The Single Leg to Back Take is an advanced transitional technique that capitalizes on an opponent’s defensive reactions to a single leg attack. Rather than forcing a completed takedown against heavy resistance, the skilled practitioner recognizes when the opponent posts and turns away, then exploits this defensive rotation to climb onto their back. This technique represents a fundamental principle in grappling: when your opponent defends one attack, they often expose themselves to another.
This transition is particularly valuable in no-gi grappling and MMA contexts where wrestling-based attacks are common. The beauty of this technique lies in its opportunistic nature—it transforms a seemingly failed takedown attempt into a dominant position. The practitioner must develop the sensitivity to recognize when the opponent is committed to their defensive turn, then move fluidly from the single leg position to back control.
Successful execution requires strong positional awareness, quick hip movement, and the ability to maintain connection throughout the transition. The technique exemplifies the wrestling principle of “chain wrestling”—linking attacks together so that defending one creates vulnerability to another. For competitive grapplers, this represents a high-percentage path to back control, which scores maximum points in most rule sets and provides the best submission opportunities.
Starting Position: Standing Position Ending Position: Back Control Success Rates: Beginner 30%, Intermediate 50%, Advanced 70%
Key Principles
- Recognize opponent’s defensive rotation away from the single leg attack
- Maintain constant pressure and connection to the captured leg throughout transition
- Use opponent’s turning momentum to facilitate the climb to their back
- Establish seat belt grip or harness control before opponent recognizes the position change
- Keep hips close to opponent’s center of gravity to prevent escape
- Transition smoothly from leg control to back control without losing connection
- Read opponent’s weight distribution to time the back take precisely
Prerequisites
- Secure single leg control with head positioned on the outside
- Opponent attempts to defend by turning away and posting their hands
- Maintain grip on the captured leg while staying connected to opponent’s hips
- Your inside shoulder should be tight against opponent’s near hip
- Opponent’s weight shifts away from you as they attempt to square up
- Clear space exists behind opponent for you to climb into back position
Execution Steps
- Secure single leg position: Establish a strong single leg control with your head on the outside of the opponent’s leg. Your arms should be locked around their thigh, with your inside shoulder pressed tightly against their hip. Maintain a strong base with your knees wide and hips low to the mat. (Timing: Initial control phase)
- Read opponent’s defensive turn: As your opponent attempts to defend the takedown, they will typically turn their hips away from you and post their far hand on the mat. This defensive reaction creates the opportunity for the back take. Stay alert and connected as they begin this rotation. (Timing: Recognition phase - 1-2 seconds after initial attack)
- Release leg and insert near hook: As the opponent commits to their turn, release your grip on their leg and immediately swing your inside leg (the leg closest to their hips) forward to insert the first hook. Your knee should slide between their legs as your foot hooks around their inner thigh. Keep your chest pressed against their back to maintain connection. (Timing: Immediate - as opponent begins rotation)
- Climb to opponent’s back: Using the momentum of their turn, climb up onto their back by driving your hips forward and upward. Your outside arm should reach over their far shoulder to begin establishing seat belt control (one arm over shoulder, one under armpit). Keep your weight centered on their back to prevent them from rolling or sitting back. (Timing: Continuous motion from step 3)
- Establish seat belt control: Lock your hands together in a seat belt configuration with your top arm over their shoulder and your bottom arm under their far armpit. Your palms should meet at their chest with fingers interlaced or in a gable grip. This control prevents them from turning into you or escaping forward. (Timing: As you settle on their back)
- Insert second hook and secure position: Insert your second hook by threading your free leg around their opposite thigh. Both feet should now be hooked inside their legs with your heels pulling toward their centerline. Sit your hips back slightly and lean your chest against their upper back to flatten them out. Maintain tight seat belt control while keeping your hooks active to prevent escape. (Timing: Final consolidation - 2-3 seconds after initial climb)
Opponent Counters
- Opponent sits back heavily into you before you establish hooks (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Immediately transition to a modified back position or single leg X-guard. Use your near-side leg to create a frame against their hip and prevent them from fully sitting on you. Be prepared to sweep or stand up rather than forcing the back take.
