Snap Down

What it is

The snap down is a takedown where you grip the back of the head and an arm, then pull their upper body down hard as you step back. It is the opening move of the front headlock game. They either get pulled to turtle, where you go behind and take the back, or they pull up into a front headlock and the guillotine.

When to use it

• They stand with a bent-over posture and their head forward.
• You have a collar tie and they are pushing forward into you.
• They reach for your legs and you want to stop the shot and attack the head.

How to do it

1. Take a collar tie: hand cupped on the back of their head, elbow down and in.
2. Grip their other arm at the elbow or triceps with your free hand.
3. Pull the head down sharply as you step back with the foot on the collar tie side.
4. Drop your hips and let your weight fall onto their head and shoulders, so they go to their hands and knees.
5. Keep the head pinned, spin behind them to the side of the controlled arm and take the back.
6. If they pull up and lift their head, lock the front headlock and go for the guillotine.

Key details

• The snap is short and sharp. Pull with your weight dropping, not your arm.
• Step back as you snap, so they fall forward into space.
• Keep the head below your shoulder after the snap, or they posture up.
• Go behind on the side of the arm you control. The arm cannot block you.

Common mistakes

• Mistake: pulling with the arms from an upright stance, so they post and square up.
• Mistake: snapping without stepping back, so they drive into your legs and shoot.
• Mistake: letting the head come up before you go behind, so they recover their stance.

What they will try

• They posture up and clear the collar tie before you drop your weight.
• They drive forward into a double leg or single leg as you step back.

Gi and no-gi

The snap down is the same in gi and no-gi. In the gi the collar grip can replace the collar tie, which makes the pull heavier but easier for them to strip.