Page 545 - Complete Krav maga : the ultimate guide to over 250 self-defense and combative techniques

Before continuing, it’s important to discuss context: Why train to take someone
down in the first place? One important reason is to learn to defend against
takedowns. Even if you don’t want to take the bad guy to the floor, he might
want to take you there. In order to defend effectively, your partner has to make

an adequate realistic attack.

Another reason is control. You may with to subdue someone (a drunk friend, an
emotionally disturbed acquaintance) without hurting them. Taking them to the
ground and holding them there is one possible way.

Finally, you may find yourself in a fight with someone who is better than you at
standup fighting. If you’re unable to run away, a takedown may be a way to

neutralize his standup skills.

The downside to takedowns is, of course, that you will often end up on the
ground yourself. Once you’re on the ground, you become vulnerable to
secondary attackers, and it takes just a little longer to disengage, get up, and run
away.