Wrestling ankle picks are among the most dynamic and effective takedowns. The takedown is actually among the most versatile in grappling martial arts. When a grappler grabs an opponent’s ankle and pulls it toward their body, they perform an ankle pick. The goal is to take down the opponent effectively by forcing them into a one-legged stance.
The original game in this technique is the time it can be very low in risk. You can easily grab your opponent with this technique. If you perform this technique slowly, it can be performed against you if you waste time, but don’t worry, we are here to teach you how to apply the ankle pick on your opponent more effectively.
Table of Contents
Step 1
In most cases, the Ankle Pick begins with a tie-up position. By exposing the opponent’s leg with the collar tie, an attack is launched against them.
Step 2
An attacker uses the collar grip to apply pressure to the opponent’s heels to avoid being pushed down.
Step 3
Afterward, the attacker will lower himself and place their knee on the same side as they intend to strike. To prevent the headlock, the mind and body must be in good alignment.
Step 4
To achieve this, the attacker placed a hand behind the ankle and used the collar tie to push the opponent’s head and upper body back.
Step 5
Pulling the ankle may cause the opponent to fall immediately. If not, continue to drive to finish the takedown. The attacker can often complete a standard single-leg attack, or a double leg attack can be attempted.
Tips
The ankle down is a very effective tool in the BJJ, and if you want to try this on your opponent. Then you have to be very careful and make sure that you are doing everything very quickly because if you fail, the opponent can also respond and attack, which might be bad for you.
So, above, we have told you how you can perform this ankle down, but here are some tips for you that should be in your mind when you are performing the ankle down.
Tip 1
It is important to change levels before using the ankle pick if you want to have a high success rate. When grapplers attempt to take down an opponent, some forget this important step. Drop to your knees and go for your ankles as you change levels.
Tip 2
The ankle pick is more effective if you start close to the opponent. Each tie-up has a different purpose, so which one you use depends on your preferences.
Tip 3
Attacking the front leg is the best way to perform an ankle pick. Most often, it’s opposite your clinch/undertaken.
Tip 4
You can use an ankle pick as a backup when your opponent defends a double or single leg. Other takedowns can be transferred off an ankle pick as well.
Tip 5
Before taking down your opponent, you must break their posture. They can be taken down if their base is knocked off. If they face away or down, push them down to leave an opening for the takedown.
Tip 6
The attacker should drop their knee toward the target leg. As a result, you are closer to attacking that knee.
Tip 7
As soon as you grasp the ankle, pick the takedown. The fight won’t be over until they’re on the ground. The takedown won’t be secure unless their body is controlled after they fall.
Tip 8
The closer you can get to the leg you want to attack, the better. It will be easier to do the ankle pick if they bring their leg forward.
Setups
It is also very similar to the other grappling techniques, but in the ankle down, there is a very low risk that the opponent will respond and attack you with some chokes; that is why it is considered the safest. A different type of ankle pick exists for every grappling style, based on the rules and grips being used.
We are here to teach you about three setups that would help you in your BJJ fights while you apply the ankle pick takedown. Let’s begin the setups:
David Taylor Setup and Finishes
This setup is on the name of famous wrestler David Taylor. He utilizes a set-up/entry to avoid being cross-faced or whizzed by fellow world champion freestyle and folkstyle wrestler David Taylor. Depending on the finish, there are four steps to his setup.
- To start the game, set up a collar tie or undertake on your opponent.
- As you drop to one knee, you aim to strike an ankle on the same side as your target.
- In your third step, you bring your opponent’s head down as you drop your knee to break his posture and make it difficult to defend the ankle pick.
- In the last step, grab their leg with the sidearm that dropped the knee.
It is how the Taylor setup is applied to your opponent.
Fake Guard Pull
In BJJ, a fake guard pull is used to incorporate the ankle pick into a chain of techniques that include a fake guard pick. Many competitors anticipate that their opponents will pull guard, so this move is an advantage. Starting with a grip of the Gi, we begin this fake guard pull to an ankle pick. When he raises his foot in this manner, it appears as if the attacker is trying to pull back a guard.
When the opponent anticipates the guard pull, they usually plant their weight forwards. The attacker now attempts to pick his ankle. The participants try to drive into the opponent while pulling the ankle backward with the previously established gi grip. There are many videos on youtube where you can learn this technique.
Ankle Pick from Clinch/Wrist Control
As with this method, Taylor utilizes wrist control and a collar tie on the inside of the collar. While you circle to the collar tie side, you pull their wrist so they can step forward. Grab their foot and drive on to take them down. The method’s application depends on how you implement it.
Summary
As we said in the article, that the angle pick takedown is very effective in the BJJ, and you can perform it very easily with low risk. If you are a student and don’t know how you can apply it, don’t worry; we have created a step-by-step tutorial to perform it easily.
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FAQ’s