Body Lock Takedown
Mat mode
3:00
Tell the roomStart in the over-under clinch.
Show full gameHide full gameRules · how to win · coach notes
BOTH PLAYERS
TOP PLAYER and BOTTOM PLAYER share these rules.
POSITION
Each player takes one underhook and one overhook. Chest to chest, hips square, head on the underhook side.
OBJECTIVE
Start in the over-under clinch. Lock your hands around their torso, then finish any takedown from there. The lock has to be in before the takedown starts.
CONSTRAINTS
Lock before you attack. No takedown attempt without the hands clasped around the torso. No leg attacks. Stay at clinch range. No shots to the legs. Stay connected. Keep one point of clinch contact. Full disengagement is a penalty point. No guard pulls or sacrifice throws. Finish from a standing base, not by dropping under them. Reset when either player lands a takedown from the lock — trip, lift, throw, or mat return — while staying in a controlling position. 3-5 min rounds.
WIN CONDITION
Any takedown from the lock: lock the hands first, then trip, lift, throw, or mat return; land the takedown while staying in a controlling position.
BOTTOM PLAYER
POSITION
Each player takes one underhook and one overhook. Chest to chest, hips square, head on the underhook side.
OBJECTIVE
Start in the over-under clinch. Lock your hands around their torso, then finish any takedown from there. The lock has to be in before the takedown starts.
CONSTRAINTS
Same lock-before-you-attack, no-leg-attack, stay-connected, no-guard-pull, and named reset rules. 3-5 min rounds.
WIN CONDITION
Any takedown from the lock: lock the hands first, then trip, lift, throw, or mat return; land the takedown while staying in a controlling position.
In competition
See it in competition: 5 Minutes of Crazy Greco-Roman Wrestling Throws →
Grapplers Collective, Body Lock Takedown. 3-5 min rounds.
Problem
Hip positioning and force direction for finishing body lock takedowns.
Tell the room
Start in the over-under clinch. Lock your hands around their torso, then finish any takedown from there. The lock has to be in before the takedown starts.
Setup
Start in the over-under clinch. Each player takes one underhook and one overhook. Chest to chest, hips square, head on the underhook side.
Score
Any takedown from the lock.
- Lock the hands first, then trip, lift, throw, or mat return
- Land the takedown while staying in a controlling position
Rules
- Lock before you attack. No takedown attempt without the hands clasped around the torso.
- No leg attacks. Stay at clinch range. No shots to the legs.
- Stay connected. Keep one point of clinch contact. Full disengagement is a penalty point.
- No guard pulls or sacrifice throws. Finish from a standing base, not by dropping under them.
Adjust
Easier
One player starts with the body lock secured. The locker wins by takedown, the defender by breaking the grip and re-pummeling.
Harder
Takedowns must lead to side control, mount, or back held 3 seconds. Counter-takedowns during their lock score double.
If it stalls
If athletes lock high on the chest and squeeze, cue: “Lock low around the hips, where their base is.”
takedowns