The Truck is a versatile grappling position used in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as both a transition to back control and a submission control position in itself. In no-gi grappling, the Truck is most closely associated with Eddie Bravo and the 10th Planet system, who first developed a comprehensive program around the position and introduced it to the submission grappling community. Within the gi circuit, the Truck is frequently linked to the Mendes brothers (Rafael and Guilherme) and their signature style, particularly in relation to the Berimbolo and Crab Ride positions.
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Wrestling Origins: The Leg Ride
The Truck control and many of its variations and entries trace back to wrestling, which used this position competitively many years before BJJ adopted it. In wrestling, one of the most common entries is the famous leg ride—a position used to expose the opponent’s back and secure pins.​
Two of the most common applications of the leg ride in wrestling are:
- Wrestling Guillotine (known in jiu-jitsu as the Twister)
- Banana Split position
Both were originally intended as pins rather than submissions, though that line often blurs during competitive scrambles. Much like how the Kimura Lock and Americana Lock evolved from catch wrestling techniques, the Truck demonstrates BJJ’s ability to adapt effective wrestling positions for submission-focused grappling.​
Eddie Bravo’s Innovation: The Twister Era
Eddie Bravo learned the wrestling leg ride/guillotine setup during high school. As a blue belt under Jean Jacques Machado, he began applying this position under BJJ rules, adapting it from side control to achieve submissions (taps) rather than pins—during an era when jiu-jitsu’s rulebook remained unclear regarding spinal locks.​
Once the IBJJF and mainstream sport BJJ started distancing itself from knee-twisting locks and attacks to the vertebral column, Bravo focused exclusively on the no-gi circuit. There, he continued developing his ideas separately from sport BJJ’s mainstream evolution, with the Truck position becoming central to his system. He particularly influenced students like Geo Martinez, who became renowned for Truck mastery.​
According to BJJ Heroes’ comprehensive technique database, Bravo’s innovations transformed the Truck from an obscure wrestling position into a systematic submission platform that works within modern grappling rules.​
Parallel Development: The Rolling Back Attack
While Bravo developed the Truck for submission-only formats, other athletes explored similar concepts in both gi and no-gi competition around the early-to-mid 2000s. Competitors like Ryan Hall, Leonardo Vieira, André Galvão, and others started using a similar “Twister Roll” position.​
Ryan Hall labeled this variation the “Rolling Back Attack,” and as the name suggests, it emphasized establishing back control rather than submission. This version was primarily achieved from half guard and quarter guard positions, showing how different schools developed the same position with different strategic objectives.​
This parallel evolution mirrors how techniques like the 50/50 Guard and Reverse De La Riva Guard emerged simultaneously from multiple lineages with slightly different applications.​
The Gi Revolution: Mendes Brothers and Beyond
The Truck truly flourished in BJJ’s gi environment following the rise of the Berimbolo, Crab Ride, and Leg Drag techniques pioneered by Rafael and Guilherme Mendes during the late 2000s. These modern guard systems created natural pathways to the Truck position that hadn’t existed in traditional BJJ.​
The generation that followed the Mendes brothers carried on the Truck’s legacy as a setup for guard passes and back takes. Notable innovators include:​
- The Miyao Brothers (João and Paulo) – Explored Truck entries from both the Crab Ride and Leg Drag
- Garry Tonon – Developed Truck entries from mount defense
- Felipe Pena – Created transitions from De La Riva to X-Guard to Truck
- Geo Martinez – Continued expanding no-gi applications
João Miyao’s purple belt match against Márcio André showcased how the Truck could be integrated seamlessly with modern guard systems, demonstrating entries that previous generations hadn’t explored.​
The Truck’s Strategic Versatility
What makes the Truck so effective is its multi-purpose nature. From this control position, practitioners can:​
- Transition to back control – The most common application in points-based competition
- Attack with the Twister – A spinal lock legal in many no-gi formats
- Execute the Banana Split – Another spinal attack (where legal)
- Set up guard passes – If the opponent defends the back
- Attack with leg locks – Including Heel Hooks and Straight Ankle Locks
- Chain to other positions – Such as The Saddle or traditional back mount
This versatility creates multiple offensive threats that force opponents into defensive dilemmas. Much like how the Armbar from mount creates chaining opportunities, the Truck provides a platform for linking attacks that become increasingly difficult to defend.​
