Introduction to Back Step Defense

This lesson presents an alternative back step defense that differs from the previously covered underhook variant. Rather than focusing on knee switching with an underhook, this technique emphasizes maintaining the opponent's leg as an extended lever while using an ankle hook for the lift.

Core Principle: The Extended Leg Lever

The fundamental solution to defending against back steps is maintaining the opponent's leg as a long lever between the defender's legs. The practitioner must establish a lifting hook with the ankle while performing a non-traditional shrimp that uses the bottom foot—rather than the top foot—to create space and move the hips.

Common Mistake: Ankle Dip During Hip Movement

The most frequent error practitioners make is allowing the ankle to dip while shrimping the hips. The lifting pressure must be maintained continuously throughout the hip escape movement. This contradicts typical shrimping mechanics and requires significant repetition to master.

Grip Control: Four-Finger Collar Control

Once the opponent initiates the back step from half guard, the defender immediately secures four fingers inside the collar. This grip control disrupts the opponent's posture and creates critical space for the defending arm to position underneath their trapped arm, especially when they are compressed tightly.

Leg Switch and Underhook Mechanics

After establishing collar control, the defender rotates slightly and switches the legs, bringing the inside leg over to establish an underhook on the opponent's leg. This underhook position generates the lifting capability needed to control the extended leg throughout the escape.

Maintaining Upward Pressure During Hip Escape

The defender must maintain continuous upward pressure with the underhook while simultaneously moving the hips out using the bottom foot. The goal is not to overturn the opponent, but to maintain sufficient lift that prevents the opponent from withdrawing their knee. This simultaneous upward and lateral movement is mechanically demanding.

Threading the Hand Through the Legs

As the defender's hips clear space, the hand controlling the knee threads through to the inside of the opponent's thigh, ideally reaching the far thigh. This threading motion should angle the opponent's knees away from the defender to prevent the opponent from shrimping back into guard.

Proper Threading Angle and Hand Position

Threading the needle requires the defender's hand bicep to be on the outside of the opponent's leg with a slight pelvic tilt away from the opponent. This positioning ensures the opponent's knees turn away rather than toward the defender. While the movement may not look dramatic, proper hand positioning on the outside is critical for success.

The Four-Finger Collar as Insurance

The four-finger collar grip serves as a critical insurance mechanism throughout the escape. If the leg control fails, the backward pull on the collar angles the opponent's back toward the floor and may allow the defender to achieve side control. This grip should never be underestimated or downplayed as a secondary benefit.

Troubleshooting and Key Failure Points

The most common reason practitioners fail is losing lifting pressure with the ankle hook while moving the hips out. Success requires maintaining constant upward pressure on the extended leg simultaneously with hip movement. Significant repetition is necessary to develop the coordination and timing needed to execute this unconventional escape effectively.

Back Step Defense Leg Lift

Great Grappling

Standard Rear Lift

3 min read·10 key moments·PT5M3S video

Key Takeaways

•Introduction to Back Step Defense
•Core Principle: The Extended Leg Lever
•Common Mistake: Ankle Dip During Hip Movement
•Grip Control: Four-Finger Collar Control

Another great option for defending the Back Step. It's important that we make a distinction between the Back Step and the Reverse Sit. To people that have not been training long these positions may look similar but they way you defend is totally different. The hand and head positioning is very important in this move. Make sure that the initial hand grips include the four fingers in the back of the collar. A lot of people underplay the importance of this hand but having the ability to pull your opponent backwards and challenge their base is important. Once you've got that grip it's time to fish the hand under their arm. The space there might be crowded so it's important that you pull backwards with your hand in the collar to open that space. Once you've cleared your other hand under their arm it's time to grab the pants or knee (keep your elbow tight to your body) and switch your legs. Switching your legs is a place where your opponent may try to get his/her leg free. Your grip on the pants, or turning your knees out like the last escape, can buy you the time to switch you feet. Once you've underhooked that leg with your foot it's time to immediately lift. Lifting will off balance your opponent and open space for you to move. Resist the urge to just throw them back and come up. You'll find that you feel like you can do this but right at the end of the move, where it matters the most, you're going to run out of leverage. Instead keep that foot lifting and use your other foot to move your hips. This is a unique hip movement that we do not do often in BJJ so it's important to put your reps in for this move to work. You want to keep a strong lifting motion with that leg while simultaneously moving your hips out. Moving your hips is all about clearing space for your head. You want to get the inside track with the head, meaning you want your head to go to the inside of the armpit. Once you get your head to this position it's going to be very difficult for your opponent to resist you coming up. Threading the needle (the hands between the legs) is what keeps that position once we've earned it with inside head position. If you can go under the near leg and place your hand on the top of the thigh of the far leg you will be in great shape! Make sure to rep this out as the movements are different than what we traditionally do.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this video teach about standard rear lift?

This video covers introduction to back step defense, core principle: the extended leg lever, common mistake: ankle dip during hip movement. It provides detailed instruction from Great Grappling.

How long does it take to learn standard rear lift?

The basic mechanics can be understood in a single session, but developing reliable execution requires consistent drilling over weeks of practice. This 10-part breakdown helps structure your training by isolating each phase of the technique.