John Marsh: Wrestling for Jiu-Jitsu (System Map)

The map of John Marsh's takedown system for jiu-jitsu: his core ideas, the tie-ups, and the six linked flows: hand fighting and ties, the double leg, the sweep single and its finishes from the feet, the duck under, and the other leg attacks. John is an All-American wrestler and the wrestling coach at Essential Jiu-Jitsu.

Flow outline

  1. His core ideas

    • Your head is a weapon: keep it up, never look down, and push him with it.
    • Move him before you shoot: circle away from the leg you want, and level change as he pushes back into you.
    • Reach beyond him, never to where he is, and drive through.
    • Open him sideways, never into you. Keep hold of his arm until you have the leg.
    • Never stand still on a leg, and finish perpendicular with your head and body on opposite sides.
    • His grip on your lead-leg side is a sweep single; the other side is a double.
    • Shrug the moment he touches you, and let him think he's winning: his grip and pressure set up your shot.
    • John: “In takedowns, your head is a weapon.”

  2. Hand fighting and ties

    • Which takedown each tie opens.

  3. Double leg

  4. Sweep single

  5. Duck under

  6. Ankle pick, high crotch, low single

  7. Sweep single finishes from the feet

  8. On top: pass or take the back

    • His takedowns are built for jiu-jitsu: you land in side control, half guard, or on his back, ready to pass or take the back right away. The ankle pick is the exception: you land in his guard and have to pass.

Branch conditions