Common Entries to The Truck
Modern BJJ has developed numerous pathways to the Truck position:​
From Guard Systems
- Crab Ride – Natural elevation into Truck control
- Berimbolo – Rolling entries that expose the back
- De La Riva to X-Guard – Transitional entries popularized by Felipe Pena
- Half Guard – Original approach used by early adopters
- Quarter Guard – Wrestling-style entries
From Top Positions
- Side Control – Eddie Bravo’s original blue belt setup
- Mount Defense – When opponent escapes, as shown by Garry Tonon
- Failed Guard Pass Attempts – Scramble opportunities
From Scrambles
- Leg Drag Defense – Counter to passing attempts
- Failed Sweep Attempts – Opportunistic entries during transitions
Understanding these entries requires knowledge of fundamental positions. For beginners, exploring resources about what is guard in BJJ provides context for how modern positions like the Truck connect to traditional guard systems.​
Grip Fighting and Control Details
Success with the Truck depends on proper control mechanics. Key elements include:​
- Leg control – Maintaining hooks behind the opponent’s knees
- Weight distribution – Balancing control with mobility for submissions
- Upper body control – Using proper hand grips to prevent escape
- Hip positioning – Creating the right angles for back exposure or submission attacks
The position demands constant adjustment as opponents defend. Practitioners must recognize when to maintain the Truck for control versus when to transition to back mount or submission attacks like the Bow and Arrow Choke or Cross Choke from the back.​
Gi vs No-Gi Applications
The Truck functions differently in gi and no-gi contexts:​
No-Gi Applications
- Greater emphasis on submission attacks (Twister, Banana Split)
- Faster transitions due to lack of friction
- Integration with leg lock systems
- More aggressive rolling entries
Gi Applications
- Focus on back control and points scoring
- Slower, more methodical control
- Integration with collar chokes once back is taken
- Use of grips to maintain position longer
This split in application shows how rule sets shape technique evolution. While Eddie Bravo developed the Truck for submission-only no-gi formats, gi competitors adapted it for IBJJF point-based competition, creating parallel but distinct systems.​
Modern Evolution and Future Development
With the Truck prospering in both points-based environments and submission-only platforms, we can expect continued enhancements to this position in coming years. Current trends include:​
- Refined entries from modern guards – Like the Donkey Guard and Butterfly Ashi
- Integration with leg lock systems – Combining Truck control with lower body attacks
- No-gi specific developments – New submission chains and control variations
- Gi adaptations – Using lapel grips to enhance control and create new attacks
The position’s evolution mirrors the broader transformation of modern BJJ, where wrestlers’ top control concepts merge with guard players’ dynamic movement to create hybrid systems neither style originally possessed.​
Understanding the BJJ belt system helps practitioners recognize when to introduce complex positions like the Truck into their training—typically at blue or purple belt after fundamental positions are mastered.
Learning Resources and Instruction
Several high-level instructors have created comprehensive instructional content on the Truck:​
- Eddie Bravo – Original systematic approach focused on no-gi submissions
- Geo Martinez – Modern entries and creative setups
- Ryan Hall – Rolling back attack concepts emphasizing control
- The Miyao Brothers – Gi-specific entries from modern guard systems
- Garry Tonon – Defensive entries and scramble opportunities
These resources demonstrate different philosophical approaches to the same position, giving practitioners multiple perspectives on when and how to apply the Truck.​
From Obscurity to Mainstream
What began as an obscure wrestling position transformed into a cornerstone of modern BJJ through the innovations of Eddie Bravo, the Mendes brothers, and subsequent generations of competitors. The Truck’s journey from wrestling leg ride to mainstream submission grappling technique demonstrates how BJJ continuously evolves by integrating effective concepts from other grappling arts.​
Whether you’re a no-gi specialist seeking submission opportunities or a gi competitor looking for creative back-taking entries, the Truck provides a versatile platform that adapts to multiple strategic objectives. Its continued evolution across both gi and no-gi formats ensures the position will remain relevant as grappling continues developing.​
For those exploring how modern techniques interconnect, understanding positions like the Truck, Crab Ride, and Saddle/411 reveals the systematic approach that defines contemporary high-level grappling.
