Kampfringen Takedowns

by Keith P. Myers version 10/10//2001

The terms throw and takedown are often used interchangeably. I prefer to make a distinction between them. For our purposes, a throw will refer to any technique which requires taking some of the opponents body weight onto yourself and actually lifting one or both of his feet off the ground. A takedown will refer to any technique in which you lever the opponent across your body to trip him to the ground rather than lifting him up. The terminology used to distinguish between the different categories of takedowns is my own. I. Thigh Lever Takedowns: (in forward direction, both facing forward)

1) The Arm Drag Takedown: This can be set up by moving into an Arm Drag from any of the tie-up positions, by shifting into it from a Double Downward Grab, or by simply repositioning the hands a bit from the Come-Along Straight Armbar. Pivot so that you are facing the same direction as the opponent as you step in front of him. Pull forward and down on his arm to lever him across your leg and onto his face. Counter: Rear Scooping Throw: Bend forward, grab his leg from behind with your free hand, stand up quickly, lift with your free hand and press back with your trapped arm to throw him over onto his back. 2) The Hook: This can be done any time you manage to trap the opponents arm behind your back, and begins as the Hook Straight Armbar. It can be set up by going into the Armbar from a tie-up position, or when using the Hook Armbar to counter a Shoulder Lock. Pivot so that you are facing the same direction as the opponent as you step in front of him and apply the Hook Straight Armbar. Bend forward at the waist and apply continued pressure against his locked arm in order to lever him across your leg and onto his face. 3) The Shoulder Lock Takedown: A Shoulder Lock can be converted into a Thigh Lever Takedown simply by stepping in front of the opponent, bending forward at the waist, and applying additional pressure across his shoulder so that he is levered to the ground in front of you. Counter: Rear Scooping Throw: Similar to the counter described above. Grab his leg from behind with your free arm as you shift your weight back and pull backwards against his shoulder with your trapped arm. Lift his leg as you pull back with your trapped arm and stand upright to throw him over onto his back. 4) The Downward Bent Armbar Takedowns: Any of the Downward Bent Armbars can be converted into a Thigh Lever Takedown simply by stepping in front of the opponent, bending forward at the waist, and applying additional pressure to the armbar so that he is levered across your leg and onto his face. Some specific examples follow:

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II. Back Lever Takedowns: (in backwards direction, both facing forward) 1. The Press: The set up for this can be from a tie-up position or following an escape from an attempted armbar or grab. Step behind the opponent so that you are both facing the same direction while trapping his near arm behind you. At the same time reach across and grab his far arm from in front to prevent a counter. Apply pressure with your arm across his chest to lever him over your leg and onto his back. The press can be preceded by a solid elbow strike to the throat or upper chest for good effect. You can also actually kick/lift up with your Lft leg to sweep his Rt leg out from under him to make it more of a throw than a takedown. Achille Marozzo shows a useful variation that involves grabbing the opponents Rt wrist with your Rt hand as you step in from the outside to place your Lft leg behind his Rt leg; extend your Lft arm across his neck/upper chest, and force him backwards across your Lft leg with your Lft arm to throw him onto his back. Counter: Reversal The Press is counter by simply applying your own Press Back Lever Takedown. Before he can off-balance you, quickly step behind his leg, pass your rear arm over his head and drop it onto his chest, and press him backwards across your leg. 2) The Waist Pull: Again, set ups for this one can vary. It tends to work well from the neck-arm tie-up position. Step behind the opponent as before and reach behind his back and grab his hip. Grab him by the throat or chin with your other hand and then pull him at the hip and push him at the head to lever him over your leg and onto his back. 3) The Neck Twist: From a tie-up position, quickly step behind the opponent and pivot so that you are both facing the same direction. Shoot your arm over his shoulder and behind his neck as you step in and then grab him by the chin or nose from the outside. Press against his chest with your other arm as you twist his neck and head to lever him backwards across your leg. Dei Liberi shows a variation in which you grab the opponents arm instead of trapping it behind your back, and apply the neck twist from the inside rather than the outside. It can also be applied as a mix of the two variations by grabbing the arm as Dei Liberi shows, but still twisting from the outside (seen in Achille Marozzos Opera Nova). 4) Kneeling: This comes from the older section of the Codex Wallerstein. Shoot in almost as if doing a modern wrestling single leg takedown. As you drop to one knee with your planted leg behind the opponents leg, strike him solidly across the abdomen with your lead forearm to start his fall across your leg. Grab him behind his calf with your other hand and lift to help him over onto his back. It is not clear from the illustration whether one should shoot in from straight on, or try and angle off to the side. Work it both ways. This would come in handy if the opponent was swinging at your head with a weapon.

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III) Rear Leg Takedowns: (in backwards direction, facing opposite directions) 1) The Arm Drag: This can be set up from a tie-up position, arm drag, or any exchange that ends up with the opponents arm across your chest. Reach up and trap his arm against your chest with both of your hands at his elbow as you pivot to face the opposite direction and step behind him. Bend at the waist as you pull on his arm to lever him backwards across your leg. Counter: Neck Hook & Fall: As you feel yourself going over backwards, yank your arm loose from his grasp and hook it across his throat. Turn to look at the ground as you go down and extend your free arm out to break your fall. As you land on your side pull him over backwards and drive his head into the ground.

2) The Press: This one flows well from the double-arm tie-up. From the outside grab the opponents arm just above the elbow as you step behind his leg. Press against his upper arm with either your palm or the forearm of your free arm as you pull with your other arm and lever him to the ground backwards over your leg. 3) The Hook: This is probably the simplest and most instinctive of the Rear Leg Takedowns. It can be set up in numerous ways and has several variations. The basic idea is to step behind the opponents leg as you throw your arm around him and lever him backwards. Talhoffers version includes a pull on his arm nearest to you as you throw your other arm around his neck from in front. Durers version has you trapping his nearest arm behind your back as you reach across his chest and under his opposite arm to lever him to the ground. Dei Liberis version ignores his arms completely and just has you catch his neck in the crook of your elbow as you lever him backwards. 4) The Spin: This comes off of the double-arm tie-up. Gain the inside and grab onto his upper arms on both sides. Quickly step behind him as you pull down with one arm and push/lift with the other in order to spin him around and lever him backwards across your leg. 5) The Upward Bent Armbar Takedowns: Any of the Upward Bent Armbars can be converted into a Rear Leg Takedown simply by stepping behind the opponents leg and continuing your forward momentum to send him over backwards across your leg. Counter: The Wrist Block The takedown can be countered by countering the armbar itself before you are off-balanced. Dei Liberi shows the simplest counter, which is to reach up quickly with your free arm and grab your opposite wrist. Then lean forward and pull your arm downward to break his leverage. This can easily be converted into your own Rear Leg Takedown.

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