What Is A Snap Down BJJ
Wrestling and Jiu Jitsu are two martial arts that complement each other well. While jiu jitsu focuses on submissions and ground fighting, wrestling is known for its takedowns and takedown defence.
The two styles have similar principles, such as the importance of leverage, positioning, and control.
One wrestling technique that is particularly beneficial for jiu jitsu and submission nogi grappling is the snap down.
The snap down is a technique used to bring an opponent down to the ground from a standing position.
It involves grabbing the back of the opponent's neck and pulling down while stepping back with one foot, causing the opponent to lose balance and fall forward.
Incorporating the snap down into jiu jitsu and submission grappling can be highly effective.
It allows the practitioner to take control of the opponent's posture and set up various chokes, such as the guillotine, Dar'ce chokes, along with the anaconda chokes.
The snap down technique goes hand in hand with other wrestling techniques like the double leg, single leg, and high crotch.
It can be used to set up these takedowns by breaking the opponent's posture and creating an opening for the practitioner to shoot in for the takedown.
One of the main benefits of learning the snap down is its effectiveness against opponents who have a strong defensive guard.
By breaking their posture, the practitioner can prevent the opponent from establishing a strong base while standing, making it easier to get your opponent to open up their guard, and win the hand fighting battle.
The snap down is also useful for controlling the opponent's movement and dictating the pace of the match.
By controlling the opponent's posture and movements, the practitioner can force them to move in a way that is advantageous for the practitioner.
It's worth noting that incorporating wrestling techniques like the snap down into jiu jitsu and submission grappling can be challenging at first.
How To Do A Snap Down - Short Video
Wrestling requires a different skill set than jiu jitsu, and it may take time to develop the necessary technique and timing.
However, with practice and dedication, the benefits of incorporating wrestling techniques can be significant.
That's why I created the "Wrestling for Jiu Jitsu" courses. I felt that the stand-up game in jiu jitsu was lacking and that many practitioners were missing out on the benefits of incorporating wrestling techniques into their game.
The courses are designed to teach jiu jitsu practitioners the fundamentals of wrestling, including takedowns, takedown defence, and positioning and so forth.
By learning these skills, practitioners can improve their overall game and become more well-rounded grappler and martial artists.
In conclusion, the snap down is a highly effective wrestling technique that can benefit jiu jitsu and submission nogi grappling.
It can be used to control the opponent's posture, set up takedowns, and open up opportunities for submissions.
By incorporating wrestling techniques into their game, jiu jitsu practitioners can improve their overall skills and become more well-rounded martial artists.
How To Do A Snap Down
1. Position yourself correctly: Start by positioning yourself in front of your opponent. Your feet should be shoulder-width apart, with your lead foot pointing towards your opponent. Keep your knees bent and your weight on the balls of your feet.
2. Get a grip: Reach out and grab the back of your opponent's neck with one hand. This grip should be strong and secure, with your fingers clasped around the neck. Your other hand can either reach out and grab your opponent's wrist or their opposite elbow.
3. Step back: Step back with your lead foot, creating space between you and your opponent. This should cause your opponent to step forward to maintain their balance.
4. Pull down: As your opponent steps forward, use your grip on their neck to pull down with force. You want to pull their head down towards the ground while maintaining control of their body. This will break their posture and put them off-balance.
5. Follow up: As your opponent falls forward, you can follow up with a takedown, such as a double leg or single leg. Alternatively, you can move to a submission like a guillotine choke or an anaconda.
6. Stay balanced: It's important to maintain your own balance throughout the technique. Keep your knees bent and your weight on the balls of your feet. This will allow you to react quickly to any counter-moves from your opponent.
To perform an effective snap down, timing is crucial. You need to pull down at the right moment when your opponent is off-balance and moving forward.
It's also important to maintain a strong grip on your opponent's neck throughout the technique.
This will give you better control and make it more difficult for your opponent to defend. Practice is key to mastering the snap down technique.
It may take some time to develop the necessary strength and timing, but with practice and dedication, you can become proficient at this highly effective wrestling technique.
The Goal Of The Snap Down
The main goal of a snap down is to pull your opponent down to the ground into a front headlock position, where they are carrying your weight.
In wrestling, this position is also known as a front head cover. From here, you can score points by executing a go-behind or spin-behind to take your opponent's back and earn a takedown.
The go-behind is a wrestling technique that involves circling behind your opponent and taking them down from behind.
It is a very effective move that can be used to score points and gain control of the match.
Once you have taken your opponent's back in wrestling, you can look for a turn over and pin to finish the match.
A turn over involves exposing your opponent's back to the mat while maintaining control of them. If you can hold them there for a predetermined amount of time, you can earn a pin and win the match.
In jiu-jitsu, the front headlock position is known as a front turtle position, and it is often used as a defensive position to avoid being taken down or to prevent your opponent from getting to their guard.
