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.

Standing Double Legs (No Knee Drop)

Standing doubles work best when:

  • You already have contact
  • Your opponent’s stance is upright
  • You can create forward or lateral momentum

Common Entries

  • From collar tie pressure
  • From underhook or body lock
  • Off a snap-down reaction
  • After clearing a tie or elbow

Key Mechanics

  • Short level change (think “sit”, not “drop”)
  • Step between the opponent’s feet
  • Shoulder pressure into the hips or belt line
  • Hands connect tight behind the knees or thighs
  • Finish by driving, turning, or lifting — not shooting

Common Finishes

  • Run-through finish
  • Turn-the-corner finish
  • Lift-and-return
  • Knee tap to double transition

Standing doubles reward patience and pressure more than speed.

Traditional Penetration-Step Doubles

These are still valuable, especially:

  • From space
  • Off fakes
  • Against lower stances

Key Differences

  • Deeper level change
  • Longer penetration step
  • More reliance on speed and timing

Think of this as a tool, not the default.

Common Mistakes

  • Reaching instead of stepping in
  • Dropping to a knee without control
  • Letting the head fall outside the hips
  • Trying to finish with arms only
  • Shooting without creating a reaction first

Most failed doubles fail before contact.

Transitions & Chains

Good doubles rarely finish immediately.

Common chains:

  • Double → Shelf → Finish
  • Double → Crackdown
  • Double → Run the pipe
  • Double → Reshot after sprawl

The double leg is often a position, not an endpoint.

Video Study

Watch the primary breakdown first. The examples below show how the same principles appear in different contexts.

Primary Breakdown (Start Here)

Your video embed

  • 8–12 minutes
  • Matches the principles on the page exactly

Additional Examples

2–3 high-level or stylistically different videos

  • Different body types
  • Different rule sets
  • Different finishes