Brazilian jiu-jitsu aims to use submissions and ground techniques to control your opponent and make him tap. However, getting a skilled and strong opponent to the ground can be quite hard and exhausting, and sometimes pulling guard can be quite dangerous(MMA and street fights). Because of this, you must have good takedowns in your BJJ game. This article will go over the five easiest takedowns for BJJ. Stay tuned, and enjoy the article!
Why BJJ Takedowns Are So Important
Throughout its early days, BJJ was a martial art similar to judo. The goal was to get an opponent down, control him, pass to a dominant position, and submit him via joint lock or chokehold. Nonetheless, in its recent history, Brazilian jiu-jitsu has evolved and has become its own sport. In competition, people started using new tactics such as pulling guard, meaning you choose to be in the bottom position and work towards a submission or sweep from the bottom. This tactic made takedowns quite unpopular in BJJ, and they became pretty underdeveloped.
However, athletes have recently started to use takedowns again, and tournaments such as the ADCC encourage athletes to work for takedowns. Additionally, takedowns are essential for self-defense and MMA since no one wants to be in the bottom position when punches are included. Learning takedowns is also highly beneficial because they will help you become stronger and more durable. Taking someone to the ground will require you to use your entire body and push yourself to a certain extent.
Because of these reasons, schools worldwide have started to take a more serious approach regarding takedowns for BJJ, and they are getting included in most BJJ programs. In the future, the standing game will be a considerable part of grappling, and it is essential to start learning it as soon as possible.
New to Jiu Jitsu? Check out our post about attending your first class.
#1: Single Leg Takedowns for BJJ
One of the easiest and most efficient takedowns a beginner can learn is definitely the single leg. This takedown is often used in wrestling and MMA and is relatively easy to get to. In Brazilian jiu-jitsu, single-leg takedown is used in both gi and no-gi competitions and has proven effective even at the highest level. The main goal of the single-leg takedown is to grab one of your opponent’s legs and lift it. From there, you can perform different finishes and score points.
There are two main versions of this takedown: the inside and the outside single leg. In an inside single leg, your head is inside your opponent’s hip and positioned on his chest. In an outside single leg, your head is outside the hip. This variation is also known as the high crotch. The head inside single-leg is the preferred option in BJJ and grappling since your opponent can counter you with a guillotine if your head is outside.
Although the single leg is one of the most successful takedowns in grappling, this takedown is very easy to counter. When attacking a single-leg takedown, your opponent can easily set up submission attacks such as kimuras and guillotines. Additionally, leglocks pose a significant threat if you are not cautious. Because of this, you should always start by off-balancing your opponent and moving him around. From there, you can put him to the ground and finish the takedown. Here are the three best strategies for finishing single-leg takedowns.
Conventional Finishes
These finishes should be your first option when you attack a single leg. Conventional finishes include moves such as running the pipe, thigh pry, and various cutbacks. These techniques are a great way to attack your opponent and either work towards taking his back or putting him to the ground. The most common single leg finish is running the pipe. You can do this technique when your opponent has a strong overhook on you. Here is an explanation of this basic finish.
Transition to a Double Leg
A common way to finish a single leg when you can’t perform a conventional finish is to transition to a double-leg takedown. Double legs provide a more robust grip on your opponent and are generally easier to finish and less risky. A great transition from a single to a double leg is the famous Barzegar finish. This technique was popularized by the Iranian wrestler Mansour Barzegar. It involves you lifting your opponent’s leg to your hip and running him down with a knee pick. Here is a video explaining this technique.
High Single Leg Finish
Another excellent way to finish a single leg is to convert it to a high single leg. High single legs mean grabbing an opponent’s ankle and placing it inside your armpit. From this position, it is easy to off-balance your opponent and foot-sweep him to the ground. Additionally, a high single leg is an excellent way to get behind your opponent and take his back. Here is a video explaining a high single leg.
#2: Double Leg Takedowns for BJJ
The double leg is undoubtedly one of the most effective takedowns for BJJ and other combat sports such as wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts. This technique involves you dropping below your opponent’s hips and wrapping his legs with your arms locked beneath his buttocks. From there, you can lift your opponent or tackle him to the ground.
There are many variations of the double leg, such as the blast double leg, elbow deep double leg, and the regular double leg, all of which are excellent takedowns. One popular counter to the double leg is the guillotine choke. Because of that, you must keep your posture upright during takedown. In a good double leg, you should always squat down to lower your hips rather than bend over. Here is a quick video from the legendary Olympic wrestler Cary Kolat demonstrating a double leg.
