Difficulty Level
Unverified

Bodylock Takedown

An upper-body takedown that skips leg attacks entirely. The attacker closes distance into the clinch, wraps both arms around the opponent's torso, and locks their own hands together behind the oppone…

Alternative Names
  • BJJ: Body Lock Takedown
  • Wrestling: Body Lock, Body Lock Takedown

Description

An upper-body takedown that skips leg attacks entirely. The attacker closes distance into the clinch, wraps both arms around the opponent's torso, and locks their own hands together behind the opponent's back (front lock, from the front; rear lock, from behind). With the torso controlled as one unit, the opponent can't post or base out independently. The attacker breaks the opponent's posture by pulling the hips in and bending them forward or arching them back, then finishes by driving/lifting and turning at an angle.

Common Applications

Entered from a collar tie, underhook, or general clinch pummeling exchange rather than a level-change shot; a staple in Greco-Roman wrestling (where leg attacks are illegal) and a common MMA takedown because it avoids exposing the head to strikes the way a low shot does. Finishing angle matters: driving straight back or straight forward gives the opponent's base a chance to recover and opens the door to a counter throw such as Metzger or Tawara Gaeshi.

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