Sprawl
Defensive technique in wrestling and martial arts used to prevent a takedown
がぶり
- Type
- Grappling positions, Throws and takedowns
- Martial arts
- Wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu
- Listed in
- Takedowns (Brazilian jiu-jitsu)
A sprawl is a martial arts and wrestling term for a defensive technique that is done in response to certain takedown attempts, typically double or single leg takedown attempts. The sprawl is performed by scooting the legs backwards, so as to land on the upper back of the opponent attempting the takedown. The resultant position is also known as a sprawl or sprawling position.
Ideally, the sprawling combatant should create safe hip extension as much as possible and keep his knees off the floor. His options from the sprawl include attempting to gain leverage on the lower back by hooking underneath the elbows, throwing in a headlock, and grabbing his opponent's ankles and trying to get behind his opponent. Keeping the knees off the ground creates more weight pushing down on the opponent.
In mixed martial arts, sprawling is an important aspect of the sprawl-and-brawl strategy, while it is also used by numerous other wrestlers and mixed martial arts stylists.
Other Wrestling grappling positions
- Ashi garami
- Back mount
- Clinch fighting
- Cradle
- Guard
- Half guard
- Mount
- North–south position
- Overhook
- Pin (sport wrestling)
- Rear naked choke
- Rubber guard
- Side control
- Triangle choke
- Wristlock
- Underhook
- Knee-on-stomach
- North–south choke
- Guillotine choke
- Collar tie
- Hooks
- Gogoplata
Japanese terms for grappling positions
| Term | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 下手 | shitate | humble position; inferior |
| 前捌き | maesabaki | battling to knock away the hands of one's opponent, in order to achieve an advantageous position |
| 死に体 | shinitai | losing posture; falling position from which it is impossible to recover |
| 変わり身 | kawarimi | change of attitude (stance, position) |
| 座り相撲 | suwarizumou | wrestling performed in a sitting position |
External links
Facts from Wikidata Q7580215 (CC0); text quoted from English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22.
Data: Wikidata (CC0 1.0); Wikipedia (English) (CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.