Truck / Crab Ride
Truck (crab ride) — elevated control of one leg behind the turtled opponent; heel hook and back take access.
Adapted from InGrappling, Truck / Crab Ride. System Games did not invent this curriculum.
FamilyLeg EntanglementsLevelAdvancedPerspectiveNeutralIntentCounter-offensiveSafetyElevatedHubLeg EntanglementsMapView on graph →This technique has elevated risk. Make sure you've covered the prerequisites before attempting.
Manage injuries →Position map Connects to 19 positions across 4 relationshipsOpen in the map →123456789101112131415161718←Enters from
The truck — also known as the crab ride — is an elevated leg control position where the attacker inserts one or both legs into the opponent’s bent knee from behind, controlling the leg from the inside. The position sits at the boundary between the leg entanglement and back control systems: from the truck, the attacker can access the back, complete a calf slicer, or transition to leg entanglement positions.
What distinguishes the truck from other leg entanglement positions is the behind-the-knee insertion. Rather than controlling the opponent’s leg from a hip-to-hip relationship, the truck controls the bent knee directly — the attacker’s leg is inserted through the gap created when the opponent’s knee is bent. This creates different mechanical options than ashi garami positions.
The truck is a bridging position in the InGrappling position graph. It is reachable from the back system (turtle top) and from guard-based leg entanglements (De La Riva berimbolo entry), and it exits to both back control and leg entanglement positions. Practitioners who work the truck must be comfortable operating in both systems because the position’s value lies in its transition options as much as its direct submissions.
Elevated RiskTruck / Crab Ride is an elevated risk technique. The calf slicer from the truck compresses the calf against the thigh — this attacks soft tissue and the knee in a non-standard direction. The kneebar from truck position applies force against the natural range of the knee. Both have limited warning before damage.
If you are new to this technique: read this section before anything else. Understanding the danger is part of understanding the technique.
The person applying the technique is responsible for releasing immediately.