Also called Sprawling, Takedown defence
The sprawl stops a leg takedown by throwing your legs back, dropping your hips onto the attacker's head and shoulders and flattening them to the mat. It is usually the first takedown defence wrestlers and MMA fighters learn, and it lets strikers keep the fight standing: sprawl, circle off and get back up.
Satori's coaches are filming every technique, full speed and slow motion from two angles. Until it's up, the diagram shows the movement step by step.
How to do it
- 1Read the level change: when the opponent's head drops, react.
- 2Throw both legs back and wide, landing on the balls of your feet.
- 3Drive your hips down and forward onto their head and shoulders.
- 4Push their head down or wrap an arm over their back, keeping your chest heavy.
- 5Circle away to the side, then stand up or go behind them.
- Sprawling late, after they have locked their hands around your legs.
- Keeping the hips high, which lets them keep driving.
- Lying flat and staying there instead of circling off or getting up.
Safety: Land on the balls of your feet, not your knees, and keep the shots slow until both partners know the drill.
Drills
Your partner shoots slow double legs; sprawl each one, circle off and stand back into stance, in 30-second rounds where they can shoot on any beat.
Legends known for it
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