- Opponent reaches back and grabs your head to prevent seat belt control (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Use your free hand to break their grip while simultaneously establishing one hook. Focus on getting your chest onto their back rather than perfecting the grip immediately. Once you have position, you can address the grip fighting.
- Opponent rolls forward or granby rolls as you attempt to climb (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Follow their roll by maintaining connection and adjusting your position. If they roll away, you may end up in a scramble position or turtle top where you can continue attacking. Don’t release your connection during their defensive movement.
- Opponent squares up and faces you before you can transition (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: If they successfully square their hips to you, maintain your single leg control and look for alternative finishes such as the traditional single leg takedown, ankle pick, or transition to a different position. Don’t force the back take once they’ve neutralized the angle.
Test Your Knowledge
Q1: What is the primary defensive action by the opponent that creates the opportunity for the single leg to back take? A: The opponent turning their hips away from you and posting their far hand on the mat to defend the single leg takedown. This defensive rotation creates the angle and space necessary for you to climb onto their back. You must recognize this specific defensive pattern to time the transition correctly.
Q2: In what order should you establish your controls when transitioning to back control from the single leg? A: First secure your chest connection to their back while inserting your first hook, then begin establishing seat belt or harness control with your arms, and finally insert the second hook once your upper body control is solid. Prioritizing chest attachment and one hook gives you more security than rushing to get both hooks without upper body control.
Q3: How should you respond if your opponent sits back heavily before you can establish hooks? A: Immediately transition to a different position rather than forcing the back take. You can shift to single leg X-guard, use your near-side leg to create a frame against their hip to prevent being crushed, or look for sweep opportunities. The key is recognizing when the back take window has closed and adapting rather than insisting on the original plan.
Q4: Why is it important to release the leg grip at the precise moment you begin climbing to the back? A: Releasing too early gives the opponent time to escape the single leg entirely and establish distance or top position. Releasing at the moment you climb ensures continuous connection and pressure throughout the transition. The release and hook insertion should be one fluid motion, preventing any gap where the opponent can counter or escape.
Q5: What is the most critical error practitioners make when attempting this technique and why does it fail? A: The most critical error is attempting the back take when the opponent is still square and stable rather than waiting for them to commit to their defensive turn. This fails because the technique relies entirely on the opponent creating the angle through their defensive movement. Forcing it against a squared opponent results in them easily sitting back, turning into you, or escaping the position completely.
Q6: Where should your hips be positioned relative to the opponent’s hips once you’ve secured back control? A: Your hips should be low and close to the opponent’s hips, not elevated high on their upper back. This low hip position makes it difficult for them to sit back and crush you or roll backwards to escape. Your weight should be distributed along their entire spine with your hips slightly back to create a stable base that prevents defensive movement.
Safety Considerations
When practicing the Single Leg to Back Take, controlled application is essential to prevent injury during the dynamic positional change. The practitioner must be aware of their partner’s knees and ankles during the transition, as sudden weight shifts can stress these joints. Execute the technique smoothly rather than explosively during training to allow your partner time to post safely. Maintain awareness of the training space to ensure adequate room for the position change without colliding with walls or other practitioners. Both partners should communicate clearly, especially when first learning the technique, with the defensive partner tapping if they feel unstable or at risk. The climbing motion should be gradual during drilling to build coordination before adding speed. Partners should agree on resistance levels appropriate for their skill level and experience with the technique.
