BJJ Graph

Matrix Back Take | BJJ Technique | BJJ Graph

Oct 25, 202515 min read

Matrix Back Take

bjjtransitionback_taketurtleadvanced

Visual Execution Sequence

From turtle top position, as your opponent defends standard back take attempts with strong hip positioning, you recognize the matrix opportunity. You maintain one hand control on their far hip while stepping your near leg over their back in a high arc. Your body rotates in a cartwheel-like motion, threading your leg between their arm and body while maintaining hip control. As you complete the rotation, your leg hooks their near side while you secure the seatbelt grip, landing smoothly in back control with both hooks established.

One-Sentence Summary: “From turtle top with hip control, you cartwheel your near leg over their back and thread it through while rotating, landing in back control with hooks in.”

Execution Steps

  1. Setup Requirements: Establish turtle top position with opponent defensive, secure far hip control with one hand, create angle by stepping to side
  2. Initial Movement: Step near leg high and over opponent’s back in arcing motion, begin cartwheel rotation of body
  3. Thread Position: Thread your leg between opponent’s nearside arm and their body while maintaining hip control with hand
  4. Rotation Completion: Complete cartwheel motion by rotating your body, near shoulder approaching mat, leg threading deeper
  5. Hook Establishment: As rotation completes, hook near leg inside their thigh, bring far leg over for second hook
  6. Consolidation: Secure seatbelt grip (one arm over shoulder, one under arm), establish back control with both hooks, adjust body position for control

Key Technical Details

  • Grip Requirements: Far hip control with strong grip, maintaining connection throughout rotation
  • Base/Foundation: Dynamic movement requires committed rotation, no hesitation mid-technique
  • Timing Windows: Execute when opponent is static in turtle, before they can react to leg coming over
  • Leverage Points: Hip control anchors technique, leg threading creates entry point for hooks
  • Common Adjustments: If opponent moves during rotation, follow their hips with grip, adjust landing position

Common Counters

Opponent defensive responses with success rates and conditions:

Decision Logic for AI Opponent

If [hip control] broken during rotation:
- Execute [[Hip Escape Away]] (Probability: 30%)

Else if [leg coming over] detected early:
- Execute [[Sit Out Defense]] (Probability: 35%)

Else if [rotation committed] and [momentum strong]:
- Execute [[Roll Through Counter]] (Probability: 25%)

Else [optimal execution conditions]:
- Accept transition (Probability: Base Success Rate - Applied Modifiers)

Expert Insights

John Danaher

“The matrix back take represents the principle of maintaining connection while changing levels and angles dynamically. The hip control is your anchor point - without this, the technique becomes a speculative gymnastics move rather than a controlled transition. The cartwheel motion must be committed and smooth; hesitation mid-rotation allows your opponent time to defend. This is advanced movement requiring significant mat time to develop the kinesthetic awareness of where your body is in space during rotation.”

Gordon Ryan

“I use the matrix when opponents are really good at defending standard back takes from turtle. They’ve got their hips heavy, their arms tight - the traditional entries aren’t there. The matrix catches them by surprise because the angle and movement are completely different from what they’re expecting. In competition, you need to sell it completely - commit to the rotation fully. If you hesitate or do it slowly, you’ll get countered. Speed and commitment are everything on this one.”

Eddie Bravo

“The matrix is straight out of the creative movement playbook. Most grapplers are linear thinkers - they expect you to go around them or under them, not cartwheel over them. This technique is about being unpredictable and athletic. It fits perfectly in the truck system and crab ride game. Once you land it a few times, opponents start worrying about it, which opens up your other back takes. It’s not just a technique, it’s a psychological weapon.”

