View attachment $Double Leg at LVMAA.jpg
There is a lot of interesting discussion going on in several threads on how to stop a double leg or single leg takedown. Really the only way to understand how to stop one is also how to do one. I thought I would start a thread talking about some of the key elements and principles I personally use when I shoot in for a double leg takedown. Mind you this is not my best skill set but it is some thing I do at a pretty good level.
Some of the things I do to effect a shoot for a double leg or single leg during sparring are:
I stay slightly upright with my knees bent not straight upright but more of a moderate crouch (I do not want to give the impression that I am going for a takedown)
I am on the balls of my feet and will turn my back leg into a sprinters position when I am going to close (this allows for rapid explosive movement)
I look high (chest level at least) so that if they are watching my eyes they will not see a give away where I am going
(the whole time I am using peripheral vision to monitor their legs)
I do not want to shoot in when they are in balance (this is critical) I will not shoot if they are in balance!!!
The only time I would shoot without a fake is if they have entered a distance close enough for me to move foreward rapidly and they put a good proportion of their weight on their front leg! (more than 50%) This is pretty easy to time right when you have experience!
Ideally I utilize a high fake or a low front kick followed by a high fake to get them back peddling and thinking about their
upper level defense and then I change levels.
When I change levels I have to be within a very certain distance so that they really cannot react with a knee strike if they do get in balance. This distance I have found is different for everyone so you will have to find your own.
Once I close and have changed levels if I am going for a double leg I want to get my head to the outside of their leg and hands behind the knees and drive forward onto my front knee at this point they probably are going down.
I am driving forward to off balance them thus really negating any strikes coming down. (this is critical) Also a really important point for anyone thinking about striking during a double leg when they have closed.
If they do not go down but are still close and back peddling I leg wrap and take them down. (this is backup to the first takedown)
If they lean over me then I drop my second knee and lift and dump them and take them down. (this is backup as well)
Now this is a very basic double leg and I have modified it through the years to incorporate some Penn State Wrestling where I wrap their legs with my arms. (very effective and a wrestling coach taught me this)
When I come I am committed and not half assing it. I am coming 100%
Off balancing and having them on their heels is really important!!!
Against people who do not have grappling experience this works all the time. So easy, so simple. If someone has experience and knows how to sprawl then controlling the space in between when closing is important. Shorten up the space, get them back peddling and off balance is even more important. If they can create space they will have a chance to sprawl. I do not want that! If they do sprawl I am driving hard to get those legs and continue with the takedown.
Key points:
High Gaze
Disproportionate amount of weight on their front leg
Low Strike and High Fake right before entry (or just High Fake)
Opponent Bad Peddling and Off Balance
Level Change
Close quickly with commitment
Wrap the Legs
Drive and change angles if needed(never underestimate how important this is)
Have Back Up Takedowns in place (Leg Wrap & Lift and Dump)
Just some thought on the very basic double leg or single leg and looking forward to other people talking about how they set up their shoot! Tony, Steve, Drop Bear and everyone else you are up.
There is a lot of interesting discussion going on in several threads on how to stop a double leg or single leg takedown. Really the only way to understand how to stop one is also how to do one. I thought I would start a thread talking about some of the key elements and principles I personally use when I shoot in for a double leg takedown. Mind you this is not my best skill set but it is some thing I do at a pretty good level.
Some of the things I do to effect a shoot for a double leg or single leg during sparring are:
I stay slightly upright with my knees bent not straight upright but more of a moderate crouch (I do not want to give the impression that I am going for a takedown)
I am on the balls of my feet and will turn my back leg into a sprinters position when I am going to close (this allows for rapid explosive movement)
I look high (chest level at least) so that if they are watching my eyes they will not see a give away where I am going
(the whole time I am using peripheral vision to monitor their legs)
I do not want to shoot in when they are in balance (this is critical) I will not shoot if they are in balance!!!
The only time I would shoot without a fake is if they have entered a distance close enough for me to move foreward rapidly and they put a good proportion of their weight on their front leg! (more than 50%) This is pretty easy to time right when you have experience!
Ideally I utilize a high fake or a low front kick followed by a high fake to get them back peddling and thinking about their
upper level defense and then I change levels.
When I change levels I have to be within a very certain distance so that they really cannot react with a knee strike if they do get in balance. This distance I have found is different for everyone so you will have to find your own.
Once I close and have changed levels if I am going for a double leg I want to get my head to the outside of their leg and hands behind the knees and drive forward onto my front knee at this point they probably are going down.
I am driving forward to off balance them thus really negating any strikes coming down. (this is critical) Also a really important point for anyone thinking about striking during a double leg when they have closed.
If they do not go down but are still close and back peddling I leg wrap and take them down. (this is backup to the first takedown)
If they lean over me then I drop my second knee and lift and dump them and take them down. (this is backup as well)
Now this is a very basic double leg and I have modified it through the years to incorporate some Penn State Wrestling where I wrap their legs with my arms. (very effective and a wrestling coach taught me this)
When I come I am committed and not half assing it. I am coming 100%
Off balancing and having them on their heels is really important!!!
Against people who do not have grappling experience this works all the time. So easy, so simple. If someone has experience and knows how to sprawl then controlling the space in between when closing is important. Shorten up the space, get them back peddling and off balance is even more important. If they can create space they will have a chance to sprawl. I do not want that! If they do sprawl I am driving hard to get those legs and continue with the takedown.
Key points:
High Gaze
Disproportionate amount of weight on their front leg
Low Strike and High Fake right before entry (or just High Fake)
Opponent Bad Peddling and Off Balance
Level Change
Close quickly with commitment
Wrap the Legs
Drive and change angles if needed(never underestimate how important this is)
Have Back Up Takedowns in place (Leg Wrap & Lift and Dump)
Just some thought on the very basic double leg or single leg and looking forward to other people talking about how they set up their shoot! Tony, Steve, Drop Bear and everyone else you are up.
