Best Back Take Instructional: Top BJJFanatics Picks (2026)

The most comprehensive back retention system available. Gordon Ryan builds on Danaher’s Straight Jacket framework and adds layers of riding mechanics, handfighting detail, and narrated live rolling that no other back attack instructional matches.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ 8h 16m across 8 volumes
• 📅 Released: 2021
• 🥋 No-Gi
• 🎯 All levels (intermediate+ get the most)
• 🕸 Back Control, Retention & Finishing

What It Covers

Ryan organizes back control around body asymmetry: overhook side vs underhook side attacks. Parts 1-3 cover the diagonal control concept (linking one hip to the opposite shoulder) and high ball ride for retaining the back against every escape attempt. Part 4 introduces the cross body ride with wrestling-based controls, guillotine entries, and transitions to Ashi Garami. Parts 5-6 cover systematic grip fighting, the Straight Jacket 2.0, mandible strangles, and the garrote choke. Parts 7-8 feature 10 narrated rolling sessions showing techniques against resisting partners.

What Makes It Stand Out

• Diagonal control concept is a genuine innovation for back retention
• High ball ride technique keeps you attached when hooks get cleared
• Straight Jacket 2.0 evolves Danaher’s original finishing system
• Cross body ride integrates wrestling concepts into BJJ back control
• 10 narrated live rolling sessions show real application

What the Community Says

Expect a lot of back retention details that even Danaher skipped over in his instructional.

BJJ World (colleric)

Nobody is going to be able to get you off their back, and that’s where the focus lies.

BJJ World (colleric)

The instructional transformed his perception of the back position.

Anthony Norman Chandler (WordPress blog reviewer)

Weakness

At $349, it costs 4x what budget options like Jimenez ($79) or Arges ($79) charge. The 8+ hours require serious time investment, and there is substantial overlap with Danaher’s Enter the System, which some prefer to learn from the source at $197.

My Recommendation

Best for: Competitors and serious hobbyists who want the deepest back retention system available in no-gi.

Avoid if: You train primarily in the gi, want a budget option, or prefer shorter/more concise instructionals.

Pairs with: Systematically Attacking the Turtle Position (Gordon Ryan) for a complete turtle-to-back-to-finish pipeline.

Cheaper alternative: Back Attacks: Enter The System ($197) covers the same Straight Jacket framework from the source.

The instructional that fundamentally changed how the BJJ world approaches back attacks. The Straight Jacket system Danaher introduced here became the standard framework that Gordon Ryan, Nicky Ryan, and the entire Danaher Death Squad built their back games around.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ 9h 6m across 6 volumes
• 📅 Released: 2018
• 🥋 No-Gi
• 🎯 All levels
• 🕸 Back Attacks & Control (Conceptual)

What It Covers

Volume 1-2 establish the philosophical framework: the Neutrality Principle, Primacy Principle (RNC as the primary weapon), Hidden Hand Principle, and 7 other named principles. Volumes 3-4 cover underarm and overarm side techniques, one-handed strangles, and mandible strangles. Volume 5 introduces auxiliary systems: Ushiro Sankaku (rear triangle), reverse top lock, and cross body ride. Volume 6 covers leg attacks from back, arm attacks, the twister, and back crucifix.

What Makes It Stand Out

• The Straight Jacket system revolutionized back finishing across all of BJJ
• 10 named principles give a transferable framework, not just techniques
• Auxiliary systems (rear triangle, crucifix, top lock) cover every defensive response
• $197 is cheaper than Ryan’s $349 version of the same core system
• Historical significance: this is where modern back attack methodology started

What the Community Says

100% the biggest game changer I’ve ever purchased. It immediately changed the way I view attacking from the back.

hive.consultant (BJJFanatics.com Fans community admin)

Within the first 30 minutes I had my first revelation. Got 4 submissions from back position during my first live roll after watching.

Anthony Norman Chandler (WordPress blog reviewer)

Danaher fixes most back attacking conundrums grapplers usually face.

BJJ World (colleric)

Weakness

Danaher’s verbose, lecture-heavy teaching style is polarizing. Gordon Ryan covers the same material more concisely. Production quality is dated compared to newer BJJ Fanatics releases. At 9+ hours, a significant chunk is philosophical discussion rather than technique demos. Mikey Musumeci covers guard-retention-to-back in 2h 40m.

