Back Mount — Choke Entry Drill: A Complete Guide
Quick Intro
Back Mount — Choke Entry Drill is a Martial Arts Drills exercise performed from established back control with hooks and a seatbelt grip already in place, drilling the transition into a rear naked choke entry by sliding the choking arm under the chin as a partner defends. Keeping the hooks and hip pressure locked in while the choking arm searches for the chin is what keeps this transition from giving up the position.
Equipment Needed
A yoga mat is optional for extra cushioning, and a partner comfortable defending the choke search is needed for every rep. The drill stops once the arm is under the chin, and the partner taps at any pressure on the neck.
Why It Matters
Holding the hooks and hip pressure steady while the choking arm searches for an opening asks for sustained control well beyond a static hold. The biceps (biceps brachii) and a muscle across the upper back and neck (trapezius) drive the choking arm, and the abdominal muscles running down the front of the stomach (rectus abdominis) and the muscles along the sides of the abdomen (obliques) brace the trunk through the transition. The inner thigh muscles (adductors) and a muscle at the front of the hip (hip flexors, iliopsoas) maintain the hooks, and the forearms (forearm flexors) support the grip as it searches for the chin.
When to Do It
Back Mount — Choke Entry Drill works well within a grappling-focused session, added once the hooks and seatbelt grip of back control already feel secure. Two to three sessions a week is a reasonable pace, always with a partner comfortable defending the choke entry.
Anyone with a current shoulder or forearm issue should get individual guidance before adding this drill, since the searching choke arm loads both repeatedly.
Getting Ready
Holding the established back control position without searching for the chin yet checks the base this drill depends on. A few slow, partial searches with the choking arm preview the full entry before a complete rep against active defense is attempted.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Confirm the base. Settle hooks and a seatbelt grip from established back control.
- Begin the search. Slide the choking arm up toward the partner’s chin.
- Work through defense. Adjust the arm’s path as the partner defends.
- Secure under the chin. Settle the choking arm into position once it clears.
How Many, How Often
Back Mount — Choke Entry Drill is dosed by time, with each sustained search-and-entry attempt counting as one set.
| Level | Where you’re at | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | New to searching for the chin while holding the base | 3 sets of 20 to 30 seconds |
| Intermediate | The hooks and the search hold steady against light defense | 3 to 4 sets of 30 to 40 seconds |
| Advanced | Comfortable maintaining the base against active chin defense | 4 sets of 40 to 50 seconds |
Keeping the hooks and hip pressure locked in while the arm searches matters more here than how quickly the choking arm finds the chin, since a rushed entry that loosens hook control gives up the position for the sake of a faster search.
Modifications and Variations
As an easier version, Back Mount and Control Drill holds the hooks and the seatbelt grip without attempting any choke entry. Back Mount Hooks Only practices the hooks alone.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Loosening the hooks to focus on the choke arm. Letting hook control slip while all the attention goes to the searching arm trades a secure position for an uncertain submission attempt. The hooks stay locked in throughout the search.
Forcing the arm through resistance. Pushing the choking arm hard against a defended chin wastes energy and often loses the position. Patiently working an angle usually finds the opening faster than forcing one does.
Abandoning arm control to reset. Pulling the searching arm back out the moment it meets resistance gives up ground that’s hard to regain. Staying connected and adjusting the path works better than resetting from scratch.
After Your Set
Letting the hips settle into a few slow circles once the hold lets go helps them unwind after the sustained search. The forearms and the grip benefit from a slow wrist roll through their complete range as well.
Going Deeper
Holding hooks and a seatbelt grip exists to create a window for this kind of choke entry. The hooks tend to loosen the instant attention shifts to the searching arm, since both ask for focus at the same time. Checking hook pressure every few seconds during the search fixes this faster than repeating an entry attempt where the base keeps slipping.
Someone new to this transition generally manages a short, cooperative search within the first few sessions, then works toward completing the entry against active chin defense over the following couple of weeks.
How to Know You’re Improving
- Hooks and hip pressure that stay locked in through the whole search
- A choking arm that adjusts patiently
- Arm control that stays connected when the first attempt is defended
- An entry that holds up against active, committed defense
Hooks that stay locked during the search matter more than how quickly the chin is found.
Muscles Worked
- Biceps Brachii (the front of the upper arm, bending the choking arm to thread it under the chin)
- Trapezius (the broad muscle spanning the upper back and neck, setting the shoulder to drive the arm through)
- Rectus Abdominis (the abdominal muscles running down the front of the stomach, holding the chest tight to their back)
- Obliques (the muscles along the sides of the waist, following their body as it turns to defend)
- Adductors (the inner thigh muscles, squeezing the hooks in while the hands work)
- Iliopsoas (the hip flexor group at the front of the hip, keeping each heel driven inside their thigh)
- Forearm Flexors (the muscles of the inner forearm, feeding the hand past their defending grip)
FAQ
Why does keeping the hooks locked in matter more than finding the chin quickly? A position with secure hooks and lost choke-arm progress can try the entry again, while a position with lost hooks has to be rebuilt from scratch, which is a far bigger setback than a slow search.
Is this harder than holding back control? Yes, actively searching for the chin against a partner who’s defending, while still maintaining the hooks and grip, asks for more sustained attention than holding the position still.
Is some shoulder or forearm fatigue after this drill normal? Yes, a worked feeling through the shoulder and the forearm after a sustained search is expected. Pain in a shoulder or forearm that lingers past the session is worth a visit to a doctor or physical therapist.
Does holding the position come before the choke entry? Yes, Back Mount and Control Drill builds the hooks and the seatbelt grip, which are worth having solid before a searching choke arm is added.
How often should the choke entry be drilled? Two to three times a week, with a partner comfortable defending the entry, suits most people building toward this skill.
Related to Back Mount and Control Drill as the easier version holding the position without the choke entry.