Ok, my fellow grapplers.
I have a question for you.
I have looked at several takedown clips, and have come to the conclusion that I would have no idea what to do if smoeone came shooting at my legs to take me down.
I had a friend put on a head cage and asked him to come and take me down, and bar a VERY well timed elbow to the back of the head there was not much I could do. The knee to the head is a bad idea because then you give him one of your legs as a christmas present (tried it).

So... how would you atempt to stay on your feet? I realise that you can do a sort of counter takedown whilst you are being thrown to make sure you are the one that lands on top, and I know how to defend against judo takedowns. But I would like some advice on how I would stay on my feet.
What are your weakpoints that I could exploit?
Thankyou!

Sprawl if you can.

Shoot your legs behind you, and drop your hips low and back to keep the opponent from grabbing your legs/hips. Use your arms to push against his head or shoulders to keep him from getting any closer.

At this point you may be able to drop straight down on his upper body, or just push him away.

That would have been my response as well...

I gota go try this tonight...

The tackler wants your legs or hips. Deny them this by sprawling your legs behind you and driving your weight into and down on his back, shoulders and head. This gives him farther to go and makes it harder because he has to overcome your base to close with your legs and hips.

First learn how to do a propper double leg or single leg takedown, then learn to counter. This keeps you from wasting time thinking you are getting good because the guy is doing the attack poorly. A tackle is more than running in bent over at the waist with your head down.

That is a common mistake with people thinking they can stop a good double leg without sprawling.

One interesting point.

What if you can't sprawl? You are pushed up against a wall or fence or there are other obstacles preventing you from getting your legs behind you hips. In that case, it may help to lower your base and lean in, bracing and pushing off the wall. This can give you opportunities to clinch and prevent the guy from grabbing your legs out from under you.

All this of course is balanced with striking as tactically appropriate.

Good point, Fletch.

Great Fletch! When I wrote the 1st post I was actually thinking about Matt's comments to use your arms and how to add to it. There are lots of ways to use your arms of course and I just had that on my mind.

Your point, as always, is well taken. Training in a nice facility with flat floors and no obstacles can unintentionally leave a false mental impression in your mind. I've found that I have fallen victim to this on accasion and constantly have to remind self that in real life these things happen in confined spaces like hallways, lobbies, cramped apartments with furniture about and so on. "Sprawling" is not always an option.

Thanks for the feedback.

Another thing if you can't sprawl - dig the underhooks in (getting your arms between his arms and his body). This helps if he's got you pinned against a wall, etc. Sometimes guys will push you against a wall and rip your legs out from under you. Repummeling for underhooks will give you the leverage to help prevent this and move into a better position.


-John

Thanks guys, I will take your advice about actually learning how to do it first and then trying to defend against it.
Ok...so lets say I have sprawled and I am leaned over him, what then? How could you get hits in? It seems to me that if I were to let go the guy would be on top of me. Would I have to grapple, or at least get in the mount position and start hitting?
Basically I m asking if as soon one person has initiated the grappling thats it, you have to play by his rules now?

I guess if you push him away from you at a suficent distance you can go back into stand up, but that would require a lot of strength seeing as grapplers tend to be big mofos