The double leg is the most universally recognised and widely drilled takedown in no-gi grappling. It is the absolute foundation of wrestling-based BJJ and remains the go-to entry for competitors at every level from white belt to world champion. The double leg works by shooting low past your opponent's legs and driving through to take them to the mat with both legs secured. When executed with correct timing and penetration depth, it is fast, powerful, and extremely difficult to defend without prior anticipation.

In no-gi, the double leg is even more potent than in gi competition because there are no collar ties or lapel grips for your opponent to slow your level change. The mechanics rely entirely on timing, level change speed, and penetration. A shallow double leg that fails to clear the hips is the most common failure — this is where opponents sprawl and recover.

• 01Level change — drop sharply at the knees, not the waist. Keep your back straight and head up throughout.
• 02Penetration step — drive your lead foot forward explosively between your opponent's legs, closing the gap completely.
• 03Wrap both legs — secure both arms around your opponent's legs, locking hands behind the knees or upper thighs.
• 04Drive and lift — drive your hips through while lifting their legs and driving your shoulder into their hip to break their base.
• 05Finish and follow — take them to the mat and immediately transition to a scoring position before they recover guard.

The single leg is the most versatile takedown family in no-gi BJJ. Unlike the double leg, it requires securing only one leg — making it faster to initiate, easier to recover from partial shots, and adaptable to a wider range of finishing options. The single leg can be finished from standing (run the pipe, trip finish), from a low position (lift), or with a rotation (tree top). Each finishing variation suits different body types and defensive reactions.

In no-gi competition, the single leg is particularly effective because it can be entered from inside ties, underhook positions, and even from failed double leg attempts. The ability to transition from a double leg to a single leg mid-shot is one of the highest-value skills a no-gi competitor can develop — it converts partial contact into a complete scoring opportunity.

The ankle pick is a technique-first takedown that relies almost entirely on timing and direction change — making it one of the most accessible high-percentage options for smaller, lighter, or more technically oriented grapplers. It works by loading your opponent's weight onto one foot and then picking that foot off the mat while pushing them off-balance in the same direction. No explosion required. No strength differential needed. Pure leverage and timing.

In no-gi competition, the ankle pick is highly effective from a collar tie or head control position. By pulling your opponent's head down and forward, you force weight onto their lead foot — the moment that foot is loaded, a sharp downward scoop of the ankle combined with a lateral push drops them cleanly to the mat.

The body lock — also called the bear hug or body clinch takedown — is one of the most controlled and powerful takedowns in no-gi BJJ. By securing both arms around your opponent's torso and locking hands behind their back or hips, you control their entire upper body and can take them down through trips, lifts, or rotational throws. Once a tight body lock is established, the opponent's primary defence options are limited to before the lock closes — making hand fighting the critical entry skill.

The body lock opens multiple finishing options: the inside trip, the outside trip, the hip toss, the back-arch throw, and the simple drive-through. Against clinch-defensive wrestlers, the body lock is particularly effective because it takes them in a direction they are not typically conditioned to defend — backwards and rotationally, rather than the forward-sprawl reaction they default to.

The duck under is one of the most elegant and valuable takedowns in no-gi BJJ because it simultaneously takes you behind your opponent while directly setting up the highest-value position in the sport. Rather than fighting your opponent's arm strength head-on, the duck under redirects their energy by going underneath their arm and emerging on their back. When timed correctly, it is practically impossible to defend once the motion is committed.

The entry begins from a clinch or wrist control position. By pushing your opponent's arm across their body to load weight in one direction, then explosively ducking your head under that arm and driving through to their back, you achieve position before they can react. This is a misdirection move, not a power move. The setup and timing of the duck determine the result — not the strength of the drive through.

The outside trip — drawing from the judo throw osoto-gari — is one of the most effective clinch-range takedowns in no-gi BJJ. From a tight clinch with head-and-arm control or an underhook, the outside trip works by loading your opponent's weight backwards onto their lead leg, then sweeping that leg from behind the knee with your own leg. The combination of a backward push and a leg sweep creates a fast, hard takedown that is very difficult to defend once the motion is committed.

In no-gi, the outside trip is particularly effective against wrestlers comfortable in deep ties because it takes them backwards — the direction they are least conditioned to defend against. Their forward-drive instinct becomes a liability when combined with a well-timed outside sweep.

The fireman's carry is one of the most spectacular and consistently effective takedowns in no-gi grappling, used regularly at the highest levels of the sport including ADCC and the Abu Dhabi World Pro. It works by securing one arm while threading one of your legs between your opponent's legs, loading them across your back and rotating them to the mat. When executed at full speed, it is practically impossible to stop once the rotation begins.

The fireman's carry requires flexibility, precise timing, and a reliable entry — typically from wrist-and-elbow control with your lead arm under your opponent's arm and your hand gripping their same-side wrist. This takedown can transition directly into leg entanglements or front headlock control depending on how your opponent lands, making it a double-threat from both the finish and the scramble it creates.

The arm drag to single leg is not a single technique — it is a two-movement chain that exploits your opponent's defensive reaction to create a single leg entry. The arm drag pulls your opponent off-balance and rotates their shoulder forward, exposing the lead leg and creating the perfect setup for an immediate single leg shot. This is one of the most frequently used sequences in modern no-gi competition at all experience levels.

What makes this combination so effective is that it exploits reaction: when you drag your opponent's arm, their natural defensive response is to pull back — that pullback reaction drives weight onto their lead leg, which is exactly the condition that makes a single leg shot succeed. You are using their defence against itself. This principle of chain wrestling — linking movements in response to opponent reactions — is the foundation of elite no-gi standing game development.

The hip toss family — drawing from judo throws such as o-goshi and koshi guruma — brings explosive, high-amplitude throwing into no-gi BJJ. The hip toss works by loading your opponent over your hip using an under-arm wrap and using your hip as a fulcrum to rotate them over and down. In no-gi, the underhook that replaces the traditional lapel grip makes this throw surprisingly accessible without gi fabric to grip.

The hip toss is most effective against opponents who are pushing forward aggressively — their own momentum contributes to the throw's power. When your opponent pushes, you turn into them, load their weight onto your hip, and their forward drive does half the work. A well-timed hip toss against a forward-pressure wrestler is one of the cleanest, most demoralising takedowns in the sport.

The high crotch sits between the double leg and single leg in mechanics, combining elements of both. It involves shooting to a position where one arm is behind the opponent's knee and the other is high on the inner thigh — a high crotch grip — which can be finished as a lift, a rotation, or most valuably, transitioned directly into back control. In modern no-gi competition, the high crotch to back take is one of the highest-percentage elite sequences at ADCC and UAEJJF Grand Slam level.

The initial shot gets your head to the outside of your opponent's hip, and from there a series of steps — walking around the leg, switching your hips, and securing your seatbelt — brings you directly to back control. This sequence converts a defensive sprawl into an offensive back take, making it effective even when the initial shot is only partially completed. Two points for the takedown, four for back control — six-point sequence from one entry.