Back Escape: The Complete Defense Guide

Back Escape: The Complete Defense Guide

By BJJ Sportswear Editorial Team
Reviewed by competitive black belts specializing in defensive fundamentals and escape systems | Last Updated: January 13, 2026

The back escape is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s most critical survival skill—the defensive techniques used to escape from back control, the most dominant position in grappling where your opponent controls you from behind with hooks and seatbelt grip, threatening the rear naked choke (mata leão – “lion killer”) that can render you unconscious in five seconds. What makes mastering back escapes more urgent than mount or side control escapes is lethality: back control leads directly to the most dangerous submission in grappling, making this the highest-stakes defensive position you’ll face.​

According to Evolve MMA, the rear naked choke is one of the most effective submission techniques ever developed in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Its English name doesn’t do the technique justice like its Portuguese name ‘mata leão’ (lion killer) does. It’s a blood choke that cuts the blood supply to the brain off, leading to unconsciousness within as little as five seconds when executed correctly.​

BJJ Fanatics emphasizes severity: It is commonly agreed that in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, self defense, and other grappling martial arts such as wrestling and sambo, that the worst thing you can let someone do in a fight is take your back. When an opponent takes your back, most of your defense is rendered completely useless. The most that can be done is to try and prevent your training partner from submitting you with a neck choke as you work to free yourself and transition into a better position.​

After coaching hundreds of students through white belt survival, I’ve found that back escapes require different psychology than other escapes—because you can’t see your opponent behind you, panic sets in quickly. The good news: systematic hand fighting, shoulder pressure, and hip escapes work regardless of strength or size when executed with proper timing and composure.

Whether you’re a white belt learning survival fundamentals or a purple belt refining escape timing, mastering back escapes gives you the defensive foundation that prevents the “lion killer” from ending your matches and keeps you training safely.

What Is Back Escape?

Back escape refers to the defensive techniques used to escape from back control position, where your opponent controls you from behind using hooks (feet inside your thighs), seatbelt grip (one arm over shoulder, one under armpit), and threatens rear naked choke, bow and arrow choke, and armbars while you have extremely limited offensive options.​

Core Back Escape Principles:

• Escape from bottom back control (opponent behind you)
• Hand fighting FIRST (prevent RNC grips)
• Protect neck at all costs (life or death priority)
• Hip escape/scoot escape (move body upward)
• Clear hooks systematically (not randomly)
• Shoulder to mat technique (Bernardo Faria method)
• Turn into opponent (recover guard)
• Never give up back control easily
• Most dangerous position in grappling
• Five-second unconsciousness if choke locked

Evolve MMA on prevention: One of the most effective ways to avoid falling victim to this technique is to learn to detect when an opponent is looking for it so you can escape before it’s secured.​

Understanding back control from the attacking perspective helps you anticipate what they’re trying to accomplish—making your defensive reactions more effective.

Why Back Control Is The Worst Position

Positional Disadvantages

Evolve MMA explains severity: Your offensive tools are very limited when someone takes your back. Sure, you can go for that leg lock that everybody’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach goes for when you break the cardinal rule and cross your legs after taking someone’s back, but that move only works on white belts.​

Why Back Control Is Worst:

• Can’t see opponent behind you
• Extremely limited offensive options
• Multiple submission threats (RNC, bow and arrow, armbars)
• Can be flattened (in MMA, strikes follow)
• Psychological disadvantage (panic)
• Opponent controls your movement
• Five-second submission window
• Most points awarded (IBJJF: 4 points)

Your Limited Options:

• Hand fighting (defensive)
• Hip escapes (defensive)
• Hook removal (defensive)
• Very few offensive attacks
• Mostly survival mode

BJJ Fanatics adds context: Often times, for newer BJJ players, when an opponent takes your back it feels like you are helpless. It is only a matter of time until you get choked out, as the battle becomes mostly about trying to pry your training partner’s arms from around your neck.​

