Become Fighter
The level change: Wrestling guide
Drop your hips and head level below theirs by bending the knees, not by bowing your back.
Every shot starts with a level change. You lower your whole body so your chest and head sit below your opponent's hips, then you can reach their legs without folding in half.
Done badly, a level change is just a bow, and it leaves your head and neck stretched out to be pushed down. Done well, your back stays flat and your legs do the lowering.
Key points
- Bend the knees and drop the hips. The back stays flat and the head stays up.
- Keep your eyes forward, not on the floor.
- Your lead knee tracks over your lead toes, not caving inward.
- Drop fast, rise fast. A slow level change is easy to read.
- Do it on a soft or grippy surface and stay light on your feet.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Bowing the back instead of bending the knees. Sit your hips down. If you can see your toes, you are folding at the waist.
- Dropping your head. Look at the imaginary chest or belt. Your head is the top of your spine, so it goes down last.
- Knees collapsing inward. Push your knees out over your toes as you sink.
- Popping up between reps. Slide into the next rep from the bottom position. Staying low trains the legs.
Combinations that use it
- wr-lc-pen: Level change, Penetration step
- wr-lc-dl: Level change, Double leg
- wr-lc-sl: Level change, Single leg
- wr-lc-pen-dl: Level change, Penetration step, Double leg
- wr-lc-pen-sl: Level change, Penetration step, Single leg
- wr-sprawl-lc-dl: Sprawl, Level change, Double leg
Related techniques
The rest is in the app
The step-by-step breakdown, the timed drill with the coach calling the shots and the quiz are part of Become Fighter Pro, where this lesson sits in the Level change and shots module of Wrestling foundations.
Coming soon to the App Store and Google Play.
More from Level change and shots
- The penetration step: Wrestling guide
- The double leg: shot on air: Wrestling guide
- The single leg: shot on air: Wrestling guide
- Finishing the shots with a partner: Wrestling guide
Combat sports training is hard on the body. Warm up, stay within your limits and check with a doctor first if you have a health condition. Practise in a clear space and stop if you feel pain or dizziness. Learn partner work only under a qualified coach.