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Sprawl (shot defense)
They shoot for your legs and you throw your hips back and down onto their shoulders. Done on time, it turns their takedown into your front headlock or a go-behind.
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Essentials
They shoot for your legs and you throw your hips back and down onto them. The sprawl is the core takedown defense in jiu-jitsu and wrestling, and it puts you in a front headlock or behind them.
Your goals
- Hips back and down as soon as their head drops
- Weight on their shoulders and head
- Circle to their back or clamp a front headlock
What they want
- Finish the takedown
- Lift their head and come back up
Key principles
- Timing: sprawl when their head drops
- Hips to the mat, not knees
Common mistakes
- Sprawling late after they’ve locked their hands
- Landing on your knees
Techniques to learn
Each one opens its own page and video.
Submissions
GuillotineChoke · FundamentalWhere it leads
- Moves from here
- Front headlockTurtle (top)Back controlStanding
If this happens…
- they shoot a double legSprawl your hips back, crossface and circle behind
- they lift their head to recoverSnap them back down into the front headlock
Advanced detailsTransitions, threats, reactions, troubleshooting and a sparring drill
1. Overview
They shoot for your legs and you throw your hips back and down onto their shoulders. Done on time, it turns their takedown into your front headlock or a go-behind.
Key controls
- Hips back and heavy on their shoulders
- Legs back and wide, on your toes
- Crossface or underhook to block their head
- Your head higher than theirs
In this position
4 transitions · 0 sweeps · 1 submissions · 3 reactions · 2 troubleshooting fixes · 1 sparring exercise · 3 techniques
Read about itGrapplearts articlesBJJ Heroes
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Test yourselfSprawl (shot defense) lesson quiz5 questions · pass with 4