Lateral Drop
Takedown · Standing
A throw from the underhook clinch: you fall to your back and turn them over so you land chest to chest in side control. Use it when they drive their chest into you. Win an overhook on one side and a deep underhook on the other, head on the underhook side, and step that foot deep between their feet. Bend the knees and sink your hips below theirs, pull them tight and pop your hip in, then fall back and arch toward the overhook side, looking where you throw: the underhook lifts while the clamped overhook rotates them over. Without your hips under theirs you simply fall with them on top. If they lower the hips and step back, inside trip; if they pummel for the underhook, body lock. Learn it on crash mats.
How to do it
- In the clinch, win an overhook on one side and an underhook on the other: the overhook clamps their arm to your side, the underhook goes deep under their armpit with your hand on their back.
- Let them lean into you: their forward pressure is what you throw. Step your underhook-side foot deep between their feet, with your head on the underhook side.
- Bend the knees and sink your hips below theirs, then pull them tight to your chest with both arms and pop your hip into them.
- Fall back and arch, turning toward the overhook side and looking where you throw. The underhook lifts while the overhook stays clamped, rotating them over the underhook.
- Keep turning in the air so you do not land under them: land chest to chest on top and hold side control.
Key details
- Hips under theirs before the fall: the lift comes from the legs, and with your hips below theirs their weight rests on you instead of pushing you down.
- Use their forward pressure: the more they lean, the easier the throw, because their weight is already moving toward you.
- Head on the underhook side, underhook-side foot deep between their feet, hip slightly below theirs: this puts you under their center before the drop.
- Pop the hip into them first, then arch to the overhook side, looking where you throw: the head leads the turn in the air so you do not land under them.
- Keep the overhook through the arch and land on top, chest to chest: the overhook is what keeps their body turning with you.
- If they pull the hips back and stop coming forward, do not pull guard: drive your leg deeper through the gap between their legs and still drop.
Common mistakes
- Falling straight back. — Without the turn their body follows yours straight down: you land flat with them on top. — Turn toward the overhook as you fall, head looking over that shoulder.
- Hips too high. — Your hips are above theirs, so nothing lifts them and they sprawl over you. — Bend the knees until your hips are below theirs before you arch.
- Loose arms around them. — They separate during the fall and land beside you instead of being carried over. — Glue them to your chest with the overhook and underhook before you drop.
How to drill it
On crash mats: 5 slow throws each side from a static clinch. Then the partner leans in on a signal and you throw at the moment of the lean.
Safety
A high-amplitude throw: learn it on crash mats with partners who can breakfall. Never let the partner land on the head or neck.
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