My Recommendation

Best for: Students who want to understand the WHY behind back attacks, not just the HOW. People who learn best from principle-based teaching.

Avoid if: You prefer concise, technique-first instruction or need back TAKE entries (this focuses on control and finishing FROM the back).

Pairs with: Gordon Ryan’s Systematically Attacking the Turtle for back entry pathways this set doesn’t cover.

Marcelo Garcia is statistically the greatest back attacker in BJJ history: 65% submission rate and 17 RNC wins in competition. This gi-specific instructional finally documents the full system he used to dominate at the highest level, including his signature short choke.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ 2h 35m across 4 parts
• 📅 Released: 2022
• 🥋 Gi
• 🎯 All levels
• 🕸 Back Attacks, Control & Submissions (Gi)

What It Covers

Part 1 covers standing back takes, mat returns, rear body lock entries, and “giant killer” techniques for smaller grapplers. Part 2 covers near-side and far-side back takes, re-back takes (recovering control after losing it), and crucifix entries. Part 3 is the submission gauntlet: RNC variations, the short choke Marcelo popularized, arm traps, the “Pez setup,” and Gable grip finishes. Part 4 covers Bow and Arrow choke variations, standing Bow and Arrow, seatbelt grip troubleshooting, and back retention against barrel rolls, cartwheels, and bridge escapes.

What Makes It Stand Out

• Short choke taught by the man who popularized it
• Standing and turtle entries are the most practically useful for most grapplers
• “Giant killer” techniques for taking the back on larger opponents
• Bow and Arrow choke variations exclusive to gi (not found in Ryan/Danaher)
• Sequence-based teaching with clear start, middle, and end per chapter
• 9/10 rating from BJJ World

What the Community Says

The best available back position system currently on the market. Full system with detailed breakdowns previously unavailable.

BJJ World, Ognen Dzabirski (9/10)

His game based on fundamentals and slick back control sounds awfully close to what other top coaches of today still preach. Nobody but Marcelo could explain it.

BJJ World (colleric)

Weakness

Some buyers report lower audio quality compared to newer BJJ Fanatics productions. Marcelo teaches through sequences and feel rather than Danaher’s principle-based framework, which may click less for conceptual learners. Content is gi-specific and doesn’t cover berimbolo/inverting entries like Mikey Musumeci or Levi Jones-Leary.

My Recommendation

Best for: Gi practitioners who want standing and turtle back entries, arm-trap RNC sequences, and the Bow and Arrow choke from the greatest back attacker ever.

Avoid if: You train no-gi exclusively or want berimbolo/modern guard-to-back entries.

Pairs with: Danaher’s Back Attacks: Enter The System for the conceptual framework behind what Marcelo does intuitively.

A compact, guard-centric back taking system built around berimbolos, guard retention counters, and Levi’s signature Xanadu guard. At just 2 hours, it’s one of the densest instructionals per minute in this category.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ ~2h across 4 volumes
• 📅 Released: 2023
• 🥋 Gi
• 🎯 Blue belt+ guard players
• 🕸 Guard-to-Back Takes

What It Covers

Volume 1 covers guard retention back takes: sit-up guard to foot-on-biceps, pass counters against knee slice, double under, and toreando. Volume 2 tackles outside open guard entries from DLR, omoplata sweep threats, and techniques vs standing and kneeling opponents. Volume 3 is the berimbolo chapter: basic inverting progressions, berimbolo from multiple angles, leg drag combinations, and decision trees. Volume 4 introduces the Xanadu guard (Levi’s signature innovation), crucifix entries from Xanadu, and Tarikoplata and rolling omoplata finishes.

What Makes It Stand Out

• Xanadu guard is a genuinely novel position not covered anywhere else
• Berimbolo decision trees with clear if/then branching
• Only 2 hours but extremely dense with zero filler
• Tarikoplata and crucifix finishes add uncommon submission threats
• Credentials: IBJJF Euros/Pan Ams champion, 2024 ADCC trials winner

What the Community Says

Comprehensive coverage across multiple guard positions in only 2 hours.

BJJ World, Ognen Dzabirski (8/10)

Excellent info from Levi. This content will serve you even better if you went to one of his seminars as well!

