Combat Sports
Turtle Back Take
The Turtle Back Take is a grappling drill that moves you from beside a partner on hands and knees into back control. It practices positioning, coordination, and controlled use of your bodyweight.
- Intermediate
- Compound
- Moderate injury risk
- Rest 1 min
How to do it
- Kneel beside your partner while they hold a compact position on their hands and knees.
- Move behind one of their hips with your chest against their upper back.
- Wrap one arm over their shoulder, with the other passing beneath the opposite armpit.
- Clasp your hands against their chest below the collarbones.
- Sit onto your near hip beside your partner as they cooperatively turn onto the same side.
- Place your feet inside their thighs as gentle hooks.
- Settle into back control with your chest against their back.
- Release your leg hooks to finish the repetition.
Form cues
- Keep your feet uncrossed.
- Keep your head beside theirs.
- Stay snug without squeezing.
- Breathe steadily through the transition.
Common mistakes
- Pulling the partner backwardLet your partner follow the sideways transition rather than dragging them over their heels.
- Forcing the hooksWait for space inside the thighs instead of prying their legs apart with your feet.
- Trying to choke during the entryUse your arms only for torso control throughout this drill.
Safety
An uncontrolled transition can trap a partner's arm or twist their knee under your combined weight. Tight or misplaced upper-body control can also strain the neck.
- Use a clear, padded mat with enough room for both partners to turn.
- Agree on a stop signal and the back-control endpoint before starting.
- Practice under qualified grappling instruction with a cooperative partner offering no resistance.
- Reset only after both partners' legs and arms are free.
Choose a dummy-based drill or get advice from a physiotherapist first if either partner has neck, shoulder, back, or knee pain.
Muscles worked
Primary muscles
Secondary muscles
Equipment
- Combat Training Mat
Sets and reps
- Sets
- 2–3
- Target
- 3–5 reps per side
- Rest
- 1 min
Prioritize a smooth entry rather than speed or fatigue.