How to PROPERLY Finish the DOUBLE LEG! (Drill)
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Double Leg Wrestle-Up·TeachMeGrappling Coach Brian
In this video, I break down a common mistake in the finish to the double leg takedown. Being a good partner is really i…
Double Leg Wrestle-Up
SubFamilyダブルレッグレスルアップ(Daburu Reggu Resuru Appu)
TransliterationTranslation: double leg wrestle-up
Overview
The Double Leg Wrestle-Up subfamily covers standing techniques where the bottom fighter executes a double-leg takedown-style entry from the ground, using the double-leg drive to simultaneously stand up and attack. [1] The double leg wrestle-up is launched from positions like half guard or turtle, where the defender has enough space to shoot into the opponent's legs. [1],[2] The technique converts the defensive bottom position into an aggressive offensive attack in a single motion. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
The double leg wrestle-up stands up from bottom while attacking a double leg takedown. [1]
Lineage
Combines wrestling double leg with BJJ guard recovery. [1]
Competition Record
Used in MMA and no-gi competition. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Breaking the opponent's leg control to advance to a more dominant position
Joints Involved — Hips (posture and pressure), knees (opening the guard with knee-in or standing), hands (grip fighting)
Force Vector — Forward pressure (stack/smash) or backward posture (stand-up break) to open the closed guard
Passing Mechanic — Once the guard is opened, speed passing, pressure passing, or toreando passing advances the position
Position & Entry
From bottom position — Frame against the opponent, create distance, post the hand and foot, stand up while maintaining defensive posture
From turtle — Post the hands and feet, drive upward while fighting off the opponent's controls
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
3
Moderate3/10
Standing escapes from clinch/holds; involves explosive disengagement
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
— Unified MMA — Legal defensive/transitional technique
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— IBJJF — Legal
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— IJF — Legal
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF— ADCC — Legal
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDF— NCAA Folkstyle — Legal, escape scores 1 point, reversal s...
NCAA Wrestling Rules 2025-26PDFTraining Notes
✓The double-leg wrestle-up rises from guard to a double-leg takedown — used when both legs are accessible and the opponent's base is compromised (Cael Sanderson, Wrestling Technique, 2010)
✓From butterfly guard, use both butterfly hooks to elevate the opponent and off-balance them, then rise into a double leg
✓The double-leg wrestle-up works best against a kneeling opponent or one with a narrow base
✓The transition: butterfly elevation → drive forward → grab both legs → finish the double
✓The double-leg wrestle-up is more explosive than the single-leg variant — it requires a committed forward drive
✓In no-gi, the double-leg wrestle-up from butterfly guard is a competition-standard technique
✓Finish with any double-leg finish: blast double, run the pipe, or dump to the side
✓The key timing is to begin the double-leg entry as the opponent is recovering from the butterfly elevation — they're off-balance
Common Mistakes
!Rising without off-balancing first — the butterfly elevation creates the opening; shooting without it is easily stuffed
!Shooting too wide (arms outside the legs) — keep the arms inside for the double-leg grip
!Not driving with the legs — the double leg requires forward drive through the opponent
!Standing up fully before shooting — the rise and the double entry should overlap
!Not finishing the double — the entry from the wrestle-up creates an advantageous position; commit to the finish
!Using the double-leg wrestle-up when the opponent has a wide, heavy base — the single-leg wrestle-up may be better
!Attempting without butterfly hooks in place — the hooks create the elevation that sets up the double
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Create Space — use frames, hip movement, or leverage to generate room to move
2Disrupt Control — break or weaken the opponent's grips and weight placement
3Execute Escape — apply the specific escape mechanic with timing and commitment
4Recover Position — establish a safe position (guard, standing, or top)
Sources & References
Primary Source
Jiu-Jitsu University (Saulo Ribeiro, 2008)
1BookJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Alias sources — [1] Wrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (John Jesse, 1974) [2] Kodokan Judo (Jigoro Kano, 1986)
2BookMastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Wrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (Petrov, 1977)
3OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
4CitationJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Alias sources — [1] Wrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (John Jesse, 1974) [2] Kodokan Judo (Jigoro Kano, 1986)
5CitationMastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Wrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (Petrov, 1977)
Community
Athletics
Requires
hip mobility, explosive bridge/shrimp power, timing
Favours
flexible hips and strong glutes for escape movements
Key muscles
glutes, hip flexors, core, triceps (framing)
Sub-techniques
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the correct way to push during a double leg finish?
Coach Brian emphasizes that you should push with your entire body staying low in your stance, not by using the back of your head. The key is to develop power through a controlled drive rather than just holding the leg—get close, penetrate square, and deliver a focused push while maintaining your low position.
What is the swisher step and why does it matter?
The swisher step is when you turn your foot during the double leg finish, which helps get your hips behind your work and gives you the proper angle to drive forward effectively. Coach Brian notes this is an important detail for generating correct positioning and power.
How should my opponent's head respond when I pull it down?
Coach Brian explains that when you pull the head down, you want the opponent's head to come with you in motion—not stay rigidly in place. If the head doesn't move, you should transition to a headlock; if they're too rigid overall, you won't be able to control them effectively.
Should I stay in my stance after finishing the double leg?
Yes, Coach Brian stresses that you should always stay low and ready after delivering your drive. Don't stand up or come out of your stance after the push—maintain your position so you're ready to execute the next technique.
How does the Double Leg Wrestle-Up work?
The Double Leg Wrestle-Up subfamily covers standing techniques where the bottom fighter executes a double-leg takedown-style entry from the ground, using the double-leg drive to simultaneously stand up and attack. The double leg wrestle-up is launched from positions like half guard or turtle, where the defender has enough space to shoot into the opponent's legs.
Where does the Double Leg Wrestle-Up come from?
The double leg wrestle-up was brought to BJJ and MMA by wrestlers who applied their offensive takedown techniques from the bottom position. It represents the wrestling philosophy of always attacking, even from defensive positions.
Is the Double Leg Wrestle-Up legal in competition?
Unified MMA: legal — Legal defensive/transitional technique; IBJJF: legal — Legal; IJF: legal — Legal; ADCC: legal — Legal; UWW: legal — Legal, escape scores 1 point (freestyle), reversal scores 1 point; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal; NCAA Folkstyle: legal — Legal, escape scores 1 point, reversal scores 2 points
How dangerous is the Double Leg Wrestle-Up?
Danger rating 3/10. Moderate — standing escapes from clinch/holds; involves explosive disengagement
How do I set up the Double Leg Wrestle-Up?
The standard setup chain: Create Space → Disrupt Control → Execute Escape → Recover Position.
How do I defend against the Double Leg Wrestle-Up?
Standard counters include: Maintain Pressure — keep consistent weight distribution to limit escape space / Anticipate Direction — read escape attempt direction and block early / Transition — flow to a new position when the current one is threatened.
What are the variants of the Double Leg Wrestle-Up?
Common variants: Standard escape (primary escape mechanic using frames, bridges, or hip mov…); Combination escape (chaining two escape directions or methods); Counter escape (using the opponent's attack attempt to create the escape …); Competition variation (modified for rule-set optimisation).
How effective is the Double Leg Wrestle-Up in competition?
Used in MMA and no-gi competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Double Leg Wrestle-Up?
Top errors to watch for: Rising without off-balancing first — the butterfly elevation creates the opening; shooting without it is easily stuffed / Shooting too wide (arms outside the legs) — keep the arms inside for the double-leg grip / Not driving with the legs — the double leg requires forward drive through the opponent / Standing up fully before shooting — the rise and the double entry should overlap.
What are other names for the Double Leg Wrestle-Up?
The Double Leg Wrestle-Up is also known as Daburu Reggu Resuru Appu, Double Leg Stand-Up, Morote Gari From Bottom.