The Five-Second Threat

Evolve MMA warns: It’s a blood choke that cuts the blood supply to the brain off, leading to unconsciousness within as little as five seconds when executed correctly.​

RNC Danger:

• Blood choke (carotid compression)
• Five seconds to unconsciousness
• No tap = you sleep
• Extremely difficult to escape once locked
• Called “mata leão” (lion killer)
• Highest-percentage submission
• Works on everyone

Prevention: Don’t Give Up Your Back

Evolve MMA emphasizes prevention: Being aware of your positioning and not allowing your opponent to take your back is fundamental. Taking someone’s back is one of the most dominant positions you can secure in combat sports or real fights so never give up the position easily.​

Positional Awareness

Prevention Priorities:

• Never voluntarily expose back
• Recognize back-take attempts early
• Fight immediately when they get one hook
• Turn into them (don’t run away)
• Recover guard before both hooks set
• Prevention easier than escape

Common Back Exposure Mistakes:

• Turning away when mounted
• Poor turtle position defense
• Failed guard recovery
• Scrambles without awareness
• Running away instead of facing opponent

Hand Fighting: The First Line of Defense

Evolve MMA teaches hand fighting: Start fighting your opponent’s arms the moment they take your back to prevent them from establishing a deep grip around your neck.​

Two-Hands-On-One Strategy

Evolve MMA describes technique: A popular hand-fighting trick many experienced fighters use is to use both of your hands on one of your opponent’s hands. It’s very difficult to finish a rear naked choke with one hand, even though some high-level grapplers can pull it off, so you’re relatively safe worrying only about one of your opponent’s arms.​

Hand Fighting Fundamentals:

Step 1: Identify Strong Arm

• Opponent has dominant hand
• Usually over-shoulder arm (choking arm)
• Focus defensive efforts here
• Force them to use weak arm

Step 2: Both Hands Control One Arm

• Two hands beat one hand
• Grip their wrist/forearm with both hands
• Pull arm away from neck
• Control prevents choke

Step 3: Keep Choking Arm Away

• Maintain grip throughout escape
• Don’t release to escape hooks
• Neck protection = priority #1
• Live to fight another day

BJJ Fanatics emphasizes: Protect your neck from the arm over your shoulder. You should use both of your hands to secure a grip on the arm.​

Tucking the Chin

Evolve MMA adds detail: Tucking your chin down also makes it harder for opponents to get a good wrap around your neck.​

Chin Defense:

• Tuck chin to chest
• Makes neck access difficult
• Not permanent solution
• Buys time for escape
• Can lead to jaw crank (painful but legal)
• Still better than clean choke

Wikipedia notes defense: Some common defenses include tucking the chin to prevent the choking arm from applying pressure to the neck. However, the person applying the choke can either use their other hand to pull the defender’s head backwards, revealing the neck and lock in the choke, or they can apply the choke directly to the chin, which is considered a crank and is painful.

​

The Shoulder-To-Mat Escape (Bernardo Faria Method)

BJJ Fanatics introduces technique: Today we are going to look at a very simple back escape that anyone can learn and utilize in a live roll or competition, even a complete beginner.​

Step-by-Step Shoulder Escape

Step 1: Protect Neck and Get Head to Mat

BJJ Fanatics teaches setup: Protect your neck from the arm over your shoulder. You should use both of your hands to secure a grip on the arm. From here you want to bring your head to the mat (it will take some fighting to get there). Once your head is on the mat post your feet on the mat as well.​

Head to Mat:

• Both hands control choking arm
• Fight to get head down to mat
• Takes effort (they resist!)
• Post feet on mat
• Foundation established

Step 2: Scoot Body Upward

BJJ Fanatics describes movement: Use your feet to move your body upwards. Now you need to get your shoulder through so you can bring your elbow to the mat.​

Scooting Mechanics:

• Push with feet
• Move body UPWARD (toward opponent’s head)
• Get shoulder through
• Critical: Elbow MUST reach mat
• Without elbow on mat, escape fails

