Shooting to Cage to Takedown

SubFamily

Shooting・To・ケージ・To・テイクダウン(Shooting to Cage to Takedown)

Translation: shooting to cage to takedown

Overview

Shooting to Cage to Takedown involves driving the opponent backward into the cage during a takedown attempt, using the wall to prevent backward movement and complete the takedown. [1]

Also known as
Drive to Cage TakedownWall Drive

History & Origin

MMA takedown technique. [1]

Effectiveness

Core MMA takedown. [1]

Lineage

MMA wrestling methodology. [1]

Competition Record

Used in UFC and professional MMA competition

Images

No images yet for this technique.

Sign in to suggest an image.

Biomechanical Mechanism

Primary ActionTakedown mechanics for Shooting to Cage to Takedown

Position & Entry

From MMA stanceExecute shooting to cage to takedown

Variants

Standard Shooting to Cage to Takedown

Videos

CHAIN WRESTLING: SHOT RECOVERY - JORDAN BURROUGHS | FCA Wrestling TECHNIQUE

0
Shooting to Cage to Takedown·FCA Wrestling

6 Steps To A Takedown

0
Shooting to Cage to Takedown·Iron Faith Wrestling

Iron Faith Merch ➡️ https://amptstudio.chipply.com/ifwc/ Join the #1 Online Wrestling Academy in the world ➡️ https://w

5 Wrestling Tricks to Win More Matches

0
Shooting to Cage to Takedown·Cayden Henschel

Try out these 5 wrestling tricks to win more wrestling matches! Use this Purler Wrestling course to accomplish your goa

1 / 2
3 videos

What Instructors Say

Shooting to cage to takedown in MMA represents a specialized application of wrestling fundamentals adapted for octagon fighting. Iron Faith Wrestling emphasizes the foundational six-step framework applicable across contexts: establishing proper stance and contact before engagement, hand-fighting to a preferred tie-up position, setting up the shot through push-pull-fake mechanics that read opponent pressure, executing the chosen technique, and critically finishing with full commitment to the mat. Cayden Henschel builds on these basics with specific tricks for match situations, including mirroring (reacting to opponent's hand positioning), head rolls (creating angles by repositioning head control), hand drags (grabbing opponent's reaching hand to transition), happy feet (circular footwork to generate pressure), and pause fakes (stopping motion to provoke opponent reactions). FCA Wrestling's Jordan Burroughs addresses shot recovery when initial takedown attempts encounter resistance, emphasizing head-chest positioning, posting with the free hand, and driving through opponent hips to salvage points. All three instructors converge on the importance of footwork, pressure management, and maintaining control throughout the transition—Iron Faith Wrestling stresses finishing accuracy to prevent roll-throughs or ankle grabs, while Henschel and Burroughs highlight adaptability when the initial shot doesn't yield immediate success. The cage environment adds wrinkle-specific considerations around boundary positioning that traditional mat wrestling may not prioritize as heavily.

Synthesized from 3 instructors

  • Iron Faith Wrestling6 Steps To A Takedown: Provides the structural framework of stance, contact, tie-up achievement, shot setup (push-pull-fake mechanics), execution, and finish—emphasizing proper hand placement, pressure recognition, and complete finish to mat to prevent rolled-throughs, ankle grabs, or funk rolls.
  • Cayden Henschel5 Wrestling Tricks to Win More Matches: Offers tactical variations for initiating shots in live match scenarios: mirroring (exploiting automatic hand counters), head rolls (angle creation via head repositioning), hand drags (catching reaching hands), happy feet (footwork-driven pressure), and pause fakes (baiting opponent movement through feigned hesitation).
  • FCA WrestlingCHAIN WRESTLING: SHOT RECOVERY - JORDAN BURROUGHS | FCA Wrestling TECHNIQUE: Addresses recovery and adaptation when initial double-leg attempts encounter strong hip defense, detailing how to post with the free hand, maintain head-chest position, use knee positioning to elevate out of bad posture, and drive through hips to salvage points via boundary positioning.

