Takedown
A move that brings a standing opponent down to the mat or ground while the attacker gains a controlling position.
Definition
A takedown is a grappling maneuver that takes a standing opponent to the ground, ideally with the attacker ending on top or in control. Common forms include the double-leg and single-leg — attacking the opponent's legs — and upper-body throws and trips. Success depends on level changes, timing and off-balancing the opponent.
Takedowns are central to wrestling, judo, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts, where they can score or set up follow-up control and finishing positions. Different rule sets reward them differently — some emphasise the throw itself, others the control gained afterward — but the shared goal is to move the contest from standing to the ground on the attacker's terms.
Where you’ll hear “takedown”
Sports that use this term:
How it connects
The meaning-bearing relationships that place Takedown in the wider knowledge graph — each one with the reason it exists.
Commonly confused with
Close enough to be mixed up — the distinction is worth knowing.
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Disciplines
- Freestyle WrestlingAn Olympic wrestling style where wrestlers may attack the legs and use holds below the waist to take down and pin their opponent.
- Lead & Sport ClimbingA roped format where the climber ascends from the ground, clipping the rope into protection along the way while a belayer manages it below.
- FoilFoil is a fencing weapon in which touches are scored only with the point on the opponent's torso, governed by right-of-way rules.
Tactics
- Net playControlling the point from close to the net with volleys, smashes and touch shots to cut down an opponent’s time.
- Offside trapA defensive football tactic where the back line steps up together to leave an attacker offside.
- Wing playAttacking down the flanks and crossing the ball into the box to stretch the defence and create chances.
- Man-to-man markingA defensive tactic where each defender is assigned a specific opponent to track and contain.
Muscle groups
Positions
- Full-backA full-back is a defender who plays on the left or right side of the defence, defending the flank while also supporting attacks down the wing.
- Central midfielderA central midfielder operates in the middle of the pitch, linking defence and attack while contributing to both.
- Fly-halfThe fly-half is rugby’s chief decision-maker and tactical kicker, directing the backline and controlling how the team attacks.
- Goal attackThe goal attack is a versatile netball attacker who both feeds the shooter and scores goals, moving through the centre and attacking thirds.
- Small forwardThe small forward is a versatile wing player in basketball who can score inside and outside while also defending multiple positions.
Movement patterns
- LandingThe controlled absorption of force at ground contact that ends an airborne phase, dissipating impact through eccentric triple flexion of the ankle, knee and hip.
- GaitThe cyclic, alternating single-leg pattern of walking and running that carries the body across the ground — the base of most field and endurance sport.
- AccelerationThe athletic pattern of building speed from a standing or slow start by driving large horizontal forces into the ground to project the body forward.
- JumpThe plyometric pattern of projecting the body off the ground through explosive triple extension and controlling the landing — the core expression of lower-body power.
Strategies
- Controlling TempoControlling tempo is the strategy of dictating the pace and rhythm of play — speeding up or slowing down — to suit your strengths and unsettle opponents.
- Zone vs Man MarkingTwo defensive systems compared: zonal marking guards areas of the field, while man-to-man marking assigns each defender a specific opponent to track.
- Building momentumMomentum is the sense that a contest is flowing one side's way — building it means stacking positive plays while working to interrupt an opponent's run.
- Exploiting MatchupsSteering play toward the pairings where you hold an advantage while shielding the pairings where an opponent could hurt you.
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How this page is maintained
- Content type
- Term
- Provenance
- Tier A — evergreen educational
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- Content updated
- 2026-08-04
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