Crab Ride Back Take: CRAIG JONES BJJ Techniques
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Standard Crab Ride·BJJ Fanatics·Added by Admin
CRAB RIDE BACK TAKE BY CRAIG JONES // In this BJJ Techniques video, Craig Jones demonstrates Crab Ride Back Take. Crai…
Standard Crab Ride
Genusクラブライド(Kurabu Raido)
TransliterationTranslation: crab ride
Overview
The crab ride is a transitional control position where the attacker is face-up behind the opponent, hooking insteps behind the opponent's knees, used to expose the back or achieve top position. [1] First demonstrated at the highest level by Rafael Mendes at the 2012 IBJJF World Championships. Further developed by the Miyao Brothers, Gianni Grippo, and Mikey Musumeci as a key entry into berimbolo, truck, and back take sequences. [2]
Crab RideCrab Ride PositionBaby Bolo EntryBoxing
History & Origin
Effectiveness
Key transitional position in the berimbolo system. Used by multiple IBJJF World Champions for back takes and guard passes. [1]
Lineage
Rafael Mendes (2012 IBJJF Worlds). Miyao Brothers, Gianni Grippo, Mikey Musumeci.
Competition Record
Rafael Mendes: multiple IBJJF World Champion. Miyao Brothers: multiple IBJJF medals. Mikey Musumeci: multiple IBJJF World Champion. All use crab ride as core transitional position.
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Attacker positions face-up behind opponent, hooking insteps behind both knees
Control — The hooks behind the knees prevent the opponent from standing, moving forward, or turning
Transitions — Roll the opponent to come up on top (crab ride pass) or spin underneath for back take (berimbolo)
Position & Entry
From De La Riva guard — Invert and establish hooks behind opponent's knees
From berimbolo attempt — Enter crab ride as intermediate position during the berimbolo sequence
From turtle attack — Transition to crab ride by hooking behind knees from behind
Variants
Crab ride to back take — spin underneath for back control
Crab ride pass — roll opponent to come up on top
Crab ride to truck — transition to truck position for twister or calf slicer
Crab ride to berimbolo — continue the inversion sequence
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
2
Low2/10
Positional control with no direct submission threat
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Advanced
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Restricted
— IJF — Guard pulling penalized as non-combativity — ground...
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDFLegal
— IBJJF — Legal — guard is fundamental to BJJ, sweeps from ...
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— ADCC — Legal, guard pull penalized -1 point in points por...
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— Unified MMA — Legal — no penalty for playing guard
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓First demonstrated at the elite level by Rafael Mendes at the 2012 IBJJF Worlds. The Miyao Brothers (Paulo and Joao), Gianni Grippo, and Mikey Musumeci further developed the position. The crab ride is a key piece of the berimbolo system — it provides a stable control point from which the attacker can choose between back take, pass, or truck entry. The instep hooks behind both knees are critical — without them, the opponent can simply stand up and walk away.
Common Mistakes
!Not hooking behind both knees — opponent can stand and escape
!Staying too long without transitioning — must advance to back take, pass, or truck
!Not maintaining the face-up position — rolling to the side loses the hooks
!Attempting against a standing opponent — crab ride works best when opponent is on their knees
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Establish De La Riva or berimbolo entry → Invert underneath opponent → Hook insteps behind both knees → Establish crab ride control → Choose: back take, pass, or truck transition
Sources & References
Primary Source
Rafael Mendes — Art of Jiu-Jitsu berimbolo system
1BookBJJ Heroes — Rafael Mendes competition footage and technique analysis
[1] Rafael Mendes — 2012 IBJJF Worlds demonstration
2BookArt of Jiu-Jitsu — Mendes brothers berimbolo system
[2] Miyao Brothers and Musumeci — further development
3BookMusumeci — Crab Ride and Berimbolo instructionals
4OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
5CitationBJJ Heroes — Rafael Mendes competition footage and technique analysis
[1] Rafael Mendes — 2012 IBJJF Worlds demonstration
6CitationArt of Jiu-Jitsu — Mendes brothers berimbolo system
[2] Miyao Brothers and Musumeci — further development
7CitationMusumeci — Crab Ride and Berimbolo instructionals
Community
Athletics
Requires
comfort with inversions, hip flexibility, precise hooking
Key muscles
hip flexors, core, hamstrings
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I transition from the crab ride into a back take?
Craig Jones emphasizes pulling your opponent's hips back to the floor, then converting your top foot into a shallow hook. Reach deep with your far-side hand to get a scoop grip on their legs, then use your secondary foot to help sit them up as you roll through to take the back.
What's the key difference between steering and stacking in the crab ride?
Instead of keeping your opponent stacked and dropping your hips to the far side, you steer and pull their hips back to the floor, which makes it easier to convert your foot into a crab rack hook and complete the back take.
Why is the secondary foot important in the crab ride back take?
Craig Jones notes that your left foot (secondary foot) is a key detail to help sit your opponent up once you have the hook and have reached deep, enabling you to successfully roll through and take the back.
How does the Standard Crab Ride work?
The crab ride is a transitional control position where the attacker is face-up behind the opponent, hooking insteps behind the opponent's knees, used to expose the back or achieve top position. First demonstrated at the highest level by Rafael Mendes at the 2012 IBJJF World Championships.
Where does the Standard Crab Ride come from?
First demonstrated at elite level by Rafael Mendes at the 2012 IBJJF World Championships. Further developed by Miyao Brothers, Gianni Grippo, and Mikey Musumeci.
Is the Standard Crab Ride legal in competition?
IBJJF: legal — Legal — guard is fundamental to BJJ, sweeps from guard score 2 points; IJF: restricted — Guard pulling penalized as non-combativity — groundwork from guard permitted …; ADCC: legal — Legal, guard pull penalized -1 point in points portion; Unified MMA: legal — Legal — no penalty for playing guard; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Standard Crab Ride?
Danger rating 2/10. Low — positional control with no direct submission threat
How do I set up the Standard Crab Ride?
The standard setup chain: Establish De La Riva or berimbolo entry → Invert underneath opponent → Hook insteps behind both knees → Establish crab ride control → Choose: back take, pass, or truck transition.
How do I defend against the Standard Crab Ride?
Standard counters include: Stand up before hooks are established / Sit back on the attacker to crush them / Grab ankles to prevent the hooks / Sprawl forward to deny the position.
What are the variants of the Standard Crab Ride?
Common variants: Crab ride to back take (spin underneath for back control); Crab ride pass (roll opponent to come up on top); Crab ride to truck (transition to truck position for twister or calf slicer); Crab ride to berimbolo (continue the inversion sequence).
How effective is the Standard Crab Ride in competition?
Rafael Mendes: multiple IBJJF World Champion. Miyao Brothers: multiple IBJJF medals.
What are common mistakes when doing the Standard Crab Ride?
Top errors to watch for: Not hooking behind both knees — opponent can stand and escape / Staying too long without transitioning — must advance to back take, pass, or truck / Not maintaining the face-up position — rolling to the side loses the hooks / Attempting against a standing opponent — crab ride works best when opponent is on their knees.
What are other names for the Standard Crab Ride?
The Standard Crab Ride is also known as Kurabu Raido, Crab Ride, Crab Ride Position, Baby Bolo Entry.