Common Errors

Error 1: Releasing Hip Control During Rotation

  • Why It Fails: Without hip anchor, you lose connection and position reference during rotation
  • Correction: Maintain firm grip on far hip throughout entire technique, grip is your lifeline
  • Recognition: Finding yourself floating in air with no connection to opponent

Error 2: Hesitating Mid-Rotation

  • Why It Fails: Slow rotation gives opponent time to defend, makes technique predictable
  • Correction: Commit fully to cartwheel motion, execute with speed and confidence
  • Recognition: Getting caught halfway through movement with opponent defending effectively

Error 3: Not Threading Leg Deep Enough

  • Why It Fails: Shallow threading doesn’t create proper hook position upon landing
  • Correction: Drive leg between arm and body forcefully during threading phase
  • Recognition: Landing without proper hook position, unable to establish back control

Error 4: Poor Landing Position

  • Why It Fails: Landing too far from opponent or at wrong angle prevents immediate control
  • Correction: Aim to land with chest against their back, hooks ready to establish
  • Recognition: Landing in side position or too far away to secure back control

Error 5: Forgetting Seatbelt Grip

  • Why It Fails: Landing hooks without upper body control allows opponent to escape
  • Correction: Establish seatbelt grip immediately upon landing, before opponent realizes position changed
  • Recognition: Getting both hooks but opponent immediately defending because no upper control

Timing Considerations

  • Optimal Conditions: Opponent static in turtle with defensive posture, you have established top position with hip control
  • Avoid When: Opponent is actively moving or scrambling, insufficient hip control established, you lack confidence in rotation
  • Setup Sequences: After failed standard back take attempts, after opponent defends Truck Entry, when opponent is focused on protecting one side
  • Follow-up Windows: Must establish seatbelt and hooks within 1-2 seconds of landing to prevent escape

Prerequisites

  • Technical Skills: Solid understanding of back control maintenance, turtle top control, basic body awareness for rotation
  • Physical Preparation: Core strength for rotation control, shoulder mobility for cartwheel motion, explosive movement capability
  • Positional Understanding: Back control fundamentals, turtle position dynamics, hook establishment principles
  • Experience Level: Advanced - requires significant mat time to develop timing and body awareness

Knowledge Assessment

  1. Mechanical Understanding: “What maintains your connection to opponent during the rotation?”

    • A) Your legs wrapping around them
    • B) Hip control with your hand grip
    • C) Your body weight
    • D) Their inability to move
    • Answer: B

  2. Timing Recognition: “When is the optimal moment to execute this technique?”

    • A) When opponent is actively scrambling
    • B) When you don’t have good hip control
    • C) When opponent is static in turtle and you have hip control
    • D) When opponent is rolling to their back
    • Answer: C

  3. Error Prevention: “What is the most common mistake that causes this technique to fail?”

    • A) Hesitating mid-rotation instead of committing fully
    • B) Rotating too fast
    • C) Landing too close to opponent
    • D) Establishing hooks too quickly
    • Answer: A

  4. Setup Requirements: “What must be established before attempting this technique?”

    • A) Both hooks in
    • B) Seatbelt grip
    • C) Back control
    • D) Far hip control from turtle top
    • Answer: D

  5. Adaptation: “How should you adjust if opponent moves their hips away during rotation?”

    • A) Give up and return to turtle top
    • B) Follow their hips with your grip hand, adjust landing position
    • C) Release grip and chase them
    • D) Speed up rotation dramatically
    • Answer: B

Variants and Adaptations

  • Gi Specific: Can use belt grip or pants grip at hip for more secure control during rotation
  • No-Gi Specific: Requires skin-to-skin or body grip at hip, may need more compression during rotation
  • Self-Defense: Limited application due to complexity and dynamic nature of street altercations
  • Competition: High-level technique for surprising opponents who defend traditional back takes well
  • Size Differential: Works better for lighter practitioners with good mobility against heavier opponents

Training Progressions

  1. Solo Practice: Practice cartwheel motion without partner to develop rotation awareness and comfort
  2. Cooperative Drilling: Partner remains static in turtle while you practice rotation slowly, focus on hip control maintenance
  3. Resistant Practice: Partner provides light resistance and movement, practice adjusting to their reactions
  4. Sparring Integration: Look for opportunities during live rolling when opponent is defensive in turtle
  5. Troubleshooting: Common issue is releasing hip control - drill maintaining grip throughout entire motion

LLM Context Block

Purpose: This section contains structured decision-making logic for AI opponents, narrative generation, and game engine processing.

