Turn common guards into back exposure with clean, repeatable paths.
The Bottom Line
This is your playbook for turning bottom guards into back exposure. Pena maps options from closed, half, DLR, 50/50, and spider, then connects them to seatbelt and hooks. If your guard stalls, these entries restart your attacks without risky scrambles.
⚡️ Quick facts
Best for: Guard players
Skip if: You rarely play from bottom
Tech focus: De La Riva, Kiss Of The Dragon, Berimbolo, 50/50, Butterfly Guard, Back Takes
Biggest takeaway: Consistent bottom-to-back pathways.
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What You'll Learn
This 4-part series shows how to expose and secure the back from closed guard, half guard, De La Riva, 50/50, spider, and butterfly. It is a feeder for Pena’s finishing systems and gives you a plan when opponents stall in guard.
It also catalogs modern entries like kiss of the dragon, twist hook, and matrix variations to keep advanced players honest.
Primary Techniques You'll Drill
- Back Takes
- De La Riva
- Kiss Of The Dragon
- Berimbolo
- 50/50
- Butterfly Guard
Format & Level
- Instructional style: System Based, Technique Collection
- Skill level: All Levels
- Format: Gi
- Runtime: 4 hours and 4 minutes
- Volumes: 4
- Released: 2021
Should You Buy It?
Wait for daily deal. I would use this as the engine to feed any finishing-focused back curriculum.
Why Felipe Pena?
Pena is an ADCC champion and IBJJF world champion, known for high back exposure rates. A Gracie Barra black belt, he blends modern guard mechanics with classic control. His bottom game often uses DLR and inversion to create angles and expose the back. He is respected for teaching applicable sequences.
Community feedback
Here’s a summary of common feedback from platforms like Reddit’s r/bjj.
😍 Why People Love It
- Buyers say the back-take one is specifically pretty good.
- Fans appreciate Pena's straightforward style that integrates into existing games.
- Positive mentions for unique details that carry into live rounds.
- Seen on lists of most popular BJJ Fanatics sets.
🤔 Common Criticisms
- Some users feel long, multi-volume sets are harder to finish.
- A few prefer other instructors for deeper conceptual lectures.
- Language/accent occasionally noted as a friction point.
Free Preview Lesson
Smart Alternatives
- The Pena Back Attack System – Pair for retention and finishing once you expose the back. (Price: $197.00, 4 vols, 2023)
- Back Control and Submission – Smaller upgrade if you only need finishes. (Price: $127.00, 4 vols, 2025)
Sources & References
Video Breakdowns
Official listing: View World Class Back Takes From Bottom on BJJ Fanatics
Additional References
Your next step
You have the breakdown, community feedback, and my final thoughts. Now it’s your move.
