Matrix
Position
The matrix is a modern back-take and sweep system created by Tommy Langaker and Espen Mathisen, entered from single leg X, X-guard, reverse de la Riva, and general open guard. Its signature is the outside leg hooking behind the opponent's knee and chopping their leg to the mat, folding them over their own trapped leg so their back rotates toward you — strongest in the gi, viable without it.
Quick Reference
Key principles
- · Every entry shares one component: your outside leg hooks behind their knee and chops it down, planting their leg on the mat as the pivot the whole move turns around.
- · Folding them over the chopped leg exposes the back — the position converts leg entanglement height into back exposure without a scramble.
- · Grips decide gi versus no-gi percentage: fabric anchors make the fold nearly unstoppable, while no-gi requires faster follow-through.
- · Sweep and back take are one decision: if they base to deny the back, the same fold tips them over for the sweep.
- · It chains from your existing bottom game — SLX, X, and RDLR players reach it without changing their entries.
Execution
- 1 From single leg X, X-guard, or reverse de la Riva, establish your grips and lift or off-balance them onto the target leg.
- 2 Hook your outside leg behind their knee and chop the leg down to the mat.
- 3 Fold their torso over the trapped leg using your grips, rotating their back toward you.
- 4 Climb through the fold to the back, taking hooks or the body triangle as they collapse.
- 5 If they base out hard against the fold, redirect the same pressure into the sweep and come up on top.
Common mistakes
- × Hooking in front of the knee or at the ankle, where the chop has no ratchet and their leg simply steps out.
- × Chopping the leg down but failing to fold their upper body over it, letting them square back up.
- × Treating it as a sweep-only or back-take-only move and missing the branch the opponent actually gives.
Attacks & transitions
Offense available from Matrix.
