7 Double Leg Takedown Variations (sparring footage)
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Standard High Double Leg·Jeff Chan MMAShredded ·Added by Admin
0:00 - 1. Head Inside Standing Double Leg 2:17 - 2. Head Inside Knee Drop Double Leg 4:09 - 3. Head Outside Knee Drop to…
Standard High Double Leg
Genusハイダブルレッグ(Hai Daburu Reggu)
TransliterationTranslation: high double leg
Overview
The high double leg is the classical form of the double leg takedown where the attacker makes contact at the opponent's waist/hip level rather than the knees, maintaining a straight back with hips underneath and driving the head into the opponent's chest. [1] Distinguished from the low double leg which attacks at or below knee level. Elite wrestlers like Jordan Burroughs and Kyle Dake exemplify the technique. [2] Research by Yamashita et al. (2020) shows elite wrestlers generate greater peak ground reaction force and significantly greater forward velocity during the attack phase.
High Double LegWrestlingStraight Double LegWrestlingClassical Double LegWrestling
History & Origin
One of wrestling's oldest and most fundamental techniques, used across all wrestling styles for centuries. [1]
Effectiveness
One of the highest-percentage takedowns in wrestling and MMA at all levels of competition. [1]
Lineage
Fundamental wrestling technique used across all styles for centuries.
Competition Record
Jordan Burroughs: Olympic gold medalist, 4x World Champion. Kyle Dake: 4x NCAA champion. Both known for elite double leg execution.
Images
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Level change to hip height, penetration step drives head into opponent's sternum, arms wrap behind both thighs
Force Vector — Forward driving momentum through the opponent combined with lifting and turning
Key Difference from Low Double — High double contacts at hip/thigh level with head on chest; low double contacts at/below knees with shoulder
Position & Entry
From wrestling stance — Level change, penetration step, drive head into chest, wrap both thighs
From clinch — Break the clinch and immediately shoot high double
From setup — Jab or snap-down to distract, then shoot
Variants
Run the pipe — drive through after contact to force opponent backward
Lift and turn — lift opponent's hips and rotate them to the mat
Trip finish — use inside trip while maintaining double leg control
Blast double — explosive entry with maximum forward momentum
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
3
Moderate3/10
Primarily impact from being taken down onto the mat
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
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 27PDFRestricted
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 2025-26PDFTraining Notes
✓The high double leg is the classical wrestling double leg, distinguished from the low double by contact point (hip/thigh vs knee/below). Research by Yamashita et al. (2020, Frontiers in Sports and Active Living) demonstrated that elite wrestlers generate significantly greater forward velocity of the C7 vertebra during the attack phase compared to non-elite wrestlers. Jordan Burroughs and Kyle Dake are modern exemplars. The high double offers more control and a more secure finish than the low double but requires closer range to initiate.
Common Mistakes
!Head position too low — head must drive into chest, not the belly
!Not completing the penetration step — must step deep between opponent's feet
!Bending at the waist instead of the knees — level change must come from the legs
!Not finishing — must commit to a finish (run the pipe, lift, or trip)
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Establish stance → Setup (jab, snap-down, or feint) → Level change → Penetration step → Head to chest, arms wrap both thighs → Finish: run the pipe, lift and turn, or trip
Sources & References
Primary Source
Yamashita et al. (2020) — Double-Leg Biomechanics, Frontiers in Sports and Active Living
[1] Yamashita et al. 2020 — biomechanical analysis of elite vs non-elite double leg mechanics
2BookFloWrestling — Doubles Are Worth The Trouble
3OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
4CitationYamashita et al. (2020) Whole-Body Mechanics of Double-Leg Attack, Frontiers in Sports and Active Living[link]
[1] Yamashita et al. 2020 — biomechanical analysis of elite vs non-elite double leg mechanics
5CitationFloWrestling — Doubles Are Worth The Trouble
Community
Athletics
Requires
explosive level change, strong penetration step, driving power
Key muscles
quadriceps, glutes, core, neck
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I drop to my knee when shooting a double leg takedown?
Dropping to your knee allows you to get as low as possible underneath your opponent, which is essential for closing distance and getting underneath them effectively when a standing double leg is difficult to execute.
Where does the power come from in a knee drop double leg?
According to Jeff Chan MMAShredded, the power comes from sweeping your back leg forward after you've grabbed behind your opponent's knees, then pushing off that sweeping leg to stand back up.
Is the knee drop double leg less effective than other double leg variations?
The knee drop variation is less powerful than other double leg takedown variations, though it is still effective when you need to get lower underneath your opponent or close distance more quickly.
How does the Standard High Double Leg work?
The high double leg is the classical form of the double leg takedown where the attacker makes contact at the opponent's waist/hip level rather than the knees, maintaining a straight back with hips underneath and driving the head into the opponent's chest. Distinguished from the low double leg which attacks at or below knee level.
Where does the Standard High Double Leg come from?
One of wrestling's oldest and most fundamental techniques, used across all wrestling styles for centuries.
Is the Standard High Double Leg 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 Standard High Double Leg?
Danger rating 3/10. Low — primarily impact from being taken down onto the mat
How do I set up the Standard High Double Leg?
The standard setup chain: Establish stance → Setup (jab, snap-down, or feint) → Level change → Penetration step → Head to chest, arms wrap both thighs → Finish: run the pipe, lift and turn, or trip.
How do I defend against the Standard High Double Leg?
Standard counters include: Sprawl — drop hips back to deny the entry / Crossface — push attacker's head to one side / Underhook — win inside position to prevent the wrap / Knee check — drive knee into attacker's shoulder during entry.
What are the variants of the Standard High Double Leg?
Common variants: Run the pipe (drive through after contact to force opponent backward); Lift and turn (lift opponent's hips and rotate them to the mat); Trip finish (use inside trip while maintaining double leg control); Blast double (explosive entry with maximum forward momentum).
How effective is the Standard High Double Leg in competition?
Jordan Burroughs: Olympic gold medalist, 4x World Champion. Kyle Dake: 4x NCAA champion.
What are common mistakes when doing the Standard High Double Leg?
Top errors to watch for: Head position too low — head must drive into chest, not the belly / Not completing the penetration step — must step deep between opponent's feet / Bending at the waist instead of the knees — level change must come from the legs / Not finishing — must commit to a finish (run the pipe, lift, or trip).
What are other names for the Standard High Double Leg?
The Standard High Double Leg is also known as Hai Daburu Reggu, High Double Leg, Straight Double Leg, Classical Double Leg.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a high double leg and a low double leg?
The high double makes contact at the opponent's waist/hip level with your head on their chest. The low double attacks at or below the knees with your shoulder. The high double requires closer range but offers more control and versatile finishes (run the pipe, lift, trip). The low double can be hit from farther away and transitions well to leg laces in freestyle wrestling.
How do I finish the double leg when they sprawl?
Three options: (1) Run the pipe — keep driving forward, turn the corner, and use your head on their chest to drive them to the mat. (2) Lift — if you have the grip, pick them up and dump them to the side. (3) Trip — use an inside trip or outside trip while maintaining the body lock. The key is to never stop moving — a stalled double leg gets sprawled on.
How do I set up the double leg without getting stuffed?
Never shoot from too far away — the double leg requires a level change from close range. Best setups: (1) Jab or collar tie snap to distract, then shoot. (2) From an underhook, transition to the double. (3) Use a single leg attempt as bait — when they defend the single, switch to the double. The penetration step must be deep — your knee should land between their feet.