The body lock takedown is a takedown that closes both arms around your partner's waist and brings them down with a trip, a lift or a sit-down. In no-gi BJJ it is a safe, reliable takedown that keeps your head up and away from the guillotine.
- Japanese name: none. The body lock is a wrestling and BJJ term; the judo throws that start from a similar hold have their own names.
- Kodokan classification: none for the body lock itself. O goshi and tani otoshi can be finished from it.
- In BJJ: a core no-gi clinch takedown, because the lock itself denies your partner their guard pull and their grips.
What is the body lock takedown?
A body lock is a grip, and the takedown is whatever you do once you have it. The grip: both arms around the waist with the hands locked, usually palm to palm or with a wrist grip, elbows tight, head on one side of their chest or on their shoulder.
From the lock the finishes are simple. Trip the near leg with your leg behind it, lift and turn them off their feet, or sit down to the side and pull them over your hip, which is the tani otoshi you will see in judo.
How do you do the body lock takedown?
The steps below describe the standard angled body lock and the trip finish.
- Get the underhook or the arm drag. Close distance from a collar tie or an arm drag so you can get one arm under their arm and around their back.
- Close the lock. Bring the other arm around, lock your hands behind their back at belt height, pull your elbows in and your hips into them. Head on the side of the underhook.
- Take the angle. Step your foot on the underhook side to the outside of their foot and turn your hips so one of your hips sits behind one of theirs.
- Break their posture. Squeeze the lock and drive your chest up and into them, bending them backward over your hip, so their weight comes onto their heels.
- Trip and follow. Step your far leg behind their near leg and drive them backward and down over it, keeping the lock closed so you land in side control or on top of half guard.
The most common mistake is locking chest to chest, square on, with your head in the middle and your hips far away. That is the position where your partner lifts you, hits a hip throw or sprawls out. Get the angle before you try to finish, and keep your hips closer to them than your head. Our BJJ training gear is rash guards and spats for rounds with and without the gi.
Is the body lock legal in judo and BJJ?
In judo, the IJF Sport and Organisation Rules give a shido for a bear hug in standing with the hands clasped, unless you already hold a grip; with the hands unclasped it is allowed.
In BJJ the IBJJF Rules Book bans any suplex that drives the opponent's head or neck into the mat and bans slams for everyone, so the lift has to bring them down on the back or side. A takedown scores 2 points under the IBJJF rules once your partner lands on the back, side or seat and you hold the top for three seconds.
Sources
- IJF Sport and Organisation Rules, International Judo Federation
- IBJJF Rules Book, IBJJF
Related terms
Arm drag, Tani otoshi (valley drop), O goshi (hip throw), Double leg takedown, Guard pull, Side control.