Execution Decision Logic

decision_tree:
  conditions:
    - name: "Hip Control Check"
      evaluation: "hip_control_quality >= 60"
      success_action: "proceed_to_rotation_check"
      failure_action: "execute_hip_escape_defense"
      failure_probability: 30
 
    - name: "Rotation Commitment Check"
      evaluation: "rotation_speed >= threshold AND committed"
      success_action: "proceed_to_threading_check"
      failure_action: "execute_sit_out_defense"
      failure_probability: 35
 
    - name: "Threading Depth Check"
      evaluation: "leg_threading_depth >= 70"
      success_action: "accept_transition_with_modifiers"
      failure_action: "execute_arm_frame_defense"
      failure_probability: 40
 
  final_calculation:
    base_probability: "success_probability[skill_level]"
    applied_modifiers:
      - setup_quality
      - timing_precision
      - opponent_fatigue
      - knowledge_test
      - position_control
    formula: "base_probability + sum(modifiers) - sum(counters)"

Common Troubleshooting Patterns

troubleshooting:
  - symptom: "Losing connection to opponent during rotation"
    likely_cause: "Releasing or weakening hip control grip"
    diagnostic_questions:
      - "Is hip grip maintained throughout rotation?"
      - "Is grip strong enough to anchor rotation?"
      - "Are you focusing on grip as primary connection point?"
    solution: "Drill rotation while emphasizing continuous hip grip, consider stronger grip training"
 
  - symptom: "Getting caught mid-rotation by opponent defenses"
    likely_cause: "Hesitating or rotating too slowly"
    diagnostic_questions:
      - "Is rotation explosive and committed?"
      - "Are you telegraphing intent before rotation?"
      - "Is rotation smooth or choppy?"
    solution: "Build confidence through repetitions, commit fully to motion, practice explosive entry"
 
  - symptom: "Landing without proper hook position"
    likely_cause: "Leg not threaded deep enough during rotation"
    diagnostic_questions:
      - "Is leg driving between arm and body forcefully?"
      - "Is threading occurring early enough in rotation?"
      - "Is leg position correct for hook upon landing?"
    solution: "Focus on threading depth, practice threading motion separately, exaggerate threading during drilling"

Timing and Setup Guidance

timing_guidance:
  optimal_windows:
    - condition: "Opponent static in turtle with defensive posture"
      success_boost: "+15%"
      recognition_cues: ["Heavy hips", "Arms tight to body", "Not scrambling"]
 
    - condition: "After failed standard back take attempts"
      success_boost: "+10%"
      recognition_cues: ["Opponent focused on one side defense", "Traditional entries blocked", "Opponent expecting normal attacks"]
 
    - condition: "You have established strong hip control"
      success_boost: "+10%"
      recognition_cues: ["Firm grip on far hip", "Angle created to side", "Opponent not countering grip"]
 
  avoid_windows:
    - condition: "Opponent actively scrambling or moving"
      success_penalty: "-20%"
      recognition_cues: ["Dynamic movement", "Changing positions", "Unpredictable motion"]
 
    - condition: "Insufficient hip control established"
      success_penalty: "-25%"
      recognition_cues: ["Weak grip", "No angle created", "Connection not solid"]
 
    - condition: "Low confidence in rotation execution"
      success_penalty: "-15%"
      recognition_cues: ["Uncertainty about movement", "Previous failed attempts", "Hesitation present"]
 
setup_sequences:
  - sequence_name: "Failed Standard Back Take to Matrix"
    steps:
      - "Attempt traditional back take from turtle"
      - "Opponent defends with heavy hips and tight arms"
      - "Maintain hip control and switch to matrix entry"
    success_boost: "+12%"
 
  - sequence_name: "Crab Ride to Matrix"
    steps:
      - "Establish crab ride position on turtle"
      - "Opponent defends by staying tight"
      - "Convert crab ride hip control to matrix setup"
    success_boost: "+8%"

Narrative Generation Prompts

narrative_prompts:
  setup_phase:
    - "You control turtle top position, hand gripped firmly on their far hip, creating your angle."
    - "Your opponent defends the traditional back take attempts, hips heavy and arms tight to their body."
    - "You recognize the matrix opportunity - they're not expecting the cartwheel attack from this angle."
 
  execution_phase:
    - "Your near leg swings high in a dramatic arc over their back as you commit to the rotation."
    - "Your body cartwheels through space, maintaining hip control as your anchor point."
    - "Your leg threads between their arm and body as you complete the rotation with precision."
 
  completion_phase:
    - "You land smoothly against their back, near leg hooking inside their thigh."
    - "Your far leg comes over for the second hook as you secure the seatbelt grip."
    - "Back control established - a technical masterpiece of dynamic movement and control."
 
  failure_phase:
    - "Your hip control breaks during rotation and you lose connection, floating in space."
    - "They sit out as your leg comes over, defending the technique before you can complete threading."
    - "Your hesitation mid-rotation gives them time to frame and prevent the back take."

