Double Leg Takedown

What it is

The double leg takedown drops your level, steps deep between their feet and wraps both legs behind the knees so you can drive through and put them on the mat. It is the most common takedown in wrestling and one of the two basic takedowns in BJJ. Finishing by cutting the corner lets you land past the legs in side control rather than inside their guard.

When to use it

• They stand upright with their feet square and their hands high.
• You have hand fighting control and their hips are in reach.
• They step forward into you or lean their weight forward.

How to do it

1. Hand fight to clear their hands, then bend your knees and lower your hips, keeping your back straight and head up.
2. Step your lead foot deep between their feet, close to their hips.
3. Wrap both arms around the backs of their knees and lock your hands.
4. Put your head on the outside of their hip and drive forward with your legs.
5. Step your trailing foot up and across, cutting the corner toward the side of your head.
6. Lift or drive them to the mat and land past the legs, in side control.

Key details

• Level change first. The step happens from a low stance, not from standing tall.
• Head up and back straight, or they sprawl on your neck and choke you.
• Step deep. If your foot stops short you are reaching and they sprawl.
• Cut the corner to finish. Driving straight back puts you in their guard.

Common mistakes

• Mistake: shooting from too far away, so they sprawl and get a front headlock.
• Mistake: head down, so they snap you to the mat or lock a guillotine.
• Mistake: driving straight through, so they pull guard and you land inside it.

What they will try

• They sprawl their legs back and push your head down to the mat.
• They lock a guillotine as you shoot with your head low.

Gi and no-gi

Without a collar to pull on, the setup relies more on hand fighting and wrist control. The shot itself is the same.