Curriculum

Developing — Back Attack System

The back attack system — the RNC plus bow-and-arrow, arm triangle from the back, rear naked variants, and the dilemma that makes the back such a dangerous position.

At foundations, the student learned the back position and the rear naked choke. At developing level, the back position becomes a system — multiple submissions, multiple control configurations, and a dilemma that forces the defender into any choice being a losing one. This page covers the back attack system at developing level.

Promotion from the RNC

The foundations stage 5 introduction covered the RNC as the only back-position submission. That was deliberate — one submission, drilled to competence, is the right scope for foundations. At developing level, the RNC stays central but is now one of several attacks that chain from the same control configuration.

The RNC/back attack system concept page provides the system overview. This page covers the curriculum sequencing.

The submission set

At developing level, the back attack set expands to:

  1. Rear naked choke. The foundation. Still the primary attack; the system is built around threatening and setting it up.
  2. Bow-and-arrow choke. Collar-style choke repurposed for no-gi — from seatbelt, cross-arm grip on the defender’s opposite lapel (no-gi version uses the shoulder line). Finishes when the RNC is defended chin-down.
  3. Arm triangle from the back. When the defender successfully defends the RNC by turning into the seatbelt, the arm triangle becomes available.
  4. Rear body triangle attacks. When the defender has defended the seatbelt and the body triangle is engaged — opens the rear bow-and-arrow and rear mounted triangle variants.

Control configurations

Three primary control configurations at developing level:

  • Seatbelt and hooks. Foundations baseline. Most mobile.
  • Seatbelt and body triangle. Control upgrade when defender threatens to clear hooks. Less mobile; harder to escape.
  • Harness (double over/under). A grip configuration developed in competitive no-gi — both arms over the defender’s shoulders, grip in the middle. Allows for different finishing options.

The back attack dilemma

The back position is a dilemma position. See back position RNC vs arm triangle dilemma. The core dilemma:

  • Defender tucks chin and frames — RNC is denied, but the frame opens the arm triangle.
  • Defender turns into the attacker to clear the seatbelt — exposes the far arm for bow-and-arrow or mounted triangle.
  • Defender stays flat and protective — attacker has time to hunt grip upgrades.

Every defensive response opens a different attack. A developing-level back attacker has practised all three alternatives, not just the RNC.

Invariables that load here

  • INV-01 (connection) — the seatbelt or body triangle is connection.
  • INV-10 (two contact points) — chest-to-back plus hooks/triangle is the two-contact-point control.
  • INV-08 (position → control → submission chain) — the back position expresses this invariable with unusual clarity.

Entries to the back

Developing-level back attacks also requires developing-level entries. Key entries:

  • Arm drag to back. See the arm drag to back concept page. Primary back-take from seated guard.
  • Leg-drag to back. From passing, when the leg drag opens the opponent’s back. See leg-drag back-take dilemma.
  • Half-guard to back. Bottom player takes the back from half guard when the top player over-commits forward.
  • Mount to back. Defender bridges and turns to escape mount — back is given up.
  • Scramble back-takes. See back take scrambles for scramble-phase entries.

Common errors

  • Losing position to chase RNC. Hunting the RNC to the point the seatbelt is broken. Control first, submission second.
  • Starting with body triangle. Still the same error as at foundations. Seatbelt first, triangle as upgrade.
  • Single-attack hunting. Only chasing the RNC and failing to use the alternatives. Defender who knows the attacker only has one attack will defend it indefinitely.
  • Flat back. Letting the defender roll onto their back and pin you. The attacker must stay off their back, on their side.

Drilling progression

  1. Cooperative. Back attacks drilled in chain — RNC threatened, defender tucks, attacker transitions to arm triangle. Repeat each chain 15 reps.
  2. Specific resistance. Back control start with seatbelt; defender defends RNC only. Attacker reads defence and transitions to the appropriate alternative.
  3. Live. Positional sparring from back with hooks. Reset on escape or submission. Focus on the dilemma chain, not single-attack hunting.

Completion criteria

  • Finish the RNC against a skilled defender who uses chin-down defence, at least occasionally.
  • Finish the arm triangle from the back when the RNC is defended.
  • Transition to bow-and-arrow when the defender turns into the seatbelt.
  • Maintain back control for 90 seconds against a resistant defender without losing the seatbelt.
  • Execute at least two of the entries (arm drag, leg drag, half-guard-to-back, mount-to-back, scramble) in live training.