Body Lock Takedown

What it is

The body lock takedown is a takedown where you lock your hands around your opponent's lower back from the clinch, pull their hips into yours and trip them backward over your leg. It is one of the safest and most reliable takedowns in BJJ because your head stays tight and you control their hips the whole way down. It scores 2 points.

When to use it

• You have won double underhooks or an underhook in the clinch.
• They stand upright with their hips close to you.
• They try to pull guard and you want to follow them to the top instead.

How to do it

1. From the clinch, lock your hands low around their lower back, with your elbows tight and your head tight to their chest.
2. Pull their hips into yours and arch slightly, so their weight comes onto their heels.
3. Step your leg behind one of theirs, outside their heel, to block it.
4. Turn your chest and drive them down over the blocked leg, keeping the lock.
5. Follow them to the mat, keeping your hips close, and land on top past or inside their legs.
6. Release the lock and settle into side control, or work your pass if you land in half guard.

Key details

• Lock low, around the lower back or hips. A high lock lets them bend forward and stuff the takedown.
• Head tight to their chest or shoulder, so they cannot frame on your neck or catch a guillotine.
• Bring them down, do not lift them. You trip and drive; you never lift and drop them.
• Keep the lock until they land, so you control the fall and land on top.
• Partner safety: give them room to breakfall and keep your weight off their head and neck as they land.

Common mistakes

• Mistake: lifting them high and dropping them. That is a slam, illegal for everyone, and it injures backs and necks.
• Mistake: locking with your hips far away. They sprawl their hips back and the takedown dies.
• Mistake: letting go as they fall. They scramble to their knees or pull guard on the way down.

What they will try

• They sprawl their hips back and push your head down.
• They whizzer an arm and turn into you to throw you.
• They wrap a guillotine if your head is outside.

Gi and no-gi

The body lock needs no cloth grips, so it works the same in no-gi and is one of the main no-gi takedowns. In the gi they can grip your collar and sleeves to keep you away, so fight those grips first.