Is it possible to achieve brown/black level and suck at takedowns?

[Will Thaxton]

I'm not saying not know them at all but what if they were no where near the level of the rest of your game? I know it is common for older guys to not compete and make it to black. Starting from knees 99% of the time my take downs suck. I feel like I need to step up my training to make it to the next level but takedowns honestly scare me a bit. I had back surgery last year, will be 40 in a few months and I have to be able to go to work the next day. Thoughts?

[Aiseop]

No. You won't suck as long as your school works on them once in a while. But you don't need to be a master at them to be a black belt.

[Mario Lopez Alvarez]

I sure hope its possible for my sake! Lol

Im kidding. Obviously they are super important and i think you've got to have a least a couple solid ones up your sleeve (does t have to be a double leg). But look at eddie. He admits his wrestling is not that great and he is a third degree black belt.

Just to be safe, have an all around game. Try and get good at trips to keep your back safe

[NotReady]

Possible? I think it's very common.

Starting from the knees is a problem. In addition to keeping you from working takedowns, it also hinders your ability to learn competition style guard pulls. Pulling guard standing is a lot different and more difficult than sitting to your butt from the knees.

Honestly if you work seated guard, deep half, dog fight, etc you are learning how to finish single legs, which are takedowns. Once you get confident there, you can start adding set ups from the feet.

If you want to work on takedowns, make sure you drill or spar with someone with wrestling experience. There might be more of a learning curve at first, but you won't stand the same risk of injury like when you go with someone inexperienced that will behave unpredictably.

[Will Thaxton]

All good points. As GI Jiu Jitsu is not for everyone, Judo/Wrestling is just not my thing. Absolutely agree they are very important if you want to compete but only a small percentage of us do. Some say if you don't study self defense your missing out. Again, (hopefully no one comes at me with a knife), it's not my thing.

[Brandon Mccaghren]

Honestly if you work seated guard, deep half, dog fight, etc you are learning how to finish single legs, which are takedowns. Once you get confident there, you can start adding set ups from the feet.

Great point. I didn't start feeling confident being on my feet until I started understanding this.

Nice to have legit Black Belts from other organizations posting regularly on the forum, by the way. Thanks for hanging around and sharing your knowledge with us!

[NotReady]

Thanks for having me. This is probably the best natured jiu jitsu forum I have ever been on so I am really happy to be here.

I went to a wrestling club in high school where they taught the finishes first, and the set ups for take downs second. I thought that was a really interesting way to do things. Obviously you are more likely to try a move if you have confidence you can see it through to completion. And then wrestling in college I learned that getting in on the legs is the easy part, finishing those takedowns is where the real work begins.

I think the other thing wrestling does a lot but BJJ not as much is positional sparring. If you take two non-wrestlers have them start on the feet in a free for all, chances of injury are pretty high. If instead you teach a single finish and then a single leg defense, and then have people spar starting with a single leg chances for injury go down a lot. People have a clear goal and techniques to get there, so they are not using strength or speed to force something. That is where people get hurt.

[David Rosado]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and assume that the Miyao's have sub par take downs and they're killer black belts.

[Will Thaxton]

Thanks for having me. This is probably the best natured jiu jitsu forum I have ever been on so I am really happy to be here.

I went to a wrestling club in high school where they taught the finishes first, and the set ups for take downs second. I thought that was a really interesting way to do things. Obviously you are more likely to try a move if you have confidence you can see it through to completion. And then wrestling in college I learned that getting in on the legs is the easy part, finishing those takedowns is where the real work begins.

I think the other thing wrestling does a lot but BJJ not as much is positional sparring. If you take two non-wrestlers have them start on the feet in a free for all, chances of injury are pretty high. If instead you teach a single finish and then a single leg defense, and then have people spar starting with a single leg chances for injury go down a lot. People have a clear goal and techniques to get there, so they are not using strength or speed to force something. That is where people get hurt.

Makes a ton of sense. Thanks.

[Chris Herzog]

No. You won't suck as long as you're school works on them once in a while. But you don't need to be a master at them to be a black belt.

Only working them every once in awhile wont make you any better than "suck" level. They need constant diligent work like ever other skill.