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Should You Train Takedowns in Jiu Jitsu

by matmartial · Published September 24, 2020 · Updated September 24, 2020

Maybe you have been training jiu-jitsu for a six months, maybe you have been training for several years. You know how to apply the Americana, the kimura, and the rear-naked choke. You feel confident in your triangle and your triangle set-ups. You know several variations of the guillotine, and even more leg lock submissions. But do you know how to get the fight to the ground?

Takedowns are an often over-looked part of jiu-jitsu training, even at some of the most respected schools. Perhaps take downs don’t make it into jiu-jitsu curriculum for good reason: they can be dangerous.

Do you know how to take the fight to the ground?

In order to work on your takedowns, you must first know how to fall so that you avoid injury. Sure, many schools require you to practice break-falls, generally the first week of training. Rarely though, do you have a chance to put your break-fall skills to use.

The answer to the question is obvious: yes, you should train takedowns in jiu-jitsu.

Takedowns are essential for success in jiu-jitsu competition

Think about it: have you ever competed in a jiu-jitsu tournament or just watched a jiu-jitsu competition on YouTube or UFC Fight Pass? Surely, you have noticed that all of the matches begin with both competitors on their feet.

If you are going to compete in jiu-jitsu, you must know a variety of take downs in order to increase your chances of success.

Takedowns are essential for self-defense

If you are only training jiu-jitsu for self-defense, studying and practicing takedowns is essential to your survival. Why? What if your attacker is throwing kicks and punches, but your striking ability is limited? You have to take your assailant to the ground in order to utilize the self-defensed skills that you have worked so hard to hone in class.

It’s simple: if the situation requires it, you must be able to take the fight to the ground.

Takedown revolution in jiu-jitsu

Matmartial.com favorites John Danaher and Bernardo Faria recently posted a video about the importance of takedowns in jiu-jitsu to the BJJ Fanatics YouTube channel.

In the video, Danaher proclaims that just as it took about 5 years for leg locks to revolutionize jiu-jitsu. He envisions a takedown revolution will occur over the next five years. Take a look at the video for yourself:

Take downs will revolutionize jiu-jitsu in the next 5 years. – John Danaher

In the video, Danaher and Faria draw a comparison between takedowns in jiu-jitsu and leg locks in jiu-jitsu.

A mere five years ago, the leg lock game in jiu-jitsu was virtually non-existent. However, after a serendipitous encounter with jiu-jitsu black belt and former world champion Dean Lister, Danaher famously shifted the way he approached jiu-jitsu. Lister had posed Danaher the question, “Why would you ignore 50% of the body?”

Since that fateful meeting between Lister and Danaher, the Danaher Death Squad came to prominence. The likes of Gordon Ryan and Gary Tonon became very successful in international competition, initially based on their superior leg lock techniques.

The Best Takedowns for Jiu-Jitsu

And because at matmartial.com we always try to provide useful jiu-jitsu advice and content from knowledgeable sources, here is another video in which John Danaher demonstrates the best takedowns for jiu-jitsu. Hope you learn something useful!