Position Integration
The Single Leg to Back Take represents a crucial link between standing wrestling and ground grappling systems. It exemplifies the concept of chain wrestling where defending one attack creates vulnerability to another. This technique fits into the broader single leg attack system, which includes the traditional single leg finish, ankle picks, and various trips. When the straight single leg is defended, the back take becomes a natural continuation rather than a separate technique. In the context of positional hierarchy, this transition is extremely valuable as it converts a relatively neutral wrestling position into back control, which is the most dominant position in BJJ scoring systems and provides the best submission opportunities. The technique also connects to the larger back attack system, leading to rear naked chokes, arm traps, and various control positions. For competitors, mastering this transition means your single leg attacks become more dangerous because opponents must defend both the takedown and the back take simultaneously. This creates a true dilemma where any defensive choice leaves them vulnerable to some form of attack. In modern no-gi and submission grappling, this transition has become increasingly important as wrestling-based attacks dominate the standup game.
Expert Insights
- Danaher System: The Single Leg to Back Take exemplifies a fundamental principle in combat sports: when your opponent successfully defends your primary attack, they often expose themselves to a secondary attack in the process. The biomechanics of defending a single leg naturally create a vulnerability to back exposure. When the opponent turns their hips away to prevent the takedown, they rotate their spine away from you, which is precisely the movement pattern that allows back attachment. The technical precision required is in recognizing the exact moment when their defensive turn commits them to a direction they cannot reverse. At that instant, you must seamlessly transition from leg control to back attachment without any pause or separation. The grip release must coincide exactly with your climbing motion—too early and they escape entirely, too late and you miss the timing window. Your first hook insertion is biomechanically connected to their hip rotation; you’re essentially riding their defensive movement like a wave rather than fighting against it. The seat belt control you establish must be perfect immediately, as any delay in upper body control allows them to hand fight and potentially escape even with hooks. This technique demonstrates why systematic training must include recognizing defensive patterns and having prepared responses. The single leg becomes twice as dangerous when your opponent knows that defending it exposes them to back control.
- Gordon Ryan: In high-level competition, the Single Leg to Back Take is one of the highest percentage transitions you can master because it capitalizes on the opponent’s instinctive defensive reaction. Every wrestler and grappler who’s defended single legs knows to turn away and post—it’s so automatic that even world champions do it reflexively. That’s what makes this technique so effective at the highest levels. I’ve hit this transition against elite opponents who know it’s coming because their defensive programming is so ingrained they can’t help but create the opportunity. The key in competition is commitment and timing. You can’t hesitate for even a split second when you see them turn because elite opponents will recognize what you’re doing and counter if you’re slow. I drive my chest into their back hard and immediately start establishing my seat belt while my first hook is going in. I don’t worry about perfect positioning initially—I just want to be attached to their back before they realize what happened. Once you have any kind of back attachment, you can improve your position, but if you wait to get perfect positioning before you commit, you’ll miss the window entirely. In my matches, I also fake the single leg sometimes just to draw the defensive turn and then hit the back take, which shows how reliable this defensive reaction is. The other competition detail is being ready to abandon it instantly if they sit back or square up—don’t force it once the opportunity closes because that’s how you end up in bottom position.
- Eddie Bravo: The Single Leg to Back Take is pure chain wrestling genius, man. It’s like a beautiful trap where you set up the single leg knowing that their escape is actually giving you what you really want—their back. This is the kind of technique that shows why wrestling integration is so crucial in modern no-gi grappling. What I love about this move is that you can actually bait it by making your single leg look like it’s failing, which draws them into turning away harder and faster, and boom—you’re on their back before they know what hit them. In the 10th Planet system, we use this all the time because we’re constantly attacking from standing in no-gi, and the single leg is such a fundamental entry. The variation I teach involves being ready to enter the truck position if their near leg stays elevated during the climb. Instead of just taking standard back control, you can thread your inside leg under their elevated leg and get into that crotch lock position, which opens up the whole twister system and all those crazy spinal attacks. The truck entry makes this technique even more dangerous because now they’re worried about multiple bad outcomes. Another key element from our perspective is using this in combination with the rubber guard system—if you get them down but don’t complete the back take, you can pull them into lockdown or mission control. It’s all about having options that flow together. The drilling methodology for this should include lots of live wrestling scenarios where you’re hitting actual single legs and reading real defensive reactions, not just static drilling. That’s how you develop the timing and recognition that makes it work under pressure.