face the opponent, as turtle provides better defensive structure than an incomplete turn
Recognition Cues
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Attacker’s chest pressure follows your rotation instead of maintaining the original guillotine angle, indicating they are pursuing the back rather than the choke
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Guillotine grip pressure decreases or shifts as attacker begins releasing the choke to transition hands toward seat belt configuration across your chest
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You feel the attacker’s legs moving from sprawl base to a position alongside your hips, attempting to thread hooks inside your thighs as you turn
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Attacker’s arm that was under your chin begins sliding over your shoulder while their other arm reaches under your armpit for the seat belt
Defensive Options
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Complete the turn explosively and re-face opponent before hooks are inserted, using frames on their biceps and hips to create distance and recover to guard or combat base - When: Early in the transition when attacker has released guillotine but has not yet secured seat belt or inserted any hooks
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Tighten into a compact defensive turtle by dropping elbows to knees, tucking chin, and keeping hips low to deny both hooks and seat belt access - When: When the attacker has established partial upper body control and you cannot safely complete the turn to face them
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Post your near arm and drive your hips backward into the attacker while sprawling your legs away, preventing them from getting underneath you for hooks - When: When you feel the attacker’s legs beginning to thread alongside your hips during the transition
Position Integration
The Back Take from Hindulotine is a critical component of the front headlock attack system. It creates offensive pressure that enhances all Hindulotine submissions by making the primary escape (turning away) lead directly to another dominant position. This technique connects the front headlock and back control systems, allowing practitioners to flow between attack chains. After securing back control, you have access to rear naked choke, armbar from back, bow and arrow choke (in gi), and transitions to crucifix or truck positions. The back take also combines effectively with darce and anaconda transitions when opponent creates different defensive reactions.