Learn This Technique

No instructional courses yet for this technique.

Sign in to suggest a course.

Ratings

Danger Rating

Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to

4
Moderate4/10

Takedown technique

Difficulty

Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably

Intermediate
Competition Legality

Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets

IJF — Legal takedown technique
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF
UWW — Legal in freestyle, may be restricted in Greco-Roma...
UWW International Wrestling Rules, January 2026PDF
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

Training Notes

Drill with cage/wall work (Penn et al., 2007)

Common Mistakes

!Poor level change
!Over-extending

Related Techniques

Counter Techniques

Setup Chain

1Strike → Level change → Shooting to Cage to Takedown

Sources & References

Primary Source

Mixed Martial Arts: The Book of Knowledge (Penn, Cordoza & Krauss, 2007)

1Book[1] Penn, B.J., Cordoza, G. and Krauss, E. (2007). Mixed Martial Arts: The Book of Knowledge. Victory Belt Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9777315-6-5.

description, historyOrigin: sourced from Penn, B

2Citation[1] Penn, B.J., Cordoza, G. and Krauss, E. (2007). Mixed Martial Arts: The Book of Knowledge. Victory Belt Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9777315-6-5.

description, historyOrigin: sourced from Penn, B

Community

Athletics

Explosive legs

Good base

Notes

Shooting to the cage combines a level change with driving the opponent against the wall — the cage prevents them from retreating. The wall then assists the takedown. One of the most common takedown sequences in UFC competition. (MMA training manuals; UFC fight analysis)

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the right way to establish contact before shooting a takedown?

Iron Faith Wrestling emphasizes starting in a good stance first without touching your partner, then making contact the right way—either at the wrist, starting low and climbing up, or by making contact with your head first while keeping your hands down.

When should I shoot after establishing a collar tie?

According to Iron Faith Wrestling, you should build pressure and attack once you feel that pressure returned to you. You can also shoot on a pull—when your opponent starts to stand up against your collar tie pressure, release and shoot as they pop up.

What are the most common mistakes people make when finishing a takedown?

Iron Faith Wrestling identifies several key finishing errors: not finishing properly or all the way through, failing to hide your ankles on leg finishes, and not keeping your shoulder tight throughout the motion. Proper finishing technique is critical to actually securing the takedown.

How can I use a fake shot to set up my actual takedown attempt?

Cayden Henschel demonstrates the 'pause fake'—stop your shot motion and stay put, which will often cause your opponent to make a defensive mistake by standing up, allowing you to react and capitalize on their poor positioning.

How does the Shooting to Cage to Takedown work?

Shooting to Cage to Takedown involves driving the opponent backward into the cage during a takedown attempt, using the wall to prevent backward movement and complete the takedown.

Where does the Shooting to Cage to Takedown come from?

MMA takedown technique.

Is the Shooting to Cage to Takedown legal in competition?

IJF: legal — Legal takedown technique; IBJJF: legal — Legal at all belt levels, scored as takedown (2 points); UWW: legal — Legal in freestyle, may be restricted in Greco-Roman depending on technique; 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 Shooting to Cage to Takedown?

Danger rating 4/10. Takedown technique

How do I set up the Shooting to Cage to Takedown?

The standard setup chain: Strike → Level change → Shooting to Cage to Takedown.

How do I defend against the Shooting to Cage to Takedown?

Standard counters include: Sprawl / Whizzer / Underhook.

What are the variants of the Shooting to Cage to Takedown?

Common variants: Standard Shooting to Cage to Takedown.

How effective is the Shooting to Cage to Takedown in competition?

Used in UFC and professional MMA competition

What are common mistakes when doing the Shooting to Cage to Takedown?

Top errors to watch for: Poor level change / Over-extending.

What are other names for the Shooting to Cage to Takedown?

The Shooting to Cage to Takedown is also known as Shooting to Cage to Takedown, Drive to Cage Takedown, Wall Drive.