Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is thought for its extremely technical floor recreation, however the reality is each match begins standing. Whether or not it’s a contest setting, a self-defense situation, or an MMA combat, studying the best way to carry your opponent to the bottom successfully is simply as necessary as figuring out what to do when you’re there.
Whereas many practitioners deal with lower-body takedowns like double legs or single legs, upper-body takedowns are sometimes neglected. These strategies supply a spread of benefits, particularly for athletes preferring clinch management, minimal degree adjustments, or a smoother transition into dominant positions. On this article, we discover why higher physique takedowns will be extremely helpful in BJJ, in addition to discover a number of choices you are able to do from the place.
Takedowns In BJJ
In conventional sport BJJ, many athletes depend on guard pulling to carry the combat to the mat. Whereas this method works in some aggressive settings, it leaves factors on the desk and places you susceptible to beginning in an inferior place. Takedowns, then again, help you start on prime, earn factors, and preserve management.
Incorporating takedowns into your recreation additionally expands your means to deal with extra sensible situations exterior of the game atmosphere. In MMA or self-defense, pulling guard is normally not best. Figuring out the best way to management and take somebody down safely and successfully offers you extra management over the place and the way the combat performs out.
Distinction Between Higher Physique And Decrease Physique Takedowns
Decrease physique takedowns contain attacking the legs, like single legs, double legs, ankle picks, or journeys. These sometimes require a stable degree change and powerful ahead stress. They’re dynamic and quick, however additionally they expose your head and may result in scrambles in case your opponent counters effectively.
Higher physique takedowns, then again, depend on clinch positions, steadiness disruption, and timing. As an alternative of capturing in, you’re employed from tie-ups like underhooks, overhooks, and physique locks. These takedowns really feel extra pure for a lot of BJJ practitioners as a result of they carefully resemble the sorts of grips and controls utilized in positional grappling.
Higher physique takedowns are particularly efficient if you need to keep away from degree adjustments, maintain issues tight, or transition immediately into facet management, mount, or again takes.
Advantages Of Utilizing Higher Physique Takedowns
Higher physique takedowns are joint pleasant, work in each Gi and No Gi, and lead easily into dominant positions.
One of many major advantages of higher physique takedowns is how effectively they combine with the remainder of your Jiu-Jitsu. These strategies normally lead straight into dominant positions with out requiring a scramble or reset. Many additionally restrict publicity to counters like guillotines or sprawl-and-spin defenses, that are widespread with lower-body pictures.
Higher physique takedowns are additionally simpler on the joints. Fighters coping with knee or again points typically discover it safer to drill and apply, particularly over lengthy intervals of coaching.
They’re additionally extremely adaptable. Within the Gi, you possibly can depend on grips like collar and sleeve management. In No-Gi, you need to use collar ties, underhooks, whizzers, and physique locks to arrange the identical takedowns with solely slight variations. Moreover, they go well with a variety of physique sorts. Whether or not you’re tall and lanky or quick and highly effective, there’s probably an higher physique takedown that matches your type.
5 Higher Physique Takedowns You Can Add To Your Sport
Let’s discover 5 efficient higher physique takedowns you can begin drilling at the moment. These strategies will be utilized in each gi and No-Gi, and every one leads on to sturdy positional management.
1) Entrance Headlock To Cowcatcher
It is a nice choice when your opponent reaches or shoots for a takedown and leaves their head uncovered. From a entrance headlock place, use your exterior arm to succeed in beneath their close to arm whereas sustaining chin management. Step your exterior leg round, flip your hips, and drive them over utilizing a twisting movement. The cowcatcher is clear, quick, and infrequently lands you in facet management or a pinning place with sturdy higher physique management.
2) Overhook Uchi Mata (Whizzer Kick)
This takedown is a variation of the Judo uchi mata and works nice when you could have an overhook on one facet. Off-balance your opponent by pulling them ahead and barely to the overhook facet. Step in and use your interior thigh to elevate and journey their far leg whereas turning your hips. This transfer is very efficient when your opponent is making use of ahead stress. It really works fantastically in each Gi and No-Gi, and it’s laborious to cease as soon as the timing is true.
3) Again Bend Takedown (Physique Lock Arch)
In the event you safe a physique lock round your opponent’s waist, you need to use the again bend takedown to carry them down with pressure and management. Pull their hips towards you whereas arching again and rotating barely. This breaks their posture and forces them to fall backward. It’s necessary to take care of the lock as you observe them down so you possibly can land in a dominant place. This method feels very pure to grapplers who already use physique locks on the bottom.
4) O Goshi (Hip Throw)
O Goshi is a traditional hip throw from judo that matches seamlessly into BJJ with just some modifications. This throw works particularly effectively within the gi, the place you possibly can safe a grip on the opponent’s belt or decrease again whereas controlling their sleeve or collar. In No-Gi, you possibly can adapt the grips by utilizing an underhook and tight waist management. Step in shut, flip your hips so your again makes contact with their abdomen, and elevate utilizing your hips whereas pulling them over. O Goshi is an efficient takedown when your opponent is standing tall or pushing into you, and it transitions cleanly into dominant prime positions like facet management or mount.
5) Arm Drag To Again Management To Mat Return
The arm drag is a traditional setup that works in each standing and seated positions. From a collar tie or wrist management, pull your opponent’s arm throughout their physique whereas stepping round to take the again. From there, you possibly can safe a waist lock and carry out a mat return by lifting and tripping them backward or dragging them down gently. This takedown is low-risk and intensely efficient, supplying you with entry to one of the vital dominant positions in BJJ – again management.
Including Stand-Up Rounds To Every day Coaching
Having a powerful get up recreation brings useful advantages to your BJJ, from higher takedowns to improved management in transitions.
To get snug with these takedowns, you should prepare them often. Many BJJ faculties begin rounds from the knees or seated positions, which limits your means to follow standing strategies. Start by including 5 to 10 minutes of stand-up work to your warm-ups or drills. You may as well dedicate full rounds to clinch sparring or grip preventing to develop timing and consciousness.
As you construct consolation, begin making use of the takedowns throughout dwell sparring. Start with managed resistance and work your means as much as extra dynamic exchanges. Over time, these actions will develop into second nature.
Security Issues
At all times prioritize security when coaching takedowns. Use correct mats, talk along with your coaching companions, and drill with management, particularly if you happen to’re new to throwing strategies. Concentrate on good posture, steadiness, and clear mechanics as an alternative of brute pressure. Takedowns will be laborious on the physique, so heat up completely and keep away from pushing by way of ache.
Conclusion
Takedowns are an important a part of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu that too typically get neglected. Whereas pulling guard is a useful technique, being able to dictate the phrases of engagement from the toes offers you extra management and choices. Higher physique takedowns supply an environment friendly and low-risk option to carry the combat to the bottom. We encourage you so as to add these to your each day coaching and let your takedown recreation develop over time.
You may additionally like:
Understanding The Totally different Varieties Of Physique Lock Passes In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
