Double Leg Entry

What This Is

The double leg takedown drives through both of the opponent’s legs simultaneously — the practitioner’s arms wrap around both legs while the head drives to one side of the opponent’s hip and the near shoulder presses through the opponent’s thighs. The finish drives the opponent backward, lifts both legs, and dumps them to the mat.

The double leg requires the deepest level change of any standing takedown — the practitioner must get below the opponent’s centre of mass completely before the entry. The head going beside the hip (not between the legs) is the defining positional requirement. A double leg attempted from too high will not reach both legs and will be stopped by the opponent’s arm or hip.

The double leg is vulnerable to the sprawl — the opponent driving their hips back and down to remove the target. Because of this, the level change must be aggressive and deep, bringing the practitioner’s head to hip level before the opponent can sprawl. A slow or shallow level change is sprawled every time.

The Invariable in Action

The double leg is the technique most dependent on the level change. The head must reach the opponent’s hip level, meaning the practitioner’s hips must be significantly below the opponent’s hips. Without this depth of level change, the double leg contacts the opponent’s thighs rather than their legs, and the sprawl defence is trivially available.

The double leg controls both legs simultaneously, which means there is no secondary leg to rebalance on. This is the double leg’s decisive advantage over the single leg — the opponent has no rebalancing tool available once both legs are controlled. The finish is more mechanically complete than the single leg because of this bilateral leg control.

The double leg finish drives the opponent to their hips — a full takedown. The drive through both legs with the shoulder creates a force vector that sends the opponent directly backward, bypassing any intermediate position. The double leg, when successfully completed, sends the opponent directly to the mat on their back.

Entering This Position

From Over-Under Clinch

Level change from clinch range — the over-under provides head position that limits the opponent’s sprawl angle. The double leg from clinch is shorter and faster than from distance because the clinch range removes the opponent’s ability to step back defensively. See: Over-Under Clinch.

From High Crotch

The high crotch is an intermediate position with one arm under the opponent’s crotch and the head inside. From here, the other arm reaches around for the second leg to convert to double leg. See: High Crotch.

From Arm Drag

The arm drag creates an angle from which the double leg can be entered without the opponent’s arm in the way — one arm is neutralised by the drag and the other is too far to post effectively. See: Arm Drag.

Entry Mechanics

Level Change

Drop the hips by bending the knees — not the back. The back stays straight; the hips drop. This is the level change that brings the head to hip level. Bending at the back (leaning forward) does not achieve the necessary depth and telegraphs the shot before the level change is complete.

Penetration Step

The lead foot steps between or to the inside of the opponent’s feet — not outside. The head goes to one side of the opponent’s hip. Lead foot, head position, and shoulder drive all target the same side simultaneously.

Shoulder Drive

The near shoulder presses through the opponent’s hip. This is the driving force of the double leg — the shoulder creates a horizontal force vector through the opponent’s body. Arms wrap both legs; shoulder drives; legs follow.

Finish Variants

Lift and Dump

Arms tight around both legs, drive the hips through and lift the legs off the mat. The opponent’s upper body falls backward. This is the classic double leg finish and works when the practitioner achieves deep penetration.

Run the Pipe

Drive the opponent in the direction they are stepping — preventing them from planting the secondary leg. The continuous drive prevents any base from being established.

Cut the Corner

Step to one side after achieving double leg control and drive the opponent’s legs across while stepping around their secondary leg — tripping them to the side.

The Sprawl Defence

The sprawl is the primary counter to the double leg. The opponent drives their hips back and down while throwing their chest forward and extending their legs behind the practitioner’s reach. A successful sprawl takes the legs out of the double leg and puts the practitioner face-down with the opponent’s weight over them.

The sprawl’s effectiveness is directly related to the depth of the practitioner’s level change. If the head has reached hip level, the sprawl requires the opponent to move their entire lower body backward — a large, slow movement. If the head is still above the opponent’s waist, the sprawl requires only a small hip extension — fast and easy.

When sprawled on from a double leg attempt: convert to the front headlock if the head is in front of the opponent’s hips, or convert to a single leg on the near leg if the sprawl is incomplete. See: Sprawl.

Common Errors — and Why They Fail

Error: Bending at the back rather than the hips. Why it fails: INV-ST04. Back-bending does not lower the head to hip level — it just changes the angle of the upper body. The hips stay high and the sprawl defence is available. Correction: Knees bend, back stays straight. Feel the hips drop below the belt line before stepping.

Error: Shooting without a setup — telegraphed double leg. Why it fails: A double leg without prior disruption gives the opponent time to react and sprawl. The level change takes a fraction of a second — the opponent’s sprawl takes the same fraction if they are ready. Correction: Set up the double leg with a head fake, a collar tie snap, or a push-pull that moves the opponent’s base. Enter when their weight is shifted or their attention is on the setup.

Error: Head in the middle (between the opponent’s legs). Why it fails: Head between the legs is the guillotine position — the opponent can clasp hands and apply a guillotine choke. Correction: The head goes to the side of the hip, not between the legs. Penetration step is to the inside of one leg, not to the middle.

Drilling Notes

• Level change depth drill. Practise the level change alone — drop until the head is at hip level, then return to standing. Measure: can the palm be placed flat on the mat from this position without bending the back? This is the target depth. Twenty reps.
• Double leg to finish. From the established double leg position (arms around both legs, shoulder in hip), practise each finish variant cooperatively — lift and dump, run the pipe, cut the corner. Understand what weight distribution creates each finish opportunity.
• Sprawl counter-drill. Partner applies the sprawl on a double leg entry; practitioner converts to front headlock or single leg immediately. This drill trains the scramble response so sprawl defence does not create a complete reset.

Ability Level Guidance

Variations

Blast Double (Power Double)

The blast double is an aggressive variant of the double leg that prioritises explosive forward momentum over technique precision. Where the standard double leg uses a deliberate level change and penetration step, the blast double drives forward at full speed with both arms wrapping the legs — relying on force and commitment to reach the legs before the opponent can sprawl. The head position and arm wrap are the same; what differs is the absence of the measured penetration step.

The blast double trades technique margin for speed. Against an opponent who has already begun sprawling, the blast double can reach the legs before the sprawl is complete. Against a composed opponent with good timing, it exposes the shooter to a guillotine or front headlock because the head position is less controlled without the deliberate penetration step.

It is most effective when the opponent’s weight is forward, their attention is elsewhere, or when the range is already short — clinch range or near-clinch. The blast double from distance requires the same level change depth as the standard double; at clinch range the level change requirement is reduced because the opponent’s legs are already accessible without a full drop.

Common error: Attempting the blast double from distance without any level change — contacting the opponent’s thighs rather than legs, and being sprawled easily. The blast double is an aggressive variant, not a way to avoid the level change.

Also Known As

Related Pages

Concepts layer