Image Generation Prompts

image_prompts:
  setup_position:
    prompt: "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu turtle top position, top practitioner controlling far hip with strong grip, creating angle to side, bottom practitioner defensive in turtle, both wearing blue and white gis, mat background, technical illustration style"
    key_elements: ["Hip control", "Turtle position", "Angle created", "Defensive posture"]
 
  mid_execution:
    prompt: "BJJ matrix back take mid-rotation, top practitioner cartwheeling over opponent's back with leg threading through, maintaining hip grip, dynamic athletic movement, bottom practitioner still in turtle, technical illustration"
    key_elements: ["Cartwheel motion", "Leg threading", "Hip grip maintained", "Dynamic rotation"]
 
  completion_position:
    prompt: "BJJ back control position after matrix back take, top practitioner with both hooks in and seatbelt grip established, bottom practitioner's back taken, control consolidated, technical illustration style"
    key_elements: ["Back control", "Both hooks", "Seatbelt grip", "Complete control"]

Audio Narration Scripts

audio_scripts:
  instructional_narration:
    script: "From turtle top, establish strong hip control on their far side. Step your near leg high and over their back in a cartwheel motion. Maintain your hip grip as you rotate, threading your leg between their arm and body. Complete the rotation smoothly, landing with your first hook in. Bring your far leg over for the second hook and secure the seatbelt grip for back control."
    voice: "Onyx"
    pace: "Moderate"
    emphasis: ["hip control", "cartwheel motion", "threading", "maintain grip", "back control"]
 
  coaching_cues:
    script: "Grip that hip tight. Swing leg high. Commit to rotation. Thread it through. Maintain that grip. Land hooks. Seatbelt. Beautiful back take."
    voice: "Onyx"
    pace: "Energetic"
    emphasis: ["tight", "high", "commit", "through", "maintain", "beautiful"]
 
  competition_commentary:
    script: "Watch this - matrix back take setup. Hip control established. There's the leg coming over - beautiful cartwheel rotation. Look at that threading. Maintains the grip throughout. Lands with the hook. Second hook in. Seatbelt secured. Back control complete. Spectacular technique."
    voice: "Onyx"
    pace: "Fast"
    emphasis: ["matrix back take", "beautiful cartwheel", "maintains grip", "spectacular"]

Competition Applications

  • IBJJF Rules: Legal at all belt levels, scores 4 points for back control establishment when hooks and seatbelt secured
  • No-Gi Competition: Requires excellent hip control with underhook or body grip, slightly higher difficulty without gi grips
  • Self-Defense Context: Not practical for street situations due to complexity and dynamic nature
  • MMA Applications: Limited application in MMA due to striking vulnerability during rotation

Historical Context

The matrix back take gained popularity in modern competitive BJJ through high-level competitors demonstrating creative movement patterns from turtle position. The name comes from the dramatic, almost gravity-defying appearance of the rotation, reminiscent of action sequences from popular culture. It represents the evolution of BJJ toward more athletic and dynamic transitions.

Safety Considerations

  • Controlled Application: Practice rotation slowly initially to build spatial awareness and prevent awkward landings
  • Mat Awareness: Ensure adequate space for rotation to avoid colliding with other pairs or mat edges
  • Partner Safety: Maintain hip connection to avoid falling on partner unexpectedly during rotation
  • Gradual Progression: Build rotation speed progressively over time as confidence and technique improve

Position Integration

Common combinations and sequences:

  • Truck Entry - Alternative advanced entry to back system from turtle
  • Crab Ride - Position that often precedes matrix back take setup
  • Turtle to Back Control - Traditional back take method that matrix supplements
  • Back Step - Different dynamic back take entry sharing commitment principle

Graph View

Backlinks