In order for any takedown or throw attempt to work you need three things:
- Create a structure that destabilises your opponent
- Bind yourself to your opponent
- Explosively move your body
The structure is how you tie up your opponent in the first place, how you get yourself into double underhooks with head control, grab their leg for a single leg, snap down into a headlock, etc. Any set up you have should restrict their mobility and balance. If you don’t have this, your opponent isn’t under any pressure to move where you want them to go.
The second component is that you stay bound to your opponent. To compare to BJJ/Sub Wrestling; when you’re on top or controlling in the guard, you’ll be locked tight to your opponent. With any takedown, you need to lock yourself to your opponent. Any gaps will give them an opportunity to escape.
Move Vigorously: You need to think in terms of moving your body, not your opponents. You only have control over yourself. If you’ve created a structure and kept yourself bound to your opponent, they have no choice but to go with you.
This idea took a long time for me to grasp. I used to think that BJJ was all about moving around your opponent and wrestling all about moving your opponent around. However it’s the same with both, we only move ourselves, it’s the manner in which we do move that forces our opponents into a takedown or submission.
When you move, you need to move against the weakness you’ve set up with your structure. Go somewhere where they can’t readjust easily.
Also, when we say “move vigorously”, it’s relatively speaking. You need to move faster than they can adapt. This will depend on your skill level compared to theirs, and how tight your structure is. If the structure you’ve set up is super tight, you can afford to walk them to the ground.
Some structures call for speedier takedowns. I’m not saying you should always compensate for a lack of technical ability. Skill is applying your physical attributes in the most economical way possible.
These three components can be used as a diagnostic tool when developing your takedown skills. When you keep failing to hit that firemans, ask yourself: am I setting it up right?; do I keep our bodies/limbs bound together; am I moving against their weakness?; etc.
The great thing is this will show you where you’re going wrong. If you say “but he doesn’t have a weakness” then your set up (structure) isn’t working. If you can’t move against him, you haven’t bound your bodies.
Apply this to your clinch training and see how you get on.