How To Hit Like A Truck
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Standard Truck·HYDRAKRAVIST·Added by Admin
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Standard Truck
Genusトラック(Torakku)
TransliterationTranslation: truck
Overview
The truck is a back-control position developed by Eddie Bravo in the early 2000s as part of his 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu system, where the attacker uses a figure-four leg configuration to pin one of the opponent's legs while lying on their back atop the opponent. [1] Bravo adapted the wrestling leg ride — a technique used to break an opponent's defense and expose the back — into a submission-focused position for no-gi BJJ. From the truck, the attacker can execute the twister (spinal lock), calf slicer, banana split, or transition to back control. [2] The position has been further developed by berimbolo and crab ride practitioners including Rafael Mendes, the Miyao brothers, and Mikey Musumeci.
TruckTruck Position10th Planet TruckWrestling Leg Ride (BJJ adaptation)
History & Origin
The truck was developed by Eddie Bravo in the early 2000s as part of his 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu system. Bravo adapted the wrestling leg ride into a submission-focused position for no-gi BJJ. [1] His book 'Mastering the Twister' (2007) is the primary published reference. The position was further developed by berimbolo practitioners including Leonardo Vieira, Ryan Hall, Andre Galvao, Rafael Mendes, and the Miyao brothers, who incorporated truck entries through crab ride techniques. [2]
Effectiveness
The truck is a highly effective attacking position in no-gi grappling, providing access to the twister (spinal lock), calf slicer, banana split, and back takes. In competitions that allow spinal locks (ADCC, EBI), it is one of the most dangerous positions to be caught in. Geo Martinez (10th Planet) has demonstrated its effectiveness repeatedly in EBI competition. [1]
Lineage
Adapted by Eddie Bravo from wrestling leg ride to BJJ-focused position (early 2000s). Further developed by 10th Planet practitioners (Geo Martinez) and berimbolo competitors (Rafael Mendes, Miyao brothers, Mikey Musumeci) who added crab ride entries.
Competition Record
Geo Martinez: multiple EBI titles using truck and twister attacks. Rafael Mendes: 2x IBJJF World Champion, used truck entries via berimbolo. The Miyao brothers: multiple IBJJF medals with crab ride to truck sequences. Chan Sung Jung ('Korean Zombie'): first twister finish in UFC history (vs Leonard Garcia, 2011).
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Figure-four leg configuration pins one of the opponent's legs, creating total hip control; the attacker lies with their back on top of the opponent
Control Points — The figure-four creates a 'dead zone' where the opponent's movement is severely restricted through control of one hip
Force Vector — Control comes from either leg locks on both hips (for leg attacks) or cross-body control — one hip plus one shoulder (for spinal attacks like the twister)
Positional Function — Transitional checkpoint between back control and mount, providing access to both submission categories
Position & Entry
From turtle — Opponent is turtled; attacker threads hook inside from the back and establishes figure-four leg ride
From crab ride — Berimbolo-style competitors enter through crab ride position by hooking the near leg
From back control — When opponent defends traditional back hooks, transition to truck by establishing the figure-four
From twister side control — Enter from top position by threading the leg ride from side control
Variants
Standard truck — classical Eddie Bravo configuration from turtle or back exposure
Reverse truck — entered from different angles, often from top side control
Crab ride to truck — used by berimbolo-style competitors (Mendes brothers, Miyao brothers) who enter through crab ride
Twister side control — related control position that feeds into truck entries
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
8
Very High8/10
High danger — the twister (primary attack) creates extreme rotational force on the cervical and thoracic spine; the calf slicer can cause ligament damage; the banana split can tear groin muscles and ligaments
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
— IBJJF — Legal, back control with hooks or body triangle s...
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— IJF — Legal — back control leads to pin or submission opp...
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF— 4 from sweep
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— Unified MMA — Legal — dominant position for ground-and-po...
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— UWW — Legal — back exposure is the primary scoring mechan...
UWW International Wrestling Rules, January 2026PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓The truck was developed by Eddie Bravo as part of his 10th Planet system. His book 'Mastering the Twister: Jiu Jitsu for Mixed Martial Arts Competition' (2007, Victory Belt Publishing, foreword by Joe Rogan) is the primary reference, using over 1,200 color photos to reveal the truck position and all attacks from it. Bravo adapted the wrestling leg ride from his high school wrestling background into a submission-focused BJJ position. The twister — the truck's signature attack — is a devastating spinal lock where the attacker controls the opposite-side arm, achieves the 'baseball bat position' (elbow deep in armpit), threads the head through, then pulls the opponent's forehead backward to create corkscrew torque on the spine. The calf slicer from the truck requires hooking the opponent's foot and placing the shin behind their knee. The banana split extends the hips while pulling the free leg, creating a groin stretch. While the IBJJF bans the twister (spinal lock) at all levels and restricts calf slicers to brown/black belt, the position thrives in no-gi competition (ADCC, EBI) and MMA. In the gi, competitors like Rafael Mendes, the Miyao brothers, and Mikey Musumeci enter the truck through berimbolo and crab ride sequences.