Step 3: Frame and Hip Escape

BJJ Fanatics completes technique: It is very important you get your elbow to the mat otherwise this escape will not work. From here, frame on your training partner’s neck as you perform a hip escape. Once you are out you will need to scramble for either top position or guard.​

Finishing Escape:

• Elbow on mat (critical!)
• Frame on opponent’s neck
• Execute hip escape (shrimp)
• Clears hooks automatically
• Scramble to guard or top

Why This Works: You use hip escape to clear training partner’s hooks. Typically, most back escapes require clearing hooks with hands first, which gives easy RNC opportunity.​

BJJ Fanatics emphasizes advantage: What I like the most about this back escape is that you use the hip escape to clear your training partner’s hooks. With the technique we learned today, you can focus entirely on protecting your neck (the most important part, in my opinion), while you pull off this escape.​

Creating Space From RNC

Evolve MMA teaches emergency escape: Your top priority should be creating space once an opponent has a rear naked choked locked on you.​

Emergency Space Creation

Evolve MMA describes technique: You can create some space by trying to tuck your chin between the choke while pulling down the attacking arm with both of your hands. This isn’t a long-term solution, but it can buy you some extra seconds to work on your escape.​

Emergency Steps:

1. Tuck Chin and Pull

• Chin between choke arm
• Pull down choking arm with both hands
• Buys precious seconds
• Not permanent solution
• Delays unconsciousness

2. Push Away Choking Arm

• Use both arms to push
• Push choking arm away from neck
• Explosive movement
• Secure grip on other arm
• Prevents re-attack

3. Control Non-Choking Arm

• Grip with everything you have
• This arm can’t choke alone
• Prevents another attempt
• Maintains defensive position

Wikipedia emphasizes: As with all choke defenses, the first step is to always fight the choking arm, which will maximize the defender’s chance of escaping.

​

Turning to the Side Escape

Evolve MMA introduces variation: Another method to escape the choke can be gleaned from the above demonstration by Henry Atkins. If you ever find yourself locked in and in the late stages of the game, attempt to escape by turning to your side.​

Leveraging Your Legs

Evolve MMA explains advantage: Given that the choke is from the back, leverage the availability of your legs to your advantage. Turn your body to create sufficient space.​

Turning Technique:

• Turn body to side
• Use legs for leverage
• Create space by rotation
• Opponent loses tight control
• Opens escape opportunities
• Last-ditch option

Advanced Escapes

Head Grab to Darce Counter

Evolve MMA teaches counter: This escape involves using both hands to first pull the arm your opponent has behind your head, and then pulling down their choking arm.​

Darce Counter Steps:

1. Pull Control Arm Down

• Grab arm behind your head
• Pull down forcefully
• Then grab choking arm
• Pull that down too

2. Position Head Outside

• Hold choking arm
• Move head to outside
• Critical positioning

3. Lock Hands Around Head

• Grab opponent’s head with both arms
• Lock hands together
• Pull head down
• Turn into them

4. Finish Darce Choke

• Perfect darce choke position
• Turn defense into offense
• High-level technique
• Advanced practitioners only

Forward Pull (Standing)

Evolve MMA explains standing escape: In some situations particularly when standing, pulling your opponent forward can help escape a rear naked choke.​

Standing RNC Escape:

• If opponent too high on standing RNC
• Pull their head forward
• They fall off in front of you
• Disrupts balance and grip
• Allows slipping out
• Position-specific

Common Back Escape Mistakes

Mistake #1: Ignoring Hand Fighting

Problem:

• Trying to escape hooks first
• Allows RNC grips to establish
• Neck left vulnerable
• Choke locked before escape complete

Fix:

• Hand fight FIRST, always
• Protect neck above all else
• Control choking arm throughout
• Hooks secondary concern

BJJ Fanatics emphasizes: You can focus entirely on protecting your neck (the most important part, in my opinion), while you pull off this escape.​