If you want to learn more about double legs, check out this amazing instructional by John Danaher!
Keys to a Successful Double Leg
We mentioned that the most important part of the double leg is good posture. Good posture will not only prevent guillotines but will also help you against a strong sprawl. Another element of a double leg is a level change. Level change means that you squat down before shooting for the double leg. Many beginners try to shoot double legs from the standing position, and that’s why it doesn’t work most of the time. Remember to lower your hips. Lastly, use your head to drive your opponent to the side, not directly through him. Here is a good drill for developing good posture in a double leg.
The Blast Double Leg
One of the safest double-leg takedowns for BJJ is the so-called “blast double.” This variation doesn’t involve dropping to your knees and is relatively easy to get to. The key to this technique is to position your forehead on your opponent’s chest, grab behind his knees, and drive through him for the finish. Because of the head positioning, your opponent can’t counter you with a guillotine. Athletes such as Andre Galvao and Jordan Burroughs have popularized this takedown in grappling and wrestling. Take a look at this video explaining a blast double-leg takedown!
#3: Ankle Pick Takedowns for BJJ
Another great takedown that is used in grappling, jiu-jitsu, and wrestling is the ankle pick. In addition to being highly efficient and low-risk, you can perform this move with or without a gi. The key element in an ankle pick is to put your opponent’s head over his foot, grab the bottom of his foot, and then push him over it. This technique is quite popular in wrestling and grappling but is not used so much in MMA. An ankle pick is also a great option against larger opponents because it doesn’t put you in a bad position if you fail with the takedown.
How to Do an Ankle Pick?
A good ankle pick is an excellent takedown you should have in your wrestling arsenal. It is relatively easy to do and can give you great results. Here are a couple of tips when attacking an ankle pick.
- Head control. Control your opponent’s head either through an underhook or a collar tie. Drop to your knee and put his head over the foot you are attacking. Ensure you are not extended, as this can lead to easy counters.
- Grab the bottom of the foot. Although it is called “ankle pick,” you should focus on grabbing the bottom of your opponent’s foot, precisely behind his heel. By doing this, you’ll be able to pull his leg towards you.
- Shoot hand = shoot leg. This is an excellent rule you should follow for an ankle pick. To be clear, if you are attacking with your left hand, you should always put your left knee on the ground, and the reverse is true for right-handed attacks.
Want to learn more about ankle picks? Check out this fantastic instructional by Dan Vallimont on BJJ Fanatics!
#4: Guard Pull Takedowns
The guard pull is a common tactic used in Brazilian jiu-jitsu to get the fight to the ground. Guard pulling is not allowed in other grappling sports, such as judo and wrestling, and it is not advised for MMA competition. However, in jiu-jitsu, a guard pull is a great way to get the fight to the ground and work from the bottom position.
You can do many highly efficient sweeps from the guard, and often it is easier to sweep someone from the bottom than to take them down. Due to the fact that you are below your opponent, you can off-balance him more easily and use that to get to the top position. Additionally, you can attack submissions from the bottom when you’re in the guard position. It is still important not to make pulling guard a habit and only do it if you cannot take down your opponent or if the rules allow you.
There are many ways to pull guard, but the most effective ones include pulling right into a throw. These are called sacrifice throws in judo, such as tomoe nage and sumi gaeshi. I recommend mastering these throws if you want to pull guard since you can throw your opponent right from the guard pull and secure the top position. Avoid jumping closed guard, as this is one of the most dangerous moves in BJJ (google “jumping closed guard gone wrong,” and you will see). Here is a video demonstrating a few nice guard pull variations.
#5: Hip Throw Takedowns
The last takedown on this list is the classic hip throw, also called O goshi in judo. The hip throw is a very versatile and highly effective takedown that can be used to throw your opponents with great amplitude. Additionally, the hip throw often helps you land in side control, from where you can continue your attacks. In spite of the fact that this throw is considered to be a fundamental technique, it requires a great deal of practice and good timing.
The key to a successful hip throw is to pull your opponent’s upper body and put your hips right below his hips. The space between your back and his chest should be minimal. This way, the hip throw will always be effective, and you will have another great takedown in your arsenal. Here is a video with some tips to perfect your hip throws.
Final Thoughts
In this article, we covered the five basic takedowns for BJJ that every beginner should learn. As a developing student, your goal should be to master double and single legs first, and after that, you can move to more advanced techniques such as the ankle pick and the hip throw. Once you have a few throws you are confident with, you can start developing sacrifice throws and learn how to pull guard.
My name is Milos, I am the owner of Fort Jiu-jitsu! Check us out, and thank you for reading!