Jiu Jitsu X community commenter

Weakness

Requires comfort with inverting, so heavyweights and older grapplers may struggle with the berimbolo movements. Gi-only content. Focuses entirely on getting TO the back, not retaining or finishing from it. You need Ryan or Danaher’s set to complete the system.

My Recommendation

Best for: Lightweight gi guard players who already invert and want to connect their guard retention directly to back-taking.

Avoid if: You’re a heavyweight, don’t invert, or need back control/finishing content rather than entries.

Pairs with: Danaher’s Back Attacks: Enter The System for control and finishing once you reach the back.

The first American to win multiple IBJJF World Championships (3x gold) teaches his guard-retention-to-back-take pipeline. The “Power Switch” concept turns every pass attempt into a back take opportunity.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ 2h 40m across 4 parts
• 📅 Released: 2021
• 🥋 Gi (primarily)
• 🎯 Blue belt+ who invert
• 🕸 Guard Retention & Back Takes

What It Covers

Mikey covers three guard positions (Reverse De La Riva, DLR, and knee shield half guard) and shows specific retention counters for knee cut, long step, over-under, toreando, and X pass. Each retention counter chains directly into back take entries: Kiss of the Dragon (Mikey’s signature spinning inversion), baby bolo transitions, crab ride attacks, and twister hook setups. Submissions include triangles, omoplata, and kneebar from the Kiss of the Dragon sequence.

What Makes It Stand Out

• “Power Switch” concept dramatically improves guard retention on its own
• Kiss of the Dragon entries are Mikey’s highest-percentage competition weapon
• $79 for a 3x world champion’s signature system is exceptional value
• Crab ride and twister hooks add modern finishing options
• Concise runtime with zero filler

What the Community Says

Insanely detailed with every pass having a clean answer. Back take chains feel inevitable once retention clicks.

Sherdog Forums review thread

He is actually the first American to get a world title at a black belt twice.

BJJ World (5/5 rating)

Weakness

Like Levi’s set, requires comfort with inversions. Best suited for lighter, flexible grapplers. About 50% of the content is guard retention rather than back attacks specifically. If you only want back finishing, Gordon Ryan’s set is more focused. Gi-centric grip sequences have limited no-gi transfer.

My Recommendation

Best for: Smaller, flexible gi grapplers who want to convert every pass attempt into a back take opportunity.

Avoid if: You’re a heavyweight who doesn’t invert, or you want back retention and finishing content rather than entries.

Pairs with: Marcelo Garcia’s gi back attack system for standing entries and finishing once you get there.

Roberto Jimenez won double gold at the 2018 IBJJF Worlds at purple belt, submitting all 10 opponents primarily via back attacks. This set covers back takes from literally every position: standing, guard, passing, side control, and turtle.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ 2h 51m across 4 volumes
• 📅 Released: 2020
• 🥋 Gi (with some no-gi options)
• 🎯 All levels
• 🕸 Back Takes from Every Position

What It Covers

Volume 1 covers DLR back takes, waiter sweep entries, reverse DLR techniques, and half guard to back transitions. Volume 2 has closed guard to back control with both gi and no-gi options, collar/sleeve setups, arm drag variations, and Kimura trap back takes from side control. Volume 3 covers turtle breakdown sequences and collar grip Kimura to back transitions. Volume 4 is the “Roberto Jimenez Specials”: standing collar drag, single leg to back, butterfly arm drag, 50/50 crab ride checkpoint, and lasso guard dismantling to back take.

What Makes It Stand Out

• Covers BOTH gi and no-gi entries from guard positions
• Every-position coverage that more expensive sets compartmentalize
• $79 is outstanding value for a Worlds double gold medalist
• Unique finishing mechanic: compressing the opponent toward you rather than extending
• Flowchart companion available for study

What the Community Says

Offers paths to the back from literally every possible position you find yourself in.

BJJ World (5/5 rating)

It’s rare to find a black belt that presents each one of their moves in a systematic, easy-to-follow format, let alone a brown belt.

Jiu Jitsu Times

Weakness

Lacks the deep grip fighting and handfighting coverage of Gordon Ryan or Danaher’s sets. Many entries depend on collar and sleeve grips with limited direct no-gi transfer. Teaching pace is fast and may require frequent rewinds. Teaches how to get TO the back but doesn’t cover retention or finishing from it.