From this position, same as with wrestling, you would be looking circle around to a side turtle or back turtle position, so you can work to get your hooks in and control your opponent's back, which is a very dominant position in jiu-jitsu.
From here, you can look for different submissions to finish the match, such as a rear naked choke, a collar choke, or an armbar.
A rear naked choke is a submission hold that involves wrapping your arm around your opponent's neck and applying pressure to choke them.
A collar choke involves grabbing your opponent's collar and applying pressure to their neck to choke them.
An armbar involves controlling your opponent's arm and hyperextending their elbow joint to force them to tap out.
In conclusion, while the snap down and front headlock position are important techniques in both wrestling and jiu-jitsu, the strategies for scoring points and finishing a match can differ between the two sports.
In wrestling, you may look to take your opponent's back and score points with a turn over and pin, while in jiu-jitsu, you may focus on controlling your opponent's back and finishing the match with different submissions.
When A Snap Down Fails
It creates an opportunity for your opponent to counter-attack. Therefore, it's essential to have a backup plan and transition to another move quickly. Here are some techniques that you can use:
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Double Leg Takedown: When your snap down fails, you can immediately transition to a double leg takedown by changing levels and shooting in for your opponent's legs. The double leg takedown involves driving your shoulder into your opponent's thigh and lifting them off the ground to take them down.
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Single Leg Takedown: Another option is to transition to a single leg takedown by reaching for your opponent's leg and driving forward to take them down. The single leg takedown can be done with different grips and setups, such as the high crotch or the low single.
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High Crotch: The high crotch is a wrestling move that involves grabbing your opponent's leg and lifting it up to your shoulder before driving them down. It is a powerful takedown that can be used from different angles, including the front, side, and back.
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Fireman's Carry: The fireman's carry is a wrestling move that involves wrapping your arm around your opponent's neck and lifting them up before taking them down. It is an effective move that can be done quickly and can catch your opponent off-guard.
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Head Inside Single: The head inside single is a wrestling move that involves grabbing your opponent's leg with your head on the inside and driving them down to the mat. It is a low-risk move that allows you to control your opponent's leg and take them down.
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Ankle Pick: The ankle pick is a wrestling move that involves reaching for your opponent's ankle and pulling it out from under them before taking them down. It is an effective move that can be used to catch your opponent off-guard and take them down quickly.
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Sweep Single: The sweep single is a wrestling move that involves sweeping your opponent's leg out from under them before taking them down. It is a versatile move that can be done from different angles and can catch your opponent off-guard.
In conclusion, when a snap down fails, it's important to have a backup plan and transition to another move quickly.
The double leg and single leg takedowns are classic wrestling moves that can be done quickly and effectively.
The high crotch, fireman's carry, head inside single, ankle pick, and sweep single are also great techniques that can catch your opponent off-guard and take them down to the mat.
Attacking the Neck from a Failed Snap Down
When you attempt a snap down on your opponent and it fails, it may create an opportunity to attack their neck. Here are some ways to do so:
Front Headlock: When your opponent defends the snap down, you can quickly transition to a front headlock by wrapping your arm around their neck and controlling their chin with your hand. From here, you can work on setting up various chokes.
Guillotine Choke: The guillotine choke is a common submission that involves trapping your opponent's neck with your arms, creating a wedge around their throat, and then applying pressure to cut off their blood flow and air supply.
It can be done from a standing position or on the ground, and there are different variations, including the arm-in guillotine, the high elbow guillotine, and the low elbow guillotine.
D'Arce Choke: The D'Arce choke is a chokehold that involves encircling your opponent's neck with your arm, trapping their arm, and then applying pressure to their neck.
It is a powerful submission that can be executed from different positions, including the side control, half guard, and turtle position.
Anaconda Choke: The anaconda choke is a submission hold that involves wrapping your arm around your opponent's neck, trapping their arm, and then rolling to apply pressure to their neck. It is similar to the D'Arce choke, but with a different grip and angle of pressure
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There are various opportunities to attack your opponent's neck from a failed snap down technique, and there are different types of chokes you can use in Jiu-Jitsu or submission grappling competitions.
Each choke requires proper technique and execution to be effective, and it's important to train and practice them under the supervision of a qualified instructor.
Remember, the goal is not to harm your opponent but to win the match by submitting them with a clean and effective technique.
Can You Do A Snap Down In The Gi
The answer is yes, believe it or not, it can be a lot easier. To perform the snap down in BJJ when you are wearing a Gi, you first need to establish a grip on your opponent's gi lapel with one hand.
This grip should be made as high up on the lapel as possible, close to your opponent's collarbone, to give you more leverage and control over their upper body.
With your other hand, you can either establish a grip on your opponent's opposite elbow or triceps, or simply use your hand to push their arm down.
From this position, you can initiate the snap down by pulling down on your opponent's lapel while pushing their arm down with your other hand.
