This is a growing library of wrestling takedowns focused on:
Each takedown has its own page with:
Start with the basics, then move toward chaining techniques together.
Overview The ankle pick is one of the lowest-risk takedowns in wrestling and grappling. You stay upright, maintain posture, and never fully commit your hips — which makes it especially useful for BJJ athletes who value control and easy disengagement. The ankle pick fails for one reason more than any other: reaching without first creating pressure. This is not a dive. It’s not a race. The ankle pick is a pull-then-pick that exploits weight transfer and posture recovery. ...
Overview The body lock is a control-first takedown position. Rather than relying on speed or level changes, you secure tight upper-body control and use pressure, movement, and posture breaking to create finishes. This makes the body lock especially effective in jiu jitsu contexts: Less reliance on explosive penetration Strong control that limits scrambles and submissions Natural pathways to side control and back exposure The body lock is not a single takedown — it’s a hub position. Once secured, multiple finishes become available depending on how the opponent reacts. ...
Overview The double leg is one of the highest-percentage takedowns in wrestling, but it does not require dropping to a knee to be effective. Many elite wrestlers finish doubles: From a standing position With shallow level changes Using pressure, angles, and upper-body control This page emphasizes standing doubles first, with traditional penetration-step doubles as a secondary option. Core Principles (Applies to All Doubles) Level change before contact, not during Hips come in before arms extend Chest and shoulder drive the finish, not the arms Finish through the opponent, not down to the mat If these are violated, the double becomes a reach — and reaches get sprawled on. ...
Overview The duck under is a pressure-based angle attack. When an opponent pushes into you with a collar tie, overhook, wrist control, or heavy hands, you use that forward pressure to slip underneath their arm and get behind. Most people fail with the duck under because they try to force it against opponents who aren’t pressuring, or they treat it like a speed move. The duck under is not about being fast — it’s about recognizing pressure and exiting on an angle. ...
Overview The go-behind is how you convert advantage into control. It appears after you’ve defended a shot, snapped your opponent down, or broken their posture — not from neutral tie-ups. This isn’t a move you hunt for. It’s what you do immediately after creating an angle or forcing your opponent to carry your weight. The defining feature of a successful go-behind is urgency. If you hesitate, your opponent recovers. If you circle and connect, you score. ...
Overview The high crotch is best understood as a transitional leg-attack position, not a single takedown. It sits between the single and the double, giving you multiple exits depending on how your opponent reacts. What makes the high crotch valuable — especially for jiu-jitsu players — is that it: Keeps you upright longer Preserves strong posture and inside position Allows you to flow between finishes instead of forcing one This page emphasizes the high crotch as a decision point, where reading reactions matters more than committing to a preset finish. ...
Overview The inside trip is a clinch-range takedown that works from strong upper-body connection. Rather than shooting or dropping levels, you off-balance your opponent with pressure and movement, then block their leg as they step. What makes the inside trip high-percentage is that: You’re already connected Your posture stays upright You can land directly in dominant top positions The key idea is simple: move them before you trip them. The inside trip works on a moving, off-balanced opponent — not a stationary one. ...
Overview The knee pick is a timing-based leg attack that targets the far knee as your opponent steps or shifts weight. Unlike penetration-style shots, the knee pick stays upright and rewards positioning, angle, and reaction over speed. In jiu-jitsu contexts, the knee pick fits especially well because it: Works from higher stances Keeps your posture tall Avoids extended exposure underneath your opponent This page emphasizes the knee pick from underhooks, where inside position and head placement make the far knee accessible. ...
Overview The single leg is the most versatile takedown for jiu-jitsu. Unlike the double leg, it allows you to attack, stall, re-angle, or chain without fully committing your hips. This page prioritizes the snatch single as the primary entry. It attacks the upper leg, works well against higher stances, and teaches the most important single-leg habit: head position. Think of the single leg as a position, not a move. Your goal is control first — the finish comes second. ...
Overview The slide by is an angle-creation takedown that uses your opponent’s pressure against them. When an opponent pushes into you with a collar tie or heavy hands, you redirect their momentum and slide past their arm to get behind. Unlike a duck under, the slide by works beside the opponent rather than underneath them. This page emphasizes reading pressure, staying connected through the slide, and converting the angle into a clean finish. ...