My Recommendation

Best for: All-around grapplers who want back take entries from every position at a budget price. Good starting point for newer practitioners.

Avoid if: You need deep back retention and finishing detail (pair with Ryan or Danaher for that).

Pairs with: Danaher’s Back Attacks: Enter The System for the control and finishing this set doesn’t cover.

A 2x IBJJF Black Belt World Champion who was undefeated at middleweight at Worlds. 36% of his black belt finishes came from the back. This set delivers reliable gi back take routes at the most accessible price point.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ 2h 15m across 3 volumes
• 📅 Released: 2020
• 🥋 Gi
• 🎯 White belt through black belt
• 🕸 Gi Back Takes

What It Covers

Volume 1 covers core back-taking principles and positional hierarchy. Volume 2 is the meat: DLR back takes, 50/50 guard to back transitions (unique to this set), X-guard entries, lasso defense to back take, and turtle hip switch to back control. Volume 3 covers back takes from various passes, 50/50 escape options leading to the back, back retention fundamentals, and finishing sequences.

What Makes It Stand Out

• 50/50 to back transitions are unique to this set
• $79 for a 2x World Champion’s proven system
• Accessible to all levels from white belt to black belt
• Lasso defense to back take is practical for common gi situations
• 36% of Arges’ black belt finishes came from the back

What the Community Says

His back attack system may seem complex but it is actually easy to incorporate. He is an excellent instructor who can articulate information very well.

Community feedback aggregated from product reviews

Weakness

Gi-centric with limited no-gi application. Doesn’t explain the “why” behind positions as deeply as Danaher or Ryan. Narrower scope (3 volumes, 2h 15m) means less depth per position. No standing back take entries like Marcelo Garcia’s set.

My Recommendation

Best for: Budget-conscious gi players, especially blue belts, who need reliable routes into the back from common guard positions.

Avoid if: You train no-gi or want deep conceptual teaching behind the techniques.

Pairs with: Marcelo Garcia’s MG Back Attack System for standing entries and finishing depth.

BJJ World called this “a masterpiece, even by Ryan’s standards” and his “technically richest instructional.” It covers the single most common defensive position in BJJ from the attacker’s perspective, blending BJJ, wrestling rides, and judo concepts.

Quick Facts

• ⏰ 9h 11m across 8 volumes
• 📅 Released: 2022
• 🥋 No-Gi
• 🎯 Intermediate to advanced
• 🕸 Turtle Attacks & Back Takes

What It Covers

Volume 1 covers turtle fundamentals, transitions to side control and back control, diagonal control with hooks. Volume 2 introduces wrestler rides, cross-body rides, half Nelsons, power half Nelsons, and Juji Gatame from turtle. Volume 3 covers open turtle attacks, reverse tight waist, calf slicers, hammerlocks, and freestyle guillotines. Volumes 4-5 cover elbow control concepts, hip knock-overs, the crucifix system (arm trapping, crackdown, Phoenix eye technique), and crucifix strangles/armbars. Volume 6 adds rolling counters and Maki Komi (judo integration). Volumes 7-8 are live rolling breakdowns.

What Makes It Stand Out

• Covers a position most instructionals completely ignore
• Integrates wrestling rides and judo Maki Komi into BJJ
• Crucifix system is one of the most complete available
• 12+ chapters per volume with extreme depth
• Natural companion to Systematically Attacking the Back

What the Community Says

Something of a masterpiece, even by Ryan’s standards. Organized perfectly, tackles a very important subject, and introduces other grappling martial arts solutions into the frame.

BJJ World

Weakness

$349 is the highest price tier. Only covers one pathway to the back (from turtle), so it doesn’t address guard-to-back entries. 9h 11m requires serious commitment. For a complete back system, you need both this AND Systematically Attacking the Back ($698 combined), while Danaher covers turtle-to-back within his single $197 set.

My Recommendation

Best for: Advanced no-gi grapplers who encounter turtle constantly and want the most comprehensive attacking system for that position.

Avoid if: You’re on a budget, want guard-to-back entries, or need a standalone back attack system.

Pairs with: Systematically Attacking the Back (Gordon Ryan) – designed to be used together as a combined 17+ hour system.