Sprawl Counter Chain
takedowns
Grapplers Collective, Sprawl Counter Chain. 3-5 min rounds.
Problem
Chaining a leg tackle into a hip pin or back take, and counter-attacking the back when the sprawl lands.
Tell the room
Attacker tackles a leg and finishes on top. The defender's hands stay clasped behind the back until the legs are touched. Attacker scores a hip pin held 5 seconds or a locked rear naked choke from the back.
Setup
Start with the defender's hands clasped. Defender stands with hands clasped behind the lower back. Attacker stands at shooting range, hands free.
Score
Hips pinned, back taken, or reversed.
- Attacker — pin their hips for 5 continuous seconds with no submission threat from them
- Attacker — take the back and lock a rear naked choke grip
- Defender — get on top, or stand and separate completely
- Defender — finish any strangle
Rules
- Enter with a leg tackle. No throws, body locks, or front headlocks from upright.
- Defender's hands stay clasped until contact. Then they get full access to grips, frames, and strangles.
- No leg locks. Neither player attacks the legs for submissions.
Adjust
Easier
Any locked chest-to-back sandwich held 3 seconds counts for the attacker, no choke grip needed.
Harder
Free both players' hands and open full standing engagement — collar ties, underhooks, snaps — before the shot.
If it stalls
If the attacker abandons the shot the moment the sprawl lands, cue: “The sprawl is your invitation, not the end.”
TOP PLAYER (ATTACKER)
POSITION
Attacker stands at shooting range, hands free.
OBJECTIVE
Attacker tackles a leg and finishes on top. Attacker scores a hip pin held 5 seconds or a locked rear naked choke from the back.
CONSTRAINTS
Enter with a leg tackle. No throws, body locks, or front headlocks from upright. Defender's hands stay clasped until contact. Then they get full access to grips, frames, and strangles. No leg locks. Neither player attacks the legs for submissions.
WIN CONDITION
pin their hips for 5 continuous seconds with no submission threat from them; take the back and lock a rear naked choke grip
BOTTOM PLAYER (DEFENDER)
POSITION
Defender stands with hands clasped behind the lower back.
OBJECTIVE
The defender's hands stay clasped behind the back until the legs are touched.
CONSTRAINTS
Enter with a leg tackle. No throws, body locks, or front headlocks from upright. Defender's hands stay clasped until contact. Then they get full access to grips, frames, and strangles. No leg locks. Neither player attacks the legs for submissions.
WIN CONDITION
get on top, or stand and separate completely; finish any strangle