Deep Half Back Take
Deep half back take — when the opponent posts forward to defend the sweep, the bottom player converts to the back take.
Adapted from the original page. Grappling.Games did not write this. Sources.
Manage injuries →Position map Connects to 2 positions across 2 relationshipsOpen in the map →12←Enters from
The deep half back take is the secondary option from deep half guard when the sweep is defended. When the opponent recognises the sweep attempt and posts their weight forward — loading over the bottom player to prevent being rolled — their hip movement creates the path for a back take. The bottom player uses the same hip underhook and leg control, but instead of rolling the opponent over, they follow the opponent’s posted weight and thread behind to take the back.
The logic mirrors the RDLR (reverse De la Riva) two-threat system: the sweep and the back take are complementary. The sweep works when the opponent is upright or balanced; the back take works when the opponent drives their weight forward to stop the sweep. Threatening both simultaneously makes neither defence fully effective.
In deep half, the back take is sometimes called “going to waiter” — the transition passes through the waiter position (an intermediate deep half configuration) before completing the back take. The waiter position is the bridge between the deep half hip control and the back take finish.
INV-07Invariant "Establishing connection is the prerequisite for all control. Where INV-01 describes what sustained connection achieves, INV-07 describes the prior requirement: control cannot begin until connection exists. Distance — whether created by the opponent deliberately or allowed to develop accidentally — returns initiative to the opponent and must be closed before control can be re-established."
Why it works hereThe transition from sweep setup to back take has a single failure point: the moment the hip underhook releases before the seatbelt closes. If the arm leaves the opponent's hip to reach for the far shoulder, there is a window where the bottom player is connected only by the leg capture, and the opponent can step their posted leg away to escape. The arm must trace from the hip up the body without losing contact, so the opponent never reaches a moment where control has lapsed.
See full invariant page → The back take from deep half requires continuous connection — the arm that had the hip underhook for the sweep must transition smoothly to a back control connection without breaking contact. If the arm releases the hip before securing the seatbelt, the opponent can step away during the transition. The connection must bridge from the sweep position to the back control position without a gap.
The back take is reactive — it requires the sweep to be threatened first. From deep half with the hip underhook established (sweep setup position), the bottom player initiates the sweep. The opponent posts their weight forward to prevent being rolled. This forward weight loading is the trigger for the back take transition.