How to Scout a Wrestler’s Takedown Game
Most wrestlers scout takedowns the wrong way.
They say things like:
“He hits a high crotch.”
“He’s good at ankle picks.”
That information feels useful, but it’s shallow. By the time you’re reacting to what someone shoots, you’re already late.
If you want to actually understand someone’s takedown game, there are two things that matter far more than their favorite move:
Their archetype
Their ties
Everything else is downstream from that.
Why “What Move Do They Hit?” Isn’t the Right Question
A takedown doesn’t exist in isolation.
There’s a chain:
Tie → creates access
Move → creates the attack
Finish → ends the exchange
So many people obsess over the finish . That’s the twig.
Smarter wrestlers attack the branch.
The best wrestlers cut off the limb.
If you stop someone from getting to their preferred tie, you don’t need to worry about the move at all.
Why We Care About Ties More Than Moves
Think of it this way:
Tie = limb
Move = branch
Finish = twig
Worrying about the finish while ignoring the tie is backwards.
If you stop the tie:
They can’t hit their move.
You don’t need to defend the finish.
You control the exchange before it starts.
That’s real scouting.
Step One: Identify the Archetype
A wrestler’s archetype tells you how they want the match to feel. It predicts their pace, comfort zones, and decision-making under pressure.
1. Outside Wrestlers
These are your athletic, space-oriented wrestlers.
They want you reaching. They want movement. They want reactions.
Common traits:
Attacking from space
Fakes and level changes to keep you away
Low-level shots
Re-attacks and counter offense
Key questions to ask:
Do they want to be in a tie?
Are they smooth or explosive?
Do they score more off reactions than setups?
If you’re constantly not in contact, reaching, and chasing, you’re playing their game.
2. Bent-Arm Wrestlers
These wrestlers want contact. A lot of it.
They’re physical, controlling, and happy to make the match ugly.
Common traits:
Heavy hand fighting
Winning inside position
Snaps, posts, and pulls
Tight front headlocks
Forcing you to push back to setup their attacks
Key question to ask:
Are they comfortable when they don’t have a tie?
Many bent-arm wrestlers rely on snaps to create offense. If they can’t get you to raise your level back up or capture front headlock, their system can stall.
3. Straight-Arm Wrestlers
These wrestlers live at arm’s length.
They don’t want tight ties, and they don’t want extended scrambles.
Common traits:
Posts and thumb blocks to slow you down
Slide-bys and attacks with clean finishes
Slower, controlled matches
Key questions to ask:
Do they thumb block and keep you at an arms reach?
Is their goal to slow you down and frustrate you?
They’re often hard to score on, but also less dangerous when forced into messy exchanges.
Step Two: Find the Tie
This is the most important part of scouting.
Moves change.
Finishes vary.
Ties stay consistent.
Ask:
What tie do they go to first?
What tie do they return to when things get hard?
What tie shows up right before their best scores?
That’s the limb of the tree.
If you can disrupt or deny that tie, you force them into Plan B wrestling- and it’s much easier to defend a Plan B.
Step Three: Dissect Neutral Wrestling (The Checklist)
Once you know what matters, the next question is how to find it quickly.
This is the checklist I use when watching film. It keeps you focused on patterns instead of highlights.
Righty or Lefty
What leg do they lead when they attack?
This tells you which power hand to control and how the matchup lines up both ways.
You can see whether their best attacks line up against your lead leg or your trail leg- and whether your go-to offense naturally lines up against theirs.
Archetype
Outside, bent-arm, or straight-arm?
Tie
What is their go-to grip?
Move
What attacks come from that tie?
Answers
What happens when they don’t get to their plan A?
Can you do what others have done to beats them?
You’re not collecting trivia.
You’re building a plan.
How to Watch Film (Without Wasting Time)
Most people watch film poorly.
Here’s a better approach:
Watch 2–3 dominant wins
They’ll show you who they really are.
Pay attention to the first minute. This is where their best ties and patterns show up.
Identify the constants
Same archetype.
Same ties.
Same entries.
Watch one bad loss
See an example of what actually breaks their system.
Ignore close matches
They’re full of adjustments, randomness, and noise.
Blowouts reveal identity.
Losses reveal vulnerability.
That’s the information that wins matches.
Beating the Outside Wrestler (As an Example)
Outside wrestlers give a lot of people trouble, so here’s a practical application.
General principles:
Get them tired
Stay inside
Pull on the head
Get to legs cleanly
What matters most:
Don’t overcommit to bad leg attacks. Re-attacks are their weapon.
Be patient late. Athletic wrestlers often have one last burst.
Be disciplined off the whistle. They’re counting on you losing focus.
If you get to the legs, finish. Don’t hang out underneath where re-attacks fly.
Outside wrestlers hate setting up shots when they’re exhausted. Make them work for space, then take it away.
The Big Picture
Good scouting isn’t about memorizing you opponents moves.
It’s about understanding:
how someone wants to wrestle,
where they feel safe,
and what breaks their system.
Cut off the limb.
The branches die on its own.