Slide To Double Leg With Zack Esposito
The standard double leg shot has had a part in every wrestler’s practices, matches, and even possibly their highlight reels. With most people learning the double leg early in their wrestling careers along with the other basics of the sport, many often regard the move as elementary. However, a move like the double leg doesn’t stay around for so long and get used so many times because it is elementary and ineffective. It is quite the opposite. A double leg shot is a staple move that is constantly evolving even on the collegiate and Olympic level.
The evolution of the classic double leg is a product of resourcefulness from wrestlers at all levels. A double leg shot has made its way into the sport in such a prominent way that defenses to it were a necessity. The ways to block a double leg became numerous and very effective in many cases. To be able to get past a whizzer, a simple down block, or any other of the various defenses to a double leg, wrestlers had to begin to show off their craftiness. This comes mostly in the set up since the act of shooting a double leg is pretty straight forward with little room for variation.
A great way to set yourself up for success with a double leg shot is taking a slide step into the shot. Doing this helps evade many of the plentiful amounts of defenses that you must consider when going for your opponent’s legs. Going in for a double leg on your opponent after taking a slide step may sound simple, but to make sure that you do it correctly in the best way possible, Zack Esposito breaks this move down in his instructional video package, The Complete Over-Under System. The slide to a double leg is one of the many moves shown in these videos. Zack has helpful tips for all of these over-under position moves. Get a free taste of the knowledge that OSU’s Associate Head Coach, who led them to six Team Big 12 Champion Titles, is sharing in this video!
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So obviously by the name of Esposito’s content, you are going to need to be in the over-under position in order to work this move. He shows one example of his partner taking a failed shot that got them in that position, but there are endless ways to make this position happen. Either way, on the side of your over hook, Coach Esposito tells you to put your hand on the elbow crease of your opponent. With your thumb on the inside and the rest of your hand gripping the outside, you have lots of control from this position. You’re going to need to use that control to be able to pressure in on that elbow. That takes away a lot of your opponent’s power in his arm, in turn taking away his blocking potential with that arm at the same time.
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Many wrestlers that haven’t yet fully developed the keen sense of spatial awareness and bodily control during a match will respond to that pressure by fighting it. If that happens, their arm will shoot up as soon as you let the pressure go, giving you an open lane straight to their legs. However, even if your opponent has the experience and composure that allows them to not respond in such a sporadic way, this move can be very effective. Even Coach Esposito’s partner in this video didn’t fight the resistance. If they keep their arm where you put the pressure, that just means that if you get a successful shot off, you will have not only their legs but that arm as well.
No matter how your opponent reacts to that pressure, from here you must take a slide step to your over hook side where you have that arm pressured. At the same time that you step, you’re going to need to utilize that under hook by pulling your opponent with you. If you take a good step and pull your opponent to stay tied up close with you, they will have a moment with little power and balance. That is when you’re going to let go of the elbow on your over hook, step towards his legs, and take the shot.
The last pointer that Esposito gives is to lock your hands when you take the shot. Try to reach around your opponent’s legs and grab the flat part of your hand with the other. If you don’t do this and you try to just wrap your hands around the backs of your opponent’s knees, they have a much better chance of getting out. Locking your hands is especially important if the man you’re wrestling keeps his arm down on that over hook side because unless you lock hands and get control, he can use that to prevent your shot. Once you get your hands locked and bring your opponent to the mat, just cover your opponent’s hips like always and finish your takedown with your choice of move.
If you want more lessons from the coach of one of the most dominant teams in all of college wrestling, check out Zack Esposito’s guide to the ins and outs of the over-under position, The Complete Over-Under System. The slide to a double leg is only the beginning of the amazing content in Coach Esposito’s videos on the over-under position, so you’re going to want to check it out!