Double Leg Takedown

Family

Translation: double leg takedown (katakana)

Range & classification

Overview

The Double Leg Takedown family is one of the most important and frequently used takedown categories across all grappling and combat sports. ^[1] The double leg involves the attacker changing level with a penetration step, wrapping both arms around the opponent's legs (typically at thigh level), and driving forward to bring the opponent to the mat. ^[1],[2] Double legs are classified by the depth and style of penetration: blast doubles drive through the opponent with explosive forward momentum, low doubles attack below the knees, run-the-pipe doubles redirect the opponent laterally, and snatch doubles use a quick pull-and-lift without deep penetration. ^[2] The double leg is the most commonly attempted takedown in both wrestling and MMA competition. ^[2],[3]

Also known as

Double LegWrestling^[1]Double^[2]Power Double^[3]

Used in

Wrestling MMA Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Sambo

History & Origin

The double leg takedown has roots in folk wrestling traditions worldwide but was systematised in modern form through American freestyle and folkstyle wrestling during the 20th century. ^[1] Dan Gable's University of Iowa programme was particularly influential in developing double-leg technique and drilling methodology. ^[2] The double leg became the single most important takedown in MMA history when wrestlers demonstrated its dominance in early UFC and PRIDE competition. ^[2],[3]

Country of origin· shown in random order

GreeceWrestling
USAWrestling, MMA, Catch Wrestling
BrazilMMA, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Luta Livre
JapanBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu
RussiaSambo
EnglandCatch Wrestling

Effectiveness

The double leg takedown is one of the highest-percentage takedowns in wrestling and MMA, attacking both legs simultaneously to collapse the opponent's base entirely. ^[1],[2] It is effective at all levels of competition and in both gi and no-gi contexts. ^[1],[3]

Lineage

The double leg takedown is a fundamental technique in freestyle wrestling and was adapted into MMA and BJJ. ^[1] It has origins in traditional wrestling systems worldwide. ^[2] In modern grappling, the double leg was popularised in MMA by wrestlers like Mark Coleman, who used it to dominate early UFC events. ^[3]

Competition Record

The double leg is the most commonly attempted takedown in UFC history. ^[1] Mark Coleman won the UFC 10 and UFC 11 tournaments (1996) using double leg takedowns as his primary weapon, establishing the 'ground-and-pound' paradigm. ^[2] In Olympic freestyle wrestling, the double leg is the most frequently scored technique. ^[3]

Images

No images yet for this technique.

Biomechanical Mechanism

Primary Action — Level change and forward drive — penetrating step closes distance, shoulder drives into opponent's hips

Joints Involved — Attacker's knees (deep bend for level change), hips (explosive extension for drive), shoulders (contact point)

Force Vector — Forward and upward — shoulder pressure lifts opponent's centre of gravity while legs drive through

Takedown Mechanic — Disruption of base — clasping both legs eliminates the opponent's ability to post or backstep

Position & Entry

From wrestling stance (outside step) — Set up with jab or collar tie, level change with a penetration step, drive shoulder into opponent's hips, clasp both legs and drive through

From collar tie setup — Snap the opponent's head down, when they react by posturing up, change level and shoot the double

From underhook position — Secure an underhook, use it to clear the opponent's defence, change level and blast into the double leg

Videos

ArmBarCombatMedia

MMA Takedown- How to do a double leg take down

Double Leg Takedown·ArmBarCombatMedia

In this video I brake down the technique behind the double leg take down for MMA. The double leg take down can be broke…

1 video

Learn This Technique

No instructional courses yet for this technique.

Ratings

Danger Rating

Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to

Moderate4/10

Double leg drives through opponent; moderate impact on landing

Difficulty

Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably

Beginner

Competition Legality

Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets

Illegal

— IJF — Banned since 2010 leg grab prohibition — direct han...

IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF

Restricted

— 2-4 points

UWW International Wrestling Rules, January 2026PDF

Legal

— 2 points

IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF

— Unified MMA — Legal takedown technique

Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF

— ADCC — Legal, scored 2-4 points in second half of match

ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF

— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal — all takedowns permitted

FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDF

— FIAS Combat Sambo — Legal

FIAS Combat Sambo RulesPDF

— 2 points

NCAA Wrestling Rules 2025-26PDF

Training Notes

✓The penetration step must be deep enough that your lead knee passes between the opponent's feet

✓Drive off the back foot explosively — the shot speed comes from the legs, not the upper body

✓Keep your back straight and chest up during the shot; a curved spine kills your driving power

✓Wrap both arms behind the thighs and lock — don't settle for gripping the knees

✓Immediately drive through the opponent or lift on contact; stalling with your head against their hip is a dead position

✓Set up the double with level-change fakes, jab-cross combinations, or collar tie snaps

Common Mistakes

!Shallow penetration step that leaves you short — the opponent sprawls and you're stuck underneath

!Diving head-first at the legs instead of stepping into the shot

!Wrapping the knees instead of the thighs — the opponent easily pries your hands off

!Stopping on contact instead of driving through — the double leg finishes with forward pressure

!Both knees on the mat after the shot, eliminating your ability to drive

!Shooting without any setup, so the opponent sees it coming from a mile away

Related Techniques

Single Leg Takedown — complementary leg attack often used when double leg is defended Sprawl Defence — the primary defensive technique against this takedown

Counter Techniques

Sprawl — drop hips back and drive weight down to stuff the takedown attempt Sprawl and Cross-Face — combine hip drop with head push to flatten the attacker Guillotine Choke — wrap the head during the shot attempt and apply front headlock pressure Knee Strike — time a rising knee to meet the incoming level change

Setup Chain

1Setup with Strikes or Feint — use a jab or level-change feint to hide the shot

2Level Change — drop hips below the opponent's hands

3Penetration Step — explosive forward step between the opponent's legs

4Head in Chest — drive forehead into the sternum while wrapping both legs

5Lift and Drive — elevate the hips and drive through to complete the takedown

Sources & References

Primary Source

Japanese amateur wrestling terminology

1OtherJapanese Martial Arts Community Terminology

Japanese amateur wrestling terminology

2OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention

Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities

3CitationJapanese amateur wrestling terminology

Standard katakana transliteration used in Japanese wrestling (レスリング)

Community

Athletics

Requires

explosive lower body power, level change speed, forward drive

Favours

stocky build with strong legs and low centre of gravity

Key muscles

quadriceps, glutes, hamstrings, core, shoulders

Sub-techniques

Find by what a technique does — not its name

Every move, in any martial art, shares a few universal traits. Mix and match below to pinpoint the right tool — or compare equivalents across styles.

Blast Double

SubFamily

The Blast Double subfamily executes the double leg with maximum forward explosive force, driving straight through the opponent rather than lifting or redirecting. [1] The attacker shoots from distance with an explosive penetration step, contacts both legs at thigh level, and continues driving forward with the legs churning to blast the opponent backward and to the mat. [1,2] The blast double relies on speed and power rather than finesse, overwhelming the opponent's defensive structure through sheer momentum. [2] This is the most aggressive and spectacular variant of the double leg. [2,3]

1 genera·1 techniquesExplore

High Double Leg

SubFamily

The High Double Leg is a variation of the double leg takedown where the attacker secures the grip around the opponent's waist or above the hips rather than at the thighs — a blast-style takedown that drives through the opponent's centre of mass with maximum forward pressure. [1] The high double leg is often the result of a fast, explosive shot where the attacker comes up high on the grip rather than going deep to the thighs. [1,2]

1 genera·1 techniquesExplore

Low Double Leg

SubFamily

The Low Double Leg subfamily attacks both legs below the knee, targeting the shins or ankles rather than the thighs. [1] The low double requires an extremely deep level change, often dropping to both knees during the penetration step, to reach the low target. [1,2] The advantage of the low attack is that it is difficult to sprawl against — the opponent's legs are attacked below the fulcrum point, so sprawling actually helps the attacker by loading the opponent's weight onto the already-captured legs. [2] The trade-off is the deep level change required, which can leave the attacker vulnerable if the shot is poorly timed. [2,3]

1 genera·1 techniquesExplore

Run-The-Pipe Double

SubFamily

The Run-The-Pipe Double subfamily executes the double leg with a lateral running motion after securing the legs, driving the opponent sideways rather than straight back. [1] After the initial penetration and leg contact, the attacker 'runs the pipe' by stepping laterally while lifting the opponent's legs, forcing them to hop on one foot until they lose balance and topple sideways. [1,2] This lateral finishing method is effective when the opponent's initial sprawl or weight distribution prevents a direct forward drive. [2] The name 'run the pipe' refers to the circular running path the attacker takes while holding the opponent's legs. [2,3]

1 genera·1 techniquesExplore

Snatch Double

SubFamily

The Snatch Double subfamily executes the double leg with a quick snatch-and-pull motion rather than a deep penetration step, grabbing both legs from a short distance and pulling them toward the attacker. [1] The snatch double requires less forward commitment than the blast double, instead relying on fast hand speed and a sharp pull to destabilise the opponent's base. [1,2] This technique is often used at closer range, from the clinch or after a set-up feint, where a full penetration step would be too slow. [2] The snatch double is valued for its speed and the minimal exposure it creates for the attacker. [2,3]

1 genera·1 techniquesExplore

Notes

The double leg takedown is the most commonly attempted takedown in MMA and freestyle wrestling. It has been a staple of wrestling since the ancient Greek Olympics. (Gable, Coaching Wrestling Successfully; UFC Stats)

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the most common mistake beginners make when shooting a double leg takedown?

According to ArmBarCombatMedia, beginners often shoot too shallow, not stepping deep enough with their front leg and failing to get close and tight to the opponent's knees and hips. They also frequently try to combine the level change and penetration step at the same time instead of executing them as two separate movements.

Where should my head be positioned during a double leg takedown?

Keep your head tight to your opponent's ribs, almost looking upward. This prevents your opponent from wrapping a guillotine and allows you to drive forward if they attempt one.

Should I try to lift my opponent immediately after penetrating, or is there something else I should do first?

Don't try to lift on the spot—instead, sprint and run your opponent down to get them off balance, then scoop your hips underneath them. This makes them feel lighter and requires far less energy than trying to muscle the lift right away.

How can I set up a double leg takedown so my opponent doesn't see it coming?

Use punching combinations like a jab to the head and cross to the body to distract your opponent before shooting. Shooting a double leg "out in the wild" is a big movement that opponents will likely see and defend against, so setups are critical to success.

How does the Double Leg Takedown work?

The Double Leg Takedown family is one of the most important and frequently used takedown categories across all grappling and combat sports. The double leg involves the attacker changing level with a penetration step, wrapping both arms around the opponent's legs (typically at thigh level), and driving forward to bring the opponent to the mat.

Where does the Double Leg Takedown come from?

Is the Double Leg Takedown legal in competition?

IJF: banned — Banned since 2010 leg grab prohibition — direct hansoku-make for touching opp…; IBJJF: legal — Legal at all belt levels, scored as takedown (2 points); UWW: restricted — Legal in freestyle (2-4 points), banned in Greco-Roman (no attacks below waist); Unified MMA: legal — Legal takedown technique; ADCC: legal — Legal, scored 2-4 points in second half of match; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal — all takedowns permitted; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal — Legal; NCAA Folkstyle: legal — Legal, scored as takedown (2 points)

How dangerous is the Double Leg Takedown?

Danger rating 4/10. Moderate — double leg drives through opponent; moderate impact on landing

How do I set up the Double Leg Takedown?

The standard setup chain: Setup with Strikes or Feint → Level Change → Penetration Step → Head in Chest → Lift and Drive.

How do I defend against the Double Leg Takedown?

Standard counters include: Sprawl — drop hips back and drive weight down to stuff the takedown attempt / Sprawl and Cross-Face — combine hip drop with head push to flatten the attacker / Guillotine Choke — wrap the head during the shot attempt and apply front headlock pressure / Knee Strike — time a rising knee to meet the incoming level change.

What are the variants of the Double Leg Takedown?

Common variants: Blast double (high-impact forward drive through the opponent without ch…); Snatch double (pulling both legs together and driving laterally); Run-the-pipe double (running through the opponent in a linear drive); Low double (deep penetration step attacking below the knees).

How effective is the Double Leg Takedown in competition?

The double leg is the most commonly attempted takedown in UFC history. Mark Coleman won the UFC 10 and UFC 11 tournaments (1996) using double leg takedowns as his primary weapon, establishing the 'ground-and-pound' paradigm.

What are common mistakes when doing the Double Leg Takedown?

Top errors to watch for: Shallow penetration step that leaves you short — the opponent sprawls and you're stuck underneath / Diving head-first at the legs instead of stepping into the shot / Wrapping the knees instead of the thighs — the opponent easily pries your hands off / Stopping on contact instead of driving through — the double leg finishes with forward pressure.

What are other names for the Double Leg Takedown?

The Double Leg Takedown is also known as Daburu Reggu Teikudaun, Double Leg, Double, Power Double.

double leg both legs penetration power fundamental