Phase Two — Takedowns Before a wrestler learns his first takedown, it would be a good idea for him to know how the Takedown Tier System works. This would give him some direction and an idea of what he is trying to accomplish on his feet. A wrestler should try to master one tier at a time. However, he may experiment with other takedowns. In the first tier, a wrestler should be taught how to attack the middle of the opposing wrestler's body (the hip area). The Double Leg Tackle

In this section , I want to spend some time talking about set-ups and how they relate to the actual takedown. The first point that needs to be made is that set-ups and tie-ups are two different concepts. A wrestler can perform set-ups from tie-up positions, but the first function of the tie-up is to control the tie-up position. Sometimes coaches and wrestlers get the two confused. Tie-up positions and how they relate to takedowns will be discussed in the section following set

The Purpose of the Tie-Up The tie-up is important because it can dictate how effective a wrestler will be at attacking the opposition or defending himself from being taken down. Whenever a wrestler assumes a tie-up position, he should have one thought on his mind: controlling the tie-up position. Why Controlling the Tie-Up Matters If a wrestler can control the tie-up position, it will allow him to do three things: Get closer to the opposition Keep the opposition on the defens