Takedown (grappling)

In martial arts and combat sports, a takedown is a technique that involves off-balancing an
opponent and bringing them to the ground with the attacker landing on top. The process of
quickly advancing on an opponent and attempting a takedown is known as shooting for a
takedown, or simply shooting. Takedowns are usually distinguished from throws by amplitude
and impact, where the purpose of a throw is to outright eliminate the opponent while purpose of
a takedown is to bring the opponent down on the ground, assume a dominant position and then
proceed to finish them with jointlocks, chokeholds, or ground and pound.

In rulesets of many sports, such as Judo and Takedown

Sambo, a well executed throw will end the match
(with the idea being that if the match did not
happen on a tatami, the one who was thrown would
be unable to stand back up) while the match will
continue on the ground if a takedown is used
instead. Takedowns are featured in all forms of
wrestling and Judo.

Leg trip

The leg trip is a technique in which the combatant Usage of a leg trip to perform a takedown

uses their own leg(s) to off-balance an opponent,

Style Wrestling
hence causing the opponent to fall to the ground.
Jujutsu
Leg trips are often integrated into more complex Judo
takedown techniques, and are also important in Muay Thai
many throws. Takedown techniques that are pure Sambo

leg trips usually involve controlling the body of the Mixed Martial Arts

opponent, and impeding or destabilizing one or Sanda

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
both of the opponents legs. Leg trips are featured
in for instance freestyle wrestling, judo, sumo, and
shuai jiao while being an illegal technique in Greco-Roman wrestling.[1]

The scissor kick takes down an opponent by wrapping one's legs around the opponent.
Single leg takedown

A single leg takedown attempt

The single leg takedown (often shortened to single leg or single or single leg shot) involves
grabbing one of the legs of the opponent, usually with both hands, and using the position to force
the opponent to the ground. Typically, the lower part of the leg is pulled in one direction, while the
torso or shoulder is used to press the body or upper part of the leg of the opponent in the other
direction.

There are several varieties of single leg takedowns. Some involve picking up and holding the leg
by the ankle and are often known as ankle picks, while other varieties include the high crotch, in
which the leg is held high up in the opponent's crotch area. The leg can be attacked either across
the body ("inside") or from away from the body ("outside"). Single leg takedowns can also be
executed in combination with a leg trip to the other leg, which additionally destabilizes the
opponent.

Single leg takedowns can be countered by sprawling or by hooking the lifted foot in the crotch of
the aggressor (so it cannot be lifted further and to maintain a distance from the aggressor), and,
where allowed, in combination with knee strikes to the head of the opponent.[2]

In judo and other martial arts, there are many classifications of different types of single leg
takedowns. Variants of the high crotch correspond to sukui nage (掬投, "scoop throw"[3]), where
the opponent is lifted up from the ground,[4] while the typical forward pushing single leg
takedown is classified as morote gari[5] (双手刈, "both hands scoop"[3]). Some techniques are
more specific, for instance kibisu gaeshi (踵返, "heel trip reversal"[3]), which is an ankle pick
where the heel is grabbed, scooped up and the opponent is pushed and thrown immediately. In
kuchiki taoshi (朽木落, "one hand drop"[6]), the opponent's leg is grabbed, pulled up, and used to
push the opponent down to the ground in a split second.[7] The technique was banned in judo
competition by the International Judo Federation in 2010 except as a counter or combination.[8]
Double leg takedown

A double leg takedown

The double leg takedown (colloquially known as a double leg or double) involves grabbing the
opponent with both arms around the opponent's legs while keeping the chest close to the
opponent, and using this position to force the opponent to the ground. There are several varieties
of forcing the opponent to the ground, such as lifting and slamming, or pushing forward with the
shoulder while pulling the opponent's legs. The double leg takedown can be countered similarly
to a single leg takedown, by sprawling, moving away, and/or striking. The guillotine choke is also
a good counter to a poorly performed double leg takedown.[9]

