This is sometimes referred to as “breakdown” position. While you’re working out, practicing hopping into breakdown and “buzzing” your feet, switching your weight between them very quickly, like you’re standing on hot coals and you want to get them off