Let’s face it. Takedowns are a critical part of BJJ. I know it, the IBJJF knows it, as you get 2 points every time you execute a clean takedown in a competition. Even though it’s not what BJJ is about, you can’t ignore takedowns and throws, as they’ll give you a great advantage in many fights.
But, many grapplers think that they’re illegal in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. First, let’s see whether it is true:
Takedowns are legal in BJJ unless they’re Suplex takedowns, which in that case, they’re illegal. The IBJJF permits the use of throws and takedowns, as long as you’re not slamming your opponent on the ground with his head or neck as the first contact point with the ground.
So, what are suplex takedowns and why are they illegal? Furthermore, which throws are legal and should I learn to become a better grappler?
We’ll cover all of that in this article, so stay tuned for the rest. Let’s first cover whether Judo throws are legal in BJJ, and if so, which ones are the best ones. I’m confident that this is the only resource you need to understand the rules regarding takedowns and BJJ. So without further ado, let’s dive in.
Are Judo Throws Legal in BJJ?
Throwing your opponent to the ground in all grappling-based martial arts, including MMA, will give you an advantage. It’s also a great skill to have if you’re in a street fight because it’ll allow you to control the fight and gain the upper hand.
However, it might get confusing when you mix the different fighting styles up. Therefore, let’s now review whether Judo throws are legal in BJJ. Throws are a superb addition to your toolbox, especially if you’re still developing your fighting style. But are they legal?
Judo throws are legal in BJJ, as long as they’re not suplex and don’t include the head or the neck as the first contact point with the ground. If either one is the case, the move will be deemed illegal, which means you’ll get disqualified if you use it in a competition
Here’s a case where a BJJ grappler used a suplex takedown to knock out his opponent. As you can guess, this is not what BJJ should look like. Nevertheless, it was a beautiful execution.
So to conclude this section, Judo definitely applies to BJJ. Here are some of the best takedowns and throws you can learn in BJJ that originate from Judo:
- Ouchi Gari
- Kouchi Gari
- Foot Sweep
- Uchi Mata
- Seoi Nage
And if you want to learn more about how to execute the best takedowns in BJJ, follow this link!
Why Are Suplex Takedowns Illegal in BJJ?
You might have heard of the term Suplex, typically in Wrestling. Regardless if you have, it’s a term you want to understand before you begin your takedown journey in BJJ or any other grappling fighting style. By understanding what it is, you’ll be able to avoid or focus, depending on the martial art you’re learning, on learning them.
Suplex Takedowns are illegal in BJJ because they combine lifting and slamming motions, typically powerfully on the ground. Suplex throws include slamming the opponent’s head or neck on the ground, which has a higher likelihood of causing brain damage, neck pain, or any other type of head trauma.
These are moves you want to avoid unless you’re specifically training for self-defense or Wrestling. If you’re doing either, these can help you cause additional damage to the opponent, which is fantastic in these specific cases.
However, when you’re doing BJJ, which primarily focuses on ground grappling, the only plausible outcome is causing unnecessary damage to your opponent’s head or neck, which we want to avoid at all costs.
BJJ isn’t about injuring your opponent, but it’s about keeping everyone safe while learning to fight properly. So Suplex Takedowns don’t help us in completing this task. Instead, it harms it.
Here’s a visual aid of what the Suplex is and why it can cause unnecessary damage to your opponent.
Are Takedowns Effective in BJJ?
Let’s assume you’re training in BJJ. Your primary focus will be to understand the dominant positions, such as Side Control, Back Mount, and Full Mount while learning to use them to attack your opponent with a submission. However, takedowns become more and more popular in BJJ. Let’s see whether they’re effective and whether you should learn them.
Takedowns are effective in BJJ because they allow you to transition from a standing position to attain a dominant position on the ground, most commonly Side Control and Full Mount. Some throws allow you to take the opponent’s back and get Back Mount, giving you the advantage in the fight.
The IBJJF has realized the amount of power takedowns have, so they decided that every grappler who takes his opponent to the ground and attains a dominant position—will get 2 points, another incentive for many grapplers to learn them.
But do you know why such moves work well in BJJ? Because people don’t expect you to go for one of these in a Jiu-Jitsu competition. Therefore, you’ll be less expected, making you a more dynamic and overall better grappler.
So to conclude, you want to learn takedowns and throws if you’re training in BJJ!
Which Teaches Takedowns, BJJ, Judo, or Wrestling?
Most grappling-based martial arts teach takedowns. Therefore, if learning them is your goal, you can choose either one. However, some fighting styles will focus more on such techniques, while others focus on other things.
BJJ, Judo, and Wrestling all teach takedowns since they’re relevant techniques to fighting. They allow you to take your opponent from a position where he feels comfortable, standing up, to an inferior position where he’s on the ground and has no techniques to counter.
However, the focus of BJJ isn’t throws. In fact, it’s only the modern style that developed such moves to be so popular. Most BJJ trainees have heard of takedowns and are familiar with at least a single one, as they understand how potent these types of moves can be.
Nonetheless, the primary focus of both Judo and Wrestling is takedowns. Therefore, if that’s something that is more appealing to you and that you want to learn more about, Judo and Wrestling are more suitable for you.
Overall, BJJ, in my eyes, is a much more effective martial art since it teaches proper ground grappling. If you combine BJJ with a fighting style like boxing or kickboxing, you get an even more potent combination!
Are Double Leg Takedowns Allowed in BJJ?
The next section should come off as interesting to you since it highlights the fact that takedowns in BJJ are becoming more and more prevalent. We’ll now examine the case of Double Leg Takedowns, a fantastic and effective move that helps us get our opponents to the ground effectively.
The Double Leg Takedown is allowed in BJJ, since it’s not a suplex throw and doesn’t involve slamming our opponent’s head on the floor. Therefore, the Double Leg Takedown is becoming more and more popular amongst BJJ trainees and coaches.
The interesting thing here is the fact that it’s illegal in Judo. Yes, you can learn this takedown in BJJ and not in Judo, which means that the first is starting to emphasize the use of such techniques in its style.
BJJ trainees are starting to learn takedowns more often, making these techniques something you want to focus on rather than avoid.
However, it’s important to note that different BJJ competitions may have specific rules and regulations regarding takedowns. Some competitions may have restrictions on certain takedowns that are considered too dangerous, such as techniques that involve slamming an opponent to the ground. These rules are implemented to prioritize the safety of the participants.
Final Words
Takedowns are a technique that’s getting more and more popular in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. While they’re primarily taught in other grappling-based martial arts, like Judo and Wrestling, BJJ has begun adopting them.
They’re getting more widespread mainly because of their effectiveness and utility. You’ll be able to take your opponent from a standing position to the ground and attain a more dominant position, such as Full Mount and Side Control.
So yes, takedowns are definitely legal in BJJ.
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