Common Mistakes
!Not fully establishing the figure-four — gaps in the leg ride allow the opponent to extract their leg
!Attempting submissions before position is secure — the figure-four must be locked before attacking
!Not controlling the opponent's upper body — for twister attacks, both the arm and head must be controlled
!Allowing the opponent to flatten their hips — the truck requires the opponent to remain on their side
!Not managing the free leg — the opponent's uncommitted leg can be used to create space and escape
Related Techniques
Twister — devastating spinal lock, the truck's signature submissionCalf Slicer — compression lock on the calf from the truckBanana Split — groin stretch/submission from the truckBack Control — the truck transitions directly to and from back controlBerimbolo — common entry path to the truck through inversionsCrab Ride — entry position used by modern competitors to access the truck
Counter Techniques
Straighten the Trapped Leg Immediately — prevents the deep knee bend required for calf slicerMaintain Upward Flexed Foot — makes it difficult for attacker to fold the leg and secure gripsHand-Fight Actively — pry at attacker's grips and leg entanglementsHip Extension — forcefully extending hips breaks the wedge and relieves pressureBelly-Down Escape — elevate hips higher than attacker and roll belly-downPrevent the Initial Hook — most effective defense is preventing the figure-four from being established
Setup Chain
1Access the Back or Turtle — opponent must be turtled or exposing their back
2Thread the Hook Inside — insert the near-side hook inside the opponent's leg
3Establish Figure-Four — lock the figure-four leg configuration by crossing the opposite leg
4Secure Hip Control — the figure-four creates total control of one hip
5Choose Attack Path — select twister (control arm + head), calf slicer (hook foot), or banana split (split legs)
Sources & References
Primary Source
Mastering the Twister (Bravo, 2007) — The Truck position and all attacks
1BookMastering the Twister (Bravo, 2007, Victory Belt Publishing)
Primary source — [1] Mastering the Twister: Jiu Jitsu for Mixed Martial Arts Competition (Bravo, 2007, Victory Belt Publishing, ISBN 9780977731558) — 1,200+ color photos, foreword by Joe Rogan
2BookMastering the Rubber Guard (Bravo, 2006, Victory Belt Publishing)
[2] Mastering the Rubber Guard (Bravo, 2006) — broader 10th Planet system including truck transitions
3OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
4CitationMastering the Twister (Bravo, 2007, Victory Belt Publishing)
Primary source — [1] Mastering the Twister: Jiu Jitsu for Mixed Martial Arts Competition (Bravo, 2007, Victory Belt Publishing, ISBN 9780977731558) — 1,200+ color photos, foreword by Joe Rogan
5CitationMastering the Rubber Guard (Bravo, 2006, Victory Belt Publishing)
[2] Mastering the Rubber Guard (Bravo, 2006) — broader 10th Planet system including truck transitions
Community
Athletics
Requires
hip flexibility for figure-four configuration, understanding of wrestling leg ride concepts
Favours
flexible hips and strong legs
Key muscles
hip adductors, hamstrings, core stabilizers, grip strength
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Standard Truck work?
The truck is a back-control position developed by Eddie Bravo in the early 2000s as part of his 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu system, where the attacker uses a figure-four leg configuration to pin one of the opponent's legs while lying on their back atop the opponent. Bravo adapted the wrestling leg ride — a technique used to break an opponent's defense and expose the back — into a submission-focused position for no-gi BJJ.
Where does the Standard Truck come from?
The truck was developed by Eddie Bravo in the early 2000s as part of his 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu system. Bravo adapted the wrestling leg ride into a submission-focused position for no-gi BJJ.
Is the Standard Truck legal in competition?
IBJJF: legal — Legal, back control with hooks or body triangle scores 4 points; IJF: legal — Legal — back control leads to pin or submission opportunities; ADCC: legal — Legal, back mount scores 3 points (4 from sweep); Unified MMA: legal — Legal — dominant position for ground-and-pound and rear naked choke; UWW: legal — Legal — back exposure is the primary scoring mechanism in wrestling; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Standard Truck?
Danger rating 8/10. High danger — the twister (primary attack) creates extreme rotational force on the cervical and thoracic spine; the calf slicer can cause ligament damage; the banana split can tear groin muscles and ligaments
How do I set up the Standard Truck?
The standard setup chain: Access the Back or Turtle → Thread the Hook Inside → Establish Figure-Four → Secure Hip Control → Choose Attack Path.
How do I defend against the Standard Truck?
Standard counters include: Straighten the Trapped Leg Immediately — prevents the deep knee bend required for calf slicer / Maintain Upward Flexed Foot — makes it difficult for attacker to fold the leg and secure grips / Hand-Fight Actively — pry at attacker's grips and leg entanglements / Hip Extension — forcefully extending hips breaks the wedge and relieves pressure.
What are the variants of the Standard Truck?
Common variants: Standard truck (classical Eddie Bravo configuration from turtle or back e…); Reverse truck (entered from different angles, often from top side control); Crab ride to truck (used by berimbolo-style competitors (Mendes brothers, Miy…); Twister side control (related control position that feeds into truck entries).
How effective is the Standard Truck in competition?
Geo Martinez: multiple EBI titles using truck and twister attacks. Rafael Mendes: 2x IBJJF World Champion, used truck entries via berimbolo.
What are common mistakes when doing the Standard Truck?
Top errors to watch for: Not fully establishing the figure-four — gaps in the leg ride allow the opponent to extract their leg / Attempting submissions before position is secure — the figure-four must be locked before attacking / Not controlling the opponent's upper body — for twister attacks, both the arm and head must be controlled / Allowing the opponent to flatten their hips — the truck requires the opponent to remain on their side.
What are other names for the Standard Truck?
The Standard Truck is also known as Torakku, Truck, Truck Position, 10th Planet Truck, Wrestling Leg Ride (BJJ adaptation).