This will force your opponent to bend forward at the waist, allowing you to gain control over their upper body and create openings for takedowns or submissions.
You can also use the snap down to set up other techniques like the double leg takedown, single leg takedown, or front headlock.
The gi lapel provides a solid grip that can make it easier to perform the snap down. With a strong grip on the lapel, you can exert more control over your opponent's upper body and use your weight and leverage to bring them down to the mat.
Additionally, the lapel grip can be used to keep your opponent off-balance and prevent them from establishing a strong base.
However, it's important to remember that the gi lapel can also be used against you if you're not careful. Your opponent may be able to use your lapel grip to control your movements or set up submissions of their own.
So, be sure to stay aware of your opponent's movements and maintain proper balance and posture while executing the snap down.
A very similar technique to this would be the collar drag, this is a important technique for anyone training in the Gi to know. Check out the short video below or even head to Jiu Jitsu Grappling for the full breakdown
Who Has The Best Snap Down?
It is difficult to name just one wrestler as the best at the snap down in competition, as the effectiveness of the technique often depends on the individual's skill and experience, as well as the opponent's level of preparation and ability to defend against it.
However, there have been many successful wrestlers throughout history who have utilised the snap down to great effect in competition.
One notable wrestler who was particularly skilled at the snap down was John Smith. Smith is a retired American wrestler who won two Olympic gold medals and four world championships in freestyle wrestling.
He was known for his aggressive style and his ability to control his opponents with techniques like the snap down.
Smith was able to use his quickness and technical proficiency to set up the snap down and take his opponents down to the mat.
Another wrestler who was known for his proficiency in the snap down was Dan Gable.
Gable is a retired American wrestler and coach who won a gold medal at the 1972 Olympics and is considered one of the greatest wrestlers of all time.
He was known for his technical proficiency and his ability to dominate opponents with techniques like the snap down. Gable was able to use the snap down to control his opponents and set up takedowns.
In recent years, wrestlers like Kyle Dake and Jordan Burroughs have also been known to utilise the snap down in competition.
Dake is a two-time NCAA champion and four-time national champion in freestyle wrestling. He has used the snap down to control his opponents and set up takedowns in both collegiate and international competition.
Burroughs is a four-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling. He is known for his quickness and ability to set up the snap down to control his opponents and take them down to the mat.
In summary, there have been many successful wrestlers throughout history who have utilised the snap down to great effect in competition.
John Smith, Dan Gable, Kyle Dake, and Jordan Burroughs are just a few examples of wrestlers who have used the snap down to control their opponents and set up takedowns in high-level competition.
Strong Stance In Wrestling And Jiu Jitsu
Level changing and maintaining a strong stance are both critical components of successful takedowns in both wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu.
In fact, these elements are so important that they are often considered to be the foundation of any good takedown game.
Level changing involves adjusting the height of your body in order to create opportunities for takedowns.
By changing your level, you can force your opponent to react and create openings for you to shoot in for a takedown or execute a snap down.
Best Jiu Jitsu Takedowns - Blog
This requires a lot of coordination and timing, as well as the ability to read your opponent's movements and react quickly.
Maintaining a strong stance is equally important. A strong stance allows you to keep your balance and maintain a stable base while you are attempting to execute a takedown.
A good stance will also make it more difficult for your opponent to take you down or score points against you.
In wrestling, a strong stance involves keeping your feet shoulder-width apart with your knees slightly bent, your back straight, and your weight evenly distributed between both legs.
In Jiu-Jitsu, the stance is similar, with a focus on keeping your hips low and your weight distributed evenly over both feet.
Having a strong stance and level changing ability can also help you to avoid being taken down by your opponent.
If you can maintain a solid base and anticipate your opponent's movements, you will be better able to defend against takedowns and take control of the match.
In addition to helping with takedowns, having a strong stance and level changing ability can also be beneficial in other aspects of grappling.
For example, these skills can help you to set up submissions or sweeps by creating openings and controlling your opponent's movements.
In Jiu-Jitsu, a strong stance and level changing ability can also be useful for passing the guard or escaping from submissions.
In summary, level changing and maintaining a strong stance are crucial skills for anyone looking to improve their takedown game in wrestling or Jiu-Jitsu.
These skills allow you to create opportunities for takedowns, defend against your opponent's attacks, and set up other techniques like submissions and sweeps.
With practice and dedication, you can develop a strong foundation of these skills and take your grappling game to the next level.
I hope you all enjoyed this blog and if you would like to learn more about different jiu jitsu techniques.
Go to Jiu Jitsu Grapplings members area. Which has a free trial, with hundreds of different videos and courses.
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About the author: Gavin Hain has been training, competing, and teaching martial arts for over 26 years.
He is a coach on the Gold Coast Australia, who holds a 2nd Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, along with many other martial art ranks.
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