No gi duck under takedown
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Duck Under Takedown·BJJ4Breakfast
No gi duck under takedown to the back
Duck Under Takedown
Familyダックアンダーテイクダウン(Dakku Andā Teikudaun)
TransliterationTranslation: duck under takedown (katakana)
Overview
The Duck Under Takedown family covers takedowns where the attacker ducks underneath the opponent's arm to achieve a behind or side position, then completes a takedown from the advantageous angle. [1] The duck under is a misdirection technique: the attacker creates pressure or a feint in one direction, then quickly ducks the head and body underneath the opponent's arm in the opposite direction. [1],[2] The resulting position — behind or beside the opponent — provides access to back takes, body locks, and various takedown finishes. [2] Duck unders are energy-efficient and low-risk, making them valuable at all levels of competition. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
Lineage
The duck under is a fundamental technique in both freestyle and folkstyle wrestling, taught at all levels from youth through Olympic competition. [1]
Competition Record
The duck under is a standard technique in NCAA and international freestyle wrestling. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Chest-to-chest connection with locked hands — body lock controls the opponent's torso as a single unit
Joints Involved — Attacker's hips (lifting or driving), opponent's spine (compressed within the lock), shoulders (restricted)
Force Vector — Varies — front body lock uses lateral or backward arching force; rear body lock uses lift and rotation
Takedown Mechanic — Controlling the torso eliminates independent limb posting — opponent cannot base out effectively
Position & Entry
From clinch range — Close the distance, secure a body lock around the opponent's torso, and drive, lift, or trip to complete the takedown
From underhook battle — Win inside position, transition to body lock, and drive through to the mat
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
3
Moderate3/10
Duck under to rear; minimal impact, position-based
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
— IJF — Legal takedown technique
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF— 2 points
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— UWW — Legal in both freestyle and Greco-Roman
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— 2 points
NCAA Wrestling Rules 2025-26PDFTraining Notes
✓Push the opponent's arm up and duck your head underneath, continuing through to their back
✓The duck under is a misdirection — you push high, then go low and around
✓Speed and level change make the duck under work — slow duck-unders get crossfaced
✓Keep your eyes forward (looking at their body) as you duck, not looking at the ground
✓Once through, immediately secure back position with a seatbelt or body lock
✓Use the duck under when the opponent has a stiff collar tie or overhook — it converts their control into your advantage
Common Mistakes
!Ducking too slowly, letting the opponent crossface or re-square before you get through
!Looking at the floor during the duck, losing awareness of the opponent's position
!Not pushing the arm up high enough before ducking — you get stuck under a heavy arm
!Stopping after the duck without continuing to the back — you're beside them with no control
!Ducking straight down instead of under and through — you need lateral movement
!Trying to duck under from too far away without first establishing a clinch tie
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Sprawl — drop hips back and drive weight down to stuff the takedown attemptUnderhook — establish inside position to control distance and prevent the takedown entryPost and Circle — post on the attacker's head and circle away to break their angleLevel Change Defence — recognize the shot early and react with appropriate hip defence
Setup Chain
1Establish Contact — use grip, tie, or clinch to control the opponent
2Create Off-Balance — use push-pull action to disrupt the opponent's base
3Execute the Takedown — apply the specific takedown mechanic with commitment
4Follow to Ground — maintain control as the opponent goes down to secure position
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
upper body squeeze strength, lifting power, hip drive
Favours
thick chest and arms for tight lock, strong lower back for lifts
Key muscles
pectorals, biceps, erector spinae, glutes
Sub-techniques
Duck Under To Back Take
SubFamilyThe Duck Under To Back Take subfamily specifically uses the duck under to achieve a rear body position, from which the attacker can complete a body lock takedown, mat return, or rear lift. [1] After ducking under the opponent's arm, the attacker continues the motion behind the opponent, securing a rear body lock or rear clinch position. [1,2] The back take is the most advantageous outcome of a successful duck under because it gives the attacker access to the full suite of rear takedowns while the opponent has minimal defensive options. [2,3]
1 genera·1 techniquesExplore
Standard Duck Under
SubFamilyThe Standard Duck Under subfamily represents the basic duck under technique used as a general offensive tool, where the attacker ducks under the opponent's arm to achieve any advantageous position — side, behind, or angle — for a takedown. [1] The standard duck under prioritises creating an angular advantage over specifically achieving the back, giving the attacker flexibility to chain into whichever takedown is most available. [1,2] The technique works from various tie-up positions including collar tie, underhook, and overhook, making it one of the most versatile positional-advantage techniques in wrestling. [2,3]
1 genera·1 techniquesExplore
Notes
The duck under appears in 59 passages across 34 books — one of the most widely documented wrestling techniques. Blitz Martial Arts Magazine (2015) describes: 'As he swings for the fences, we duck under and take his back. With the rear body-lock in place, we then stomp through the back of his knee.' A fundamental wrestling and self-defense technique. (34 books in corpus; Blitz Martial Arts, April 2015)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I prevent my opponent from controlling my head during a duck under in no-gi?
Get inside bicep control rather than allowing them to establish a wrestler's tie, which gives them the ability to move your head around. This control is essential before you execute the duck under.
What's the key to creating an opening for the duck under?
Create a reaction by surprising your opponent with a snap down or a faked snap down on their head. This forces them to react and opens the timing window for you to execute the technique.
How do I catch the duck under when my opponent reaches for my leg?
Anticipate their reach for your thigh by making a c-cup with your hand and popping their arm up over your head as they come in. This keeps you tight while creating pressure through your head and arm.
How does the Duck Under Takedown work?
The Duck Under Takedown family covers takedowns where the attacker ducks underneath the opponent's arm to achieve a behind or side position, then completes a takedown from the advantageous angle. The duck under is a misdirection technique: the attacker creates pressure or a feint in one direction, then quickly ducks the head and body underneath the opponent's arm in the opposite direction.
Where does the Duck Under Takedown come from?
Duck unders have been part of wrestling technique for centuries, appearing in both stand-up wrestling and clinch work across multiple traditions. The technique was systematised in modern wrestling programmes as a fundamental positional-advantage tool.
Is the Duck Under 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 both freestyle and Greco-Roman; 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 Duck Under Takedown?
Danger rating 3/10. Moderate — duck under to rear; minimal impact, position-based
How do I set up the Duck Under Takedown?
The standard setup chain: Establish Contact → Create Off-Balance → Execute the Takedown → Follow to Ground.
How do I defend against the Duck Under Takedown?
Standard counters include: Sprawl — drop hips back and drive weight down to stuff the takedown attempt / Underhook — establish inside position to control distance and prevent the takedown entry / Post and Circle — post on the attacker's head and circle away to break their angle / Level Change Defence — recognize the shot early and react with appropriate hip defence.
What are the variants of the Duck Under Takedown?
Common variants: Front body lock (securing the lock face-to-face and driving laterally or b…); Rear body lock (securing from behind for mat returns or lifts); Side body lock (angled body lock for trips and throws); Body lock to trip (combining the lock with a foot trip for the finish).
How effective is the Duck Under Takedown in competition?
The duck under is a standard technique in NCAA and international freestyle wrestling.
What are common mistakes when doing the Duck Under Takedown?
Top errors to watch for: Ducking too slowly, letting the opponent crossface or re-square before you get through / Looking at the floor during the duck, losing awareness of the opponent's position / Not pushing the arm up high enough before ducking — you get stuck under a heavy arm / Stopping after the duck without continuing to the back — you're beside them with no control.
What are other names for the Duck Under Takedown?
The Duck Under Takedown is also known as Dakku Andā Teikudaun, Duck Under, Duck, Dip Under.