In an art that emphasizes ground fighting, a grappler's completeness hinges on their takedown confidence. To be a complete grappler, one must have confidence not only in controlling an opponent on the ground, but also in the ability to get the opponent to the ground. Merely resorting to guard pulling as an alternative is often indicative of lacking confidence in takedowns, and it can translate to a subpar guard pulling ability as well. It has become my understanding that people that are not incompetent with takedowns are often typically uncertain with guard pulling.

The solution is to think of the takedown as a grappling transition, rather than an entirely separate thing. I have systematically reverse engineered this pathway to determine the most seamless flow from standing position to consolidating full control on the ground. The outcome is a collection of low-risk, high-reward takedowns that can be swiftly and safely integrated into your arsenal.