The double leg takedown, morote gari (双手刈), is a takedown that drives through your partner's hips, both hands on their legs, and reaps them down. BJJ players and wrestlers call it the double leg; judo files it as a hand technique.
- Japanese name: morote gari, 双手刈. The judoinfo.com te-waza page translates it as Double Leg Reaping.
- Kodokan classification: te-waza, a hand technique. The Gokyo no Waza listed on judoinfo.com puts it among the Shinmeisho no Waza, the newer techniques the Kodokan recognised.
- In BJJ: a staple takedown in gi and no-gi. The finish puts you straight into a guard-passing position. Read Judo for BJJ Players for how judo throws carry over.
What is the double leg takedown?
The Kodokan defines morote gari as a technique to reap and throw down the opponent by holding both of his legs from the outside in both hands. It sits with the hand techniques, where the arms do the throwing work and body shifting sets it up.
In BJJ and wrestling the same movement is the double leg: a level change, a penetrating step, two arms around the legs and a drive that takes your partner's base away.
How do you do the double leg takedown?
Built on the Kodokan definition and the way BJJ drills it.
- Set up the entry. Close the distance with a grip or a snap and get your partner standing tall or moving back. A double leg on a braced, bent-over partner runs into their hips.
- Change level. Bend your knees and drop your hips so your head is level with their chest, back straight, eyes up.
- Penetrate. Step deep between their feet with your lead leg and drive your chest forward.
- Hold both legs from the outside. Wrap behind both knees with both hands and pull them tight to your chest while your head stays tight against their hip or ribs on the outside.
- Reap and drive. Pull the legs toward you as you drive your shoulder through their hips, stepping the trailing leg up and around so they fall to the side.
- Finish on top. Follow them down with your head up, control the legs and move straight to a passing position.
The most common mistake is the head. A head that drops below your hips invites a guillotine or a sprawl; keep it up and tight to the outside of their body all the way through. In BJJ the first thing you do after landing is secure position before you look for anything else. Our BJJ training gear covers the kit for takedown drilling.
Video: KODOKAN official channel
Is the double leg legal in judo?
In judo the IJF Sport and Organisation Rules penalise leg grabbing in standing judo with shido: grips under the belt may reach only the top of the inner thigh, so a hand on the leg below that draws a penalty.
In BJJ 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.
What are the common counters to double leg takedown?
The sprawl is the standard answer: your partner throws their legs back and drops their hips onto your shoulders so your drive has nothing to lift. Timing and a deep penetrating step beat it.
Sources
- Kodokan defines morote gari, Kodokan Judo Institute
- Judoinfo.com te-waza page, JudoInfo
- Gokyo no Waza listed on judoinfo.com, JudoInfo
- IJF Sport and Organisation Rules, International Judo Federation
- IBJJF rules, IBJJF
Related terms
Single leg takedown, Sprawl, Snap down, Off-balancing, Guard passing, Hand techniques.