Mistake #2: Panicking and Spazzing

Problem:

• Can’t see opponent (panic sets in)
• Wild explosive movements
• Wastes energy rapidly
• Creates submission opportunities
• Ineffective escape attempts

Fix:

• Accept position calmly
• Systematic defensive priorities
• Hand fight, then escape
• Composure wins
• You have time if neck protected

BJJ Fanatics encourages patience: Remember, it is going to be a struggle to get your head and body into the correct position to perform this escape. But the good news is as long as your neck is safe from being choked you can take your time and wear down your opponent.​

Mistake #3: Not Getting Elbow to Mat

Problem:

• Scooting without elbow placement
• Hip escape fails
• Hooks remain
• Escape doesn’t work

Fix:

• Fight to get elbow to mat
• Critical detail
• Without it, escape impossible
• Bernardo Faria emphasis

Mistake #4: Giving Up Too Early

Problem:

• Feeling helpless
• Accepting defeat mentally
• Stop trying to escape
• Tap prematurely

Fix:

• Never give up
• Systematic defense works
• Protect neck = you’re alive
• Keep working escape
• Many have survived worse

Training Back Escapes

Drilling Progression

Progressive Training:

Week 1-2: Hand Fighting Only

• Partner has back control
• Practice two-hands-on-one
• Control choking arm
• No escape attempts yet
• Build hand fighting muscle memory

Week 3-4: Head to Mat Drill

• Add getting head to mat
• Post feet
• Maintain neck protection
• Slow repetitions
• Build confidence

Week 5-6: Complete Shoulder Escape

• Full technique with resistance
• Scoot, elbow, frame, escape
• Partner gives 50% resistance
• Multiple repetitions
• Build timing

Week 7+: Positional Sparring

• Start with back control established
• Escape only (defensive focus)
• 3-5 minute rounds
• Against different body types
• Build realistic experience

Staying Calm Under Pressure

BJJ Fanatics encourages composure: So remember this one the next time you are stuck in an opponent’s back control and do not get frustrated! It does not take much to escape.​

Mental Training:

• Accept the position
• Breathing control
• Systematic priorities
• Neck first, escape second
• You have time

The Back Escape Legacy

From Bernardo Faria’s simple shoulder escape to John Danaher’s systematic hand fighting and Rickson Gracie’s composure under pressure, back escapes represent Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s highest-stakes defensive skill. What makes mastering these escapes more critical than mount or side control escapes is lethality—the rear naked choke (“mata leão” – lion killer) ends matches in five seconds, making back escape the survival skill that separates those who survive from those who sleep.

Evolve MMA concludes: Escaping a rear naked choke can be challenging, but with the right techniques and training, it is possible. Early prevention, understanding how to create space, and using the correct escape methods are key.​

The back escape proves a fundamental grappling truth: protect your neck above all else. While beginners panic and fight hooks, experienced grapplers focus hand fighting first—controlling the choking arm, maintaining composure, then executing systematic escapes when the neck is safe.

Whether you’re surviving your first white belt back control or refining purple belt escape timing, mastering back escapes gives you the defensive foundation that prevents the “lion killer” from ending your matches—because in BJJ, the ability to escape back control determines whether you survive or sleep.

How We Reviewed This Article

Editorial Standards: Technical information verified through Bernardo Faria escape systems, John Danaher back control principles, fundamental BJJ defensive priorities, and contemporary back escape instruction. Escape mechanics reviewed by competitive black belts emphasizing hand fighting primacy and neck protection. Training protocols based on proven defensive drilling used in successful BJJ academies. RNC lethality information verified through martial arts medical literature.

Sources Referenced:

• Evolve MMA (RNC escape and prevention)
• BJJ Fanatics (Bernardo Faria shoulder escape)
• John Danaher (back control principles)
• Wikipedia (RNC mechanics and defense)
• Henry Atkins (turning escape variation)

Last Updated: January 13, 2026