Submissions from the Back: The Ultimate Guide to Choking and Submitting Your Opponent from One of BJJ’s Most Dominant Positions

In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, taking an opponent’s back is considered one of the most dominant positions you can achieve. Once you’ve secured the back, you have the opportunity to control your opponent’s movements and attack with a variety of submissions, including chokes and joint locks. In this article, we’ll explore some of the most effective submissions from the back in BJJ, giving you the tools you need to finish the fight.

Rear Naked Choke (RNC)

The rear naked choke is one of the most common and effective submissions from the back in BJJ. To execute the RNC, start by securing both of your opponent’s hooks in and getting your arms around their neck. Once you have a solid grip, squeeze your elbows together, pull back with your arms, and arch your back to finish the choke. The RNC can be applied from a variety of positions, including the back mount and the body triangle.

Bow and Arrow Choke

The bow and arrow choke is another highly effective submission from the back in BJJ. To execute the choke, start by securing one of your opponent’s arms across their neck and trapping it with your own arm. Next, thread your free arm through their opposite arm and grab onto your own gi lapel. From here, pull back on the lapel while pushing forward with your trapped arm to finish the choke.

Clock Choke

The clock choke is a sneaky submission that can catch your opponent off guard. To execute the choke, start by securing one of your opponent’s arms and pulling it across their neck. Next, thread your other arm through their armpit and grab onto your own gi lapel. From here, pull down on the lapel while pushing up with your other arm to finish the choke.

Collar Choke

The collar choke is a classic submission from the back that can be executed from a variety of positions. To execute the choke, start by securing both of your opponent’s hooks in and getting your arms around their neck. Next, grab onto your opponent’s gi collar with both hands and pull back to finish the choke. The collar choke can also be executed with one hand if you’re having trouble getting a grip with both.

Armbar

While chokes are the most common submissions from the back in BJJ, the armbar is another effective option. To execute the armbar, start by securing both of your opponent’s hooks in and getting your legs around their waist. Next, shift your hips to one side and use your arm to push your opponent’s head to the other side. From here, swing your other leg over your opponent’s head and use it to trap their arm. Finally, extend your hips to finish the armbar.

Triangle Choke

The triangle choke can be executed from a variety of positions, including the back mount. To execute the choke from the back, start by securing both of your opponent’s hooks in and getting your legs around their waist. Next, use one arm to pull your opponent’s head down while you slide your other leg over their shoulder. From here, lock in the triangle choke by bringing your leg across your opponent’s neck and securing your ankle behind your knee.

The back is one of the most dominant positions in BJJ, and mastering submissions from this position is essential for any serious practitioner. By adding these five submissions to your arsenal and mastering the mechanics and details of each one, you can become a dangerous threat from the back and finish matches with ease. So, practice these submissions diligently and make them a central part of your game to take your BJJ to the next level.