Oblique Kick to Takedown Entry: A Complete Guide
Quick Intro
Oblique Kick to Takedown Entry is a Martial Arts Drills exercise performed by throwing an oblique kick to stop an opponent’s forward pressure, then immediately dropping the kicking leg into a level change and driving into a double or single leg takedown entry off the same rhythm. Landing the kicking foot directly into a staggered stance is what makes the kick and the level change one continuous motion.
Equipment Needed
A yoga mat is optional here. The kick doesn’t need it, but if the entry is carried through to a takedown, a mat or padded surface makes the landing softer.
Why It Matters
Stopping an opponent’s pressure with a kick and then converting that motion straight into a takedown entry asks the body to shift from striking to grappling without a pause in between. A muscle at the front of the hip (hip flexors, iliopsoas) drives the kick’s chamber, and the front of the thigh (quadriceps, rectus femoris) extends the kick. The largest glute muscle (gluteus maximus) drives the level change into the entry, and a calf muscle (gastrocnemius) supports the footwork underneath. The abdominal muscles running down the front of the stomach (rectus abdominis) brace the trunk through the transition, the lower back muscles (erector spinae) brace the spine through the whole motion and the inner thigh muscles (adductors) guide the legs through the step into the entry.
When to Do It
Oblique Kick to Takedown Entry works well within a mixed striking-and-grappling session, added once the oblique kick already lands cleanly. Two to three sessions a week is a reasonable pace for building this kick-to-entry transition, always with a partner who can take the entry safely. In partner drilling the kick is placed lightly on the thigh, well above the knee.
Anyone with a current hip, knee or low-back issue should get individual guidance before adding this drill, since the kick and the level change into the entry both load those areas directly.
Getting Ready
Throwing the oblique kick alone, without continuing into the entry, checks the base this transition depends on. A few slow, paused reps preview the full kick-to-entry flow before full speed is attempted.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Chamber and fire. Raise the knee and extend the oblique kick toward the opponent’s forward pressure.
- Drop the kicking leg. Lower the kicking leg directly into a staggered stance.
- Level change. Bend the knees and drop the hips as the foot lands.
- Drive the entry. Shoot forward into the double or single leg takedown entry.
How Many, How Often
Oblique Kick to Takedown Entry is dosed by reps, with each complete kick-to-entry sequence counting as one.
| Level | Where you’re at | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | New to continuing the kick straight into the entry | 3 sets of 4 to 6 reps per side |
| Intermediate | The kick and the entry connect smoothly | 3 to 4 sets of 6 to 8 reps per side |
| Advanced | Comfortable finishing the whole sequence at full speed | 4 sets of 8 to 10 reps per side |
Landing the kicking foot directly into a staggered stance matters more here than how many entries are completed, since resetting to a neutral position first leaves a gap the opponent can use to recover.
Modifications and Variations
As an easier version, Oblique Kick Drill throws the same kick and resets to stance, without continuing into the takedown entry. Slow Oblique Kick Chamber slows the kick down further.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Resetting to a neutral stance before the level change. Pausing between the kick and the entry to find a comfortable base breaks the continuous motion this drill depends on. The foot lands already staggered, ready to drop straight into the level change.
Rushing the entry before the foot has landed. Shooting forward while the kicking foot is still settling leaves the base unstable under the takedown attempt. The foot plants first, even briefly, before the entry drives forward.
Keeping the hips too high through the level change. Dropping the shoulders without lowering the hips leaves the entry shallow and easy to stop. The level change comes from bent knees and lowered hips, with the back flat.
After Your Set
Circling the kicking hip slowly a few times loosens it after repeated sequences. Sitting back into a deep squat for a few breaths, heels down if they will go, eases the hips and thighs that handled each level change.
Going Deeper
Converting a kick’s momentum into a takedown entry links striking to grappling and asks for whole-body coordination the kick alone does not. A visible reset between the kick and the entry is usual, especially once a partner resists even a little. Slowing the sequence down and letting the kicking foot land already staggered closes that gap faster than repeating a kick followed by a separate entry attempt.
Someone new to this drill generally manages a slow, connected kick-to-entry sequence within the first few sessions, then works toward finishing the whole transition at full speed over the following couple of weeks.
How to Know You’re Improving
- A kicking foot that lands already staggered, with no reset
- A level change that comes from the hips dropping
- An entry that drives forward the instant the foot plants
- A sequence that holds up against light resistance
A kicking foot that lands ready to shoot matters more than how many entries are completed.
Muscles Worked
- Iliopsoas (a muscle at the front of the hip, driving the kick’s chamber)
- Rectus Femoris (one of the quadriceps at the front of the thigh, extending the kick)
- Gluteus Maximus (the largest glute muscle, driving the hips forward once the kick has opened the entry)
- Gastrocnemius (a calf muscle, supporting the footwork underneath)
- Rectus Abdominis (the abdominal muscles running down the front of the stomach, bracing the trunk through the transition)
- Erector Spinae (the lower back muscles, bracing the spine through the whole motion)
- Adductors (the inner thigh muscles, guiding the legs through the step into the entry)
FAQ
Why continue into a takedown after the kick? A kick alone only stops the opponent’s pressure for a moment, while converting that momentum into a takedown entry uses the opening the kick has created.
Is this harder than the standard oblique kick? Yes, moving from the kick into a level change and a shot takes more coordination, which is why this version comes once Oblique Kick Drill feels solid.
Is some hip or leg fatigue after this drill normal? Yes, a worked feeling through the hip and the legs after a full set of sequences is expected. A sharp pain that stays fixed to the hip, knee or low back calls for backing off and getting it checked by a doctor or physical therapist.
Is an experienced partner needed for the kick-to-entry sequence? Yes, a partner comfortable taking a kick-to-entry sequence safely is important here, since the transition carries more contact than either the kick or the entry alone.
How often should the kick-to-entry sequence be drilled? Two to three times a week suits most people building toward a smooth, connected kick-to-entry transition.
Related to Oblique Kick Drill as the easier version without the takedown entry.