BJJ Scout Breakdown: Mastering Ben Askren's Elite Takedown Arsenal

Why Ben Askren's Takedowns Dominate in Grappling and MMA

Ben Askren, a legendary wrestler turned MMA standout, built his career on an unbreakable foundation of takedown mastery. His style wasn't flashy—it was ruthlessly efficient, blending freestyle wrestling precision with relentless pressure. For fighters in BJJ, wrestling, or MMA, studying Askren's arsenal offers invaluable lessons in controlling the clinch, chaining attacks, and finishing against resistance. This breakdown, inspired by BJJ Scout's meticulous video analysis, dissects his key techniques, providing step-by-step insights to integrate into your training.

Askren's success stemmed from his Olympic-level freestyle background, where he emphasized low-risk entries, superior angles, and constant forward drive. Whether you're a BJJ black belt chaining takedowns to guard passes or an MMA fighter dictating fight location, these methods translate seamlessly across disciplines like wrestling, Muay Thai clinch work, and no-gi grappling.

The Low Single: Askren's Go-To Opener

Askren's low single leg takedown was a cornerstone of his offense, executed with deceptive speed and power. He targeted the lead leg, dropping to a deep level to scoop under the thigh while securing the ankle.

Key Execution Steps:

Penetration Step: Askren drives forward with a penetrating step, head outside the opponent's lead leg to avoid sprawls. His shoulder drives into the mid-thigh for leverage.

Trail Leg Lift: As he secures the ankle with both hands, he lifts explosively with the trail leg, rotating his hips to unbalance the opponent.

Finish Variations: Against resistance, he chains to a high crotch or runs the pipe, driving through to the mat. Timestamp reference: Early clips show this at 0:15, where he counters a stiff arm with a knee tap.

Training Tip: Drill this from neutral stance in wrestling or MMA sparring. Pair it with BJJ's guard retention drills—practice defending from the bottom to build resilience. In Muay Thai, use it to disrupt clinch exchanges.

Common Pitfalls and Fixes:

Avoid head-up postures; stay low to prevent guillotines.

Chain immediately if stalled—Askren never hesitated, flowing to doubles or body locks.

This takedown scored him takedown averages over 5 per fight in MMA, proving its reliability under pressure.

High Crotch to Body Lock: Seamless Transitions

Askren elevated the high crotch by immediately transitioning to a body lock, neutralizing standing threats. This combo shines in no-gi BJJ and MMA, where guillotine risks are high.

Breakdown:
1. Entry: From a collar tie or over-under, Askren penetrates on the high crotch, securing behind the knee with one arm while the other controls the far leg or torso.
2. Hip Switch: He switches hips aggressively, posting his head on the opponent's belly to create space.
3. Body Lock Finish: Lifting the crotch leg, he slides behind for a rear body lock, often dumping forward or suplexing. Seen at 1:42 in analysis footage.

Pro Application: In BJJ, this sets up back takes; in wrestling, it's a scoring machine. Add Muay Thai knees during the lift for hybrid training.

Drill Progression:

Shadow wrestle the entry.

Partner resistance drills, focusing on hip explosion.

Live rolling: Enter from clinch positions common in kickboxing.

Ankle Picks: Precision Over Power

Askren's ankle pick was a masterclass in timing and misdirection. He feinted levels, drawing reactions before snatching the ankle with a quick scoop.

Technique Nuances:

Setup: Use jab feints or level changes to off-balance. Head stays low, eyes up.

Grip and Pull: Secure the inside of the ankle with thumb up, pulling across your centerline while stepping back.

Chain Options: If defended, elevate to a single or attack the other leg. Highlight at 2:30 shows a double ankle pick finish.

Why It Works Across Sports: Low energy cost, high success rate. BJJ fighters use it for guard pulls; wrestlers for chain wrestling; MMA for cage control.

Outcome Example: Askren used this to dismantle taller opponents, turning defense into offense seamlessly.

Blast Double and Snap Downs: Pressure Wrestling

Askren's blast double overwhelmed with speed: double underhooks, head in the middle, explode upward. Combined with snap downs, it broke postures for easy entries.

Snap Down Integration:

Snap the head down from collar ties, following with a single or double.

Maintain forward pressure—never retreat.

In training, emphasize mat returns: Askren's run-the-pipe finishes kept momentum.

Defensive Mastery: Sprawls to Attacks

Askren wasn't just offensive; his sprawls turned defense into counters. Deep sprawl, underhook the arm, transition to front headlock or body lock.

MMA Relevance: Prevents takedowns while setting strikes or subs—vital for kickboxers facing wrestlers.

Integrating Askren's Style into Your Game

To adopt this:
1. Warm-Up Drills: 10 minutes of level changes and shots.
2. Positional Sparring: Takedown-only rounds.
3. Full Integration: BJJ rolls starting standing; MMA mitt work into wrestling.

Gear up with quality wrestling shoes for grip and rash guards for no-gi sessions—find top options at Apollo MMA.

Benefits Across Disciplines: