--- title: Back take from half guard (trilemma prong 2) description: When partner posts hand on the floor instead of maintaining whizzer, build to elbow and take their back. section: body tags: [bjj, move, half-guard-bottom, back-control, back-take, trilemma] genre: reference stability: developing lastUpdated: 2026-04-26 url: https://fardiniqbal.com/docs/body/mat/moves/half-guard-back-take --- **Source:** Volume 02, §4.2 —   ([full transcript](/docs/body/mat/sources/only-way-out/volume-02#42-prong-2--take-the-back)) *** ## Purpose [#purpose] When partner takes whizzer out and posts on floor, making sweep difficult — switch to back take. ## Entry condition [#entry-condition] Half guard. Partner removes whizzer and posts hand on floor. ## Mechanics [#mechanics] When we're here and we've established half guard: * We have our **lower-leg shift** in place. To do this, we **back-heel**, bringing hips forward, scissoring the legs. * This time we go to tilt our partner over and **Chris takes his whizzer out and plants it on the floor**. That makes it very difficult for us to finish the sweep. **Switch:** as he goes to recover: 1. **Cut the left elbow back.** 2. **Turn to your two knees.** 3. If the hands stay on the floor, simply **pop your head out and take your partner's back.** You went from front headlock → half guard → on your partner's back. **Once you're on the back:** Take your two hands and put them on your partner's thighs. Even if he's "back up" and you stay on your elbows, when Chris goes to move around, **he's carrying the bulk of your weight**. You can keep your chest on his shoulders. From here, look to attack from your own top turtle position, having ducked out and gone to the back. ## Key details [#key-details] 1. **Cut left elbow back** — this is the elbow cut, same foundational skill from Volume 01. 2. **Turn to two knees** — you're transitioning from being on your side in half guard to being on your knees behind partner. 3. **Pop head out, take partner's back** — once hands are on the floor, the head can come free. 4. **Hands on partner's thighs initially** — don't rush to hooks or seat-belt. Start with hands on thighs. 5. **Keep chest on partner's shoulders — they carry your weight.** Even if partner is "back up," when they go to move around, the bulk of your weight is on them. ## Common failures [#common-failures] * **Trying to finish the sweep when partner has posted.** If the whizzer is gone and the hand is on the floor, the sweep is dead. Switch to the back take instead of forcing it. * **Rushing to hooks or seat-belt grip.** Start with hands on partner's thighs and chest on their shoulders. The position is strong even without hooks because partner carries your weight. * **Not cutting the elbow back far enough before turning to knees.** The elbow cut creates the space you need to turn. Without it, you get stuck on your side. ## Connections [#connections] * **From:** Half guard (bottom) → **To:** Back control * **Principles:** [Inside position](/docs/body/mat/principles/inside-position) * **Skills:** [Elbow cut](/docs/body/mat/skills/elbow-cut) * **Part of:** [Trilemma system](/docs/body/mat/sources/only-way-out/volume-02#4-the-trilemma--from-half-guard-three-outcomes) * **When partner keeps whizzer in:** switch to [Scoop sweep (prong 1)](/docs/body/mat/moves/scoop-sweep) * **When partner pulls back and reapplies whizzer:** switch to [Knee slide takedown (prong 3)](/docs/body/mat/moves/knee-slide-takedown)