Hand Fighting for Back Control
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About This Technique
Hand Fighting for Back Control
Overview
Hand fighting is an essential skill to maintain and finish with back control in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. This strategic exchange focuses on mastering grips, breaking opponents' defenses, and creating opportunities for submissions. Engaging in effective hand fighting from back control is critical for executing successful rear naked chokes or collar chokes.
Position
- Back Mount
Step-by-Step Instructions
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Establish Your Control
- Start by securing back control: Keep your seatbelt grip with one arm over and one arm under your opponent’s arms. - Aim to hook your legs around your opponent, either by closing both hooks inside their thighs or by using a body triangle.
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Monitor Opponent's Hand Position
- Observe and read your opponent’s hand movements. Often, they'll focus on defending their neck by protecting the collar region with their hands. - Be prepared to adjust according to their defensive tactics, minimizing space.
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Initiate Hand Fighting
- With your over-arm, grab your opponent's wrist on the same side. - Use small jerking motions to make them react, making them commit their hands to defend their neck.
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Peeling and Clearing Hands
- As your opponent defends, use your free arm (the one that's underhooked) to peel their wrist with a thumb-less grip (monkey grip). - Pull their wrist down towards their hips. To keep it controlled, sandwich their hand between your body and forearm.
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Advance by 'Climbing the Arm'
- Gradually move your controlling arm from the wrist up to elbow while keeping tension, using an alternating hand transfer: one hand replacing the other as you climb.
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Create Openings
- As you succeed in peeking and controlling their arm, consider using your head against the side of their head to create space for your crossface arm (the choking arm).
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Break Their Grip
- Suppress their defensive hand by pinning or flaring their arm outward. - Execute scooping motions with your attacking arm, bypassing their defending hand.
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Executing a Choke
- Once their defending arm is out of the way, rapidly slip in your choking arm's forearm underneath their chin. - Aim to secure a deep grip behind their shoulder for a rear-naked choke or control their collar for a bow and arrow choke.
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Maintain Your Position
- Even after peeling their arm, ensure your hooks are engaged, keeping your opponent connected to your hips. - If needed, adjust into a more dominant leg control, like a body triangle.
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Finish With Precision
- Finish with your chosen submission with calm, calculated pressure to prevent frantic escapes.
Final Thoughts
- Hand fighting on the back is not just about grip battle; it's about creating micro-opportunities to breach their defenses and choke.
- Use patience and intuitive reading of your opponent’s responses to decide your next move.
This technique emphasizes strategic transitions with consistent aggressiveness while retaining your control.
How to Execute
Hand Fighting for Back Control from Back Mount
Securing back control and maintaining it is a crucial skill in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Hand fighting is essential to prevent your opponent from escaping and to set up submissions. Below are detailed step-by-step instructions for hand fighting from the back mount position.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Establish Proper Back Control
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Seat Belt Grip:
- •Position yourself with your chest against your opponent's back.
- •Use a seat belt grip; one arm over the shoulder (attacking arm) and the other under the armpit (supporting arm).
- •Clasp your hands together. The thumb of the arm that goes under the armpit should be on top to prevent wrist locks.
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Hooks and Body Position:
- •Insert both of your hooks by placing your feet inside your opponent's thighs and curling them around.
- •Keep your knees tight against your opponent’s hips to prevent them from sliding down and escaping.
- •Maintain chest-to-back contact; avoid leaning back.
Step 2: Initial Hand Fighting
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Protect Your Neck:
- •Your opponent will likely try to peel off your seat belt grip. Anticipate this by keeping your head close to theirs.
- •Use your chin to protect your neck by tucking it down and slightly to the side.
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Control Their Hands:
- •Focus on controlling your opponent's hands. Use your supporting arm (underhook side) to keep their hand away from your attacking arm.
- •Monitor their hand movements; if they grab your wrist, peel their hand off immediately.
Step 3: Break Their Grip
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Peel the Hand:
- •If your opponent grabs your wrist with their top hand, use your supporting hand to peel their grip.
- •Grab the inside of their wrist and push it away from your wrist.
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Two-on-One Control:
- •Once you break their grip, secure a two-on-one control by using both of your hands to control one of your opponent’s wrists.
- •Pull their arm across their body, making it difficult for them to defend.
Step 4: Transition to Attack
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Isolate the Arm:
- •With the two-on-one control, pull their arm towards their chest.
- •Slide your attacking arm deeper across their throat for a choke or to further secure control.
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Prepare for Submission:
- •If you aim for a choke, transition your attacking arm to a collar grip or a rear-naked choke position.
- •Keep the opponent's wrist pinned with your supporting arm to maintain control.
Step 5: Maintain Control
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Adjust Your Position:
- •If your opponent tries to escape, adjust your hooks by tightening your leg control.
- •Keep your hips glued to their back, following any of their movements to maintain back control.
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Reset if Necessary:
- •If they start to escape your hooks, switch to a body triangle or re-establish your hooks.
- •Constantly monitor their hand movements to prevent them from breaking your grip.
Hand fighting is a dynamic and critical part of maintaining back control. Practice these steps to develop a strong understanding and muscle memory for effective control and submission setups.