Top 3 Throws All BJJ Fighters Need

3 Highly Effective Takedowns for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Uki Waza:

Uki Waza, or Floating Technique, is a sacrifice throw and one of the original 40 throws in Judo. This is a very effective technique because it is not size or strength dependent and if you mess it up you are usually right by your opponent’s leg to snatch up a single. Bernardo Faira shows this in the first clip. Most of the time you are able to finish the takedown as planned, but as Bernardo Faira shows, you are able to go right into a single leg takedownwhich is another very effective takedown.
When doing Uki Waza, you are disappearing underneath your opponent when they give you some forward pressure. This makes it a great choice for smaller grapplers or anyone who does not want to expend too much energy going for a take down. And as they go over in the second clip, you can add a butterfly hook to help really get larger opponents over. There arenumerous setups and slight variations to this throw making it personal favorite. I am a big fan of options when choosing techniques.

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Bernardo Faira Sacrifice Throw:

Uki Waza Throw with Butterfly Hook:

Single Leg Takedown:

The single leg takedown is a staple of wrestling and a great option for BJJ. BJJ players will often have their hips low and back making a traditional judo type throw difficult, but making snatching up that front leg much easier. The single leg is more strength dependent than some other takedowns, but with the right technique you are able to use considerable leverage making it possible to lift that leg on even larger opponents. As they show in the first clip the drive into your opponent is key to getting the weight off their leg making it easier to lift. If you just try to pick up a leg it is going to be extremely difficult, but using that drive makes it possible on the majority of opponents regardless of their size. And like all my favorite techniques, there are a myriad of options of how to set it up and finish it. Everyone has their favorite setup and finish and almost every YouTube technique video has slight differences based on the instructor’s preference. All those options make your single leg very customizable to your preferences and body type once you learn the basic concepts of the technique.

Stephan Kesting Single Leg Takedown:

Diogo Moreno Araujo Single Leg Takedown :

Kouchi Gari:
The Kouchi Gari, or Small Inner Reap, is exactly what the name says;a small reap on the foot coming from the inside. It is one of the original 40 Judo throws and is classified as a foot technique. Trips and foot sweeps in general are effective throws for Jiu Jitsu because you do not need to get under your opponent’s hips. The majority of BJJ players will have their hips low and back making many throws difficult, they also tend to move backwards on the feet shutting down many takedown options. In Judo and wrestling a person gets bumped for stalling if they move back too much, so that forward pressure is why you see more of those bigger high impact throws than in BJJ. But that does not mean we can’t get our own throws or take downs. As you can see in the first clip, the arm drag is a fantastic entrance to the Kouchi Gari. I have been on the receiving end of that exact technique too many times and it is tough to deal with. This is a great setup for smaller scrappier grapplers, but the Kouchi Gari is not only for fast athletic people (check The Sode Tsurikomi Goshi by Katelyn Jarrell). With the correct timing you are able to knock anyone off their feet with very little effort and a small amount of movement.

Arm Drag Kouchi Takedown:

Kouchi Gari Takedown:

These are just three of the takedowns I find to be most effective for BJJ, but there are countless other options for you all. That is one of the great things about Jiu Jitsu, it is completely customizable to you. Once you get the basic concepts of controlling the hips the options are endless as to the techniques you can make work for you. I do not even really use the Kouchi Gari personally, but I have been put on my butt enough times to see the value of that technique. What works for some may not work for me, and what works for me may not work for you. And that is what I love about Jiu Jitsu, it is a personal journey. Learn as much as you can and keep what works for you. Be like water my friend. See you on the mats.

Takedowns can be the deciding factor in Jiu Jitsu matches, MMA and in Self Defense. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Judo both have their roots in Japanese Ju jitsu. While BJJ takes more of a "ground approach", judo focuses exclusively on the throws. The best throwers in the world are Judo Olympian. 2 of the best Olympians in the world are Travis Stevens and Jimmy Pedro. They have a DVD / On Demand series called Takedown Blueprint which gives you the secrets to throwing effectively and powerfully for Jiu Jitsu.

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