The double leg takedown is in judo also referred to as morote-gari,[5] although some hold that a
double leg takedown where the opponent is lifted into the air or swept sideways should be
referred to as sukui-nage.[5] Morote-gari, despite having been used by judokas for a very long time
and being approved of by Jigoro Kano himself, was not accepted until 1982 by the Kodokan[5] as
an official judo technique. Being dismissed by certain traditionalists,[10] the technique was
banned in competition by the International Judo Federation in 2010 except as a counter or
combination.[11]

Another form of a double leg takedown is the double leg and trip, in which the person shoots in
and while holding both legs swings one of his legs around and pushes forward on the opponent
while tripping the opponent's leg out from under him.

Duckunder

In a duckunder, the attacker pulls the opponent's elbow forward and away from the body, lowers
his own head, and ducks under the opponent's arm in an effort to get behind or at least beside
the opponent; from this position the opponent can be taken down by lifting and throwing or by a
leg trip.

Fireman's carry

The fireman's carry is a takedown technique that resembles a common method of carrying an
injured victim by firefighters. When implemented on the right side of the opponent's body, the
attacker's left hand pulls the opponent's right elbow forward so the attacker's head goes under
the opponent's right arm. At the same time, the attacker's right hand grabs the inside of the
opponent's right thigh and lifts, while the attacker rises and drives to his left, bringing the
opponent down to the ground on his right side.

A variation performed by a cross body wrist-hold is called Kraft's Carry (Kraft coached by
Wrestling's Hall of Fame Ned Blass, designed the move in 1967-70 achieving success as a high
school and collegiate wrestler). The attacker can perform either a right or reverse carry (left) by
reaching up to hold the opponents high right bicep with the left hand, while reaching across
taking the opponent's right hand or wrist. This version is accomplished by “throwing” the
opponents wrist aside to the left, while ducking under for the standard carry. Maximum points
can be achieved by retaining the opponent's right arm on landing and moving into a pinning
position with a head and arm.

Underhook

A single underhook involves putting an arm under the opponent's arm, and holding the back of
the opponent's midsection or upper body, while a double underhook involves doing this with both
arms. Either can be used as the basis for a takedown because underhooks offer the potential for
control of the opponent's upper body.

Overhook

A single overhook, or whizzer, involves putting an arm over the opponent's arm and encircling it. It
can be used as a takedown maneuver by putting substantial weight on the targeted arm while
pulling the opponent's other arm across his body, and eventually stepping over behind the
opponent.

Bear hug

In a bear hug, the arms are wrapped tightly around the opponent's midsection, sometimes with
one or both of the opponent's arms pinned to the opponent's body, so that the opponent's chest
is held tightly to the attacker's chest. From this position the opponent can be taken down,
sometimes by lifting and tilting and sometimes with the aid of a leg trip.

Spin-around

The spin-around is often used as a counter to an opponent's attempt at a single- or double-leg

takedown. When the opponent shoots for the legs, the targeted wrestler sprawls his legs part
way back and then quickly moves around behind the opponent.

Snapdown

In a snapdown, both hands are placed on the back of the opponent's neck, and when the
opponent's head is held low or is becoming lower both hands pull down sharply, propelling the
opponent's head and therefore body toward the ground. Simultaneously the attacker steps
around behind the opponent.

References

1. Gabrielson, Bruce. Freestyle Wrestling Rules (http://www.blackmagic.com/wrest/reference/

fsrulesnew.html#Freestyle) . www.blackmagic.com. URL last accessed March 6, 2006.
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20080825134340/http://www.blackmagic.com/wre
st/reference/fsrulesnew.html#Freestyle) August 25, 2008, at the Wayback Machine

2. Løvstad, Jakob. The Mixed Martial Arts Primer (http://www.idi.ntnu.no/~jakobsve/MMA%20

primer.doc) . www.idi.ntnu.no. URL last accessed March 6, 2006. (DOC format) Archived (ht
tps://web.archive.org/web/20050515123802/http://www.idi.ntnu.no/~jakobsve/MMA%20p
rimer.doc) May 15, 2005, at the Wayback Machine

3. Ohlenkamp, Neil. The 67 Throws of Kodokan Judo (http://judoinfo.com/gokyo.htm) .

judoinfo.com. URL last accessed March 6, 2006.

4. Kodokan Judo Institute. 5. Sukui-nage (hand technique) (http://www.kodokan.org/e_waza/s

ukuinage.html) . www.kodokan.org. URL last accessed March 6, 2006. Archived (https://we
b.archive.org/web/20060223004707/http://www.kodokan.org/e_waza/sukuinage.html)
February 23, 2006, at the Wayback Machine

5. Kodokan Judo Institute. 7. Morote-gari (hand technique) (http://www.esdojo.es/2014/06/ju

do-tecnicas-morote-gari.html) . www.kodokan.org. URL last accessed March 6, 2006.
 6. International Martial Arts Federation USA. An Outline of Kodokan Judo (http://www.imafus
a.com/vermont/judooutline.html) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/2007031115531
6/http://www.imafusa.com/vermont/judooutline.html) 2007-03-11 at the Wayback
Machine. www.imafusa.com. URL last accessed March 6, 2006.

7. Kodokan Judo Institute. 13. Kibisu-gaeshi (hand technique) (http://www.kodokan.org/e_waz

a/kibisugaeshi.html) Archived (http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20090705150923/http://www.k
odokan.org/e_waza/kibisugaeshi.html) 2009-07-05 at the Portuguese Web Archive,
further reading: 12. Kuchiki-taoshi (hand technique) (http://www.kodokan.org/e_waza/kuchi
kitaoshi.html) . www.kodokan.org. URL last accessed March 6, 2006.

8. Intojudo.eu. New rules 2010-2012 (http://www.intjudo.eu/pictures/news/408_1_1.pdf)

Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20110720163945/http://www.intjudo.eu/pictures/ne
ws/408_1_1.pdf) 2011-07-20 at the Wayback Machine

9. Green, Andrew The Double-Leg Take Down (http://www.budoseek.net/vbulletin/article.php?

a=14) . www.budoseek.net. URL last accessed March 6, 2006.

10. Lewis, Bill. Bill Lewis Review: Pickups (http://www.bjj.org/lewis/pickups.html) .

www.bjj.org. URL last accessed March 6, 2006. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/2005
0414025336/http://www.bjj.org/lewis/pickups.html) April 14, 2005, at the Wayback
Machine

11. "New rules 2010-2012" (https://web.archive.org/web/20111003092432/http://www.intjudo.

eu/pictures/news/408_1_1.pdf) (PDF). Archived from the original (http://www.intjudo.eu/p
ictures/news/408_1_1.pdf) (PDF) on 2011-10-03. Retrieved 2012-04-08.

External links

Double Leg Shoot vs. Right Cross (http://www.grapplearts.com/Shoot-VS-Right-Cross.htm)

Kibisu Gaeshi (Heel Trip Reversal) (https://web.archive.org/web/20060318135243/http://judoi

nfo.com/images/nauta/kibisugaeshi.htm)

Kimarite (http://www.chijanofuji.com/Kimarite.html) . List of Sumo takedowns.

Sukui-nage (Scoop Throw) (https://web.archive.org/web/20060318134708/http://judoinfo.co

m/images/animations/blue/sukuinage.htm)

Wrestling takedowns (https://web.archive.org/web/20060117040257/http://wwwbhs.bham.w

ednet.edu/activity/sports/wrestling/technique.htm)

Takedownradio.com (http://Takedownradio.com/)

Self-Defense Takedowns against a wall (http://www.fightauthority.com/martial-arts-topics/real

istic-fighting/self-defense-techniques-against-a-wall/) Archived (https://web.archive.org/we
b/20130827014713/http://www.fightauthority.com/martial-arts-topics/realistic-fighting/self-d
efense-techniques-against-a-wall/) 2013-08-27 at the Wayback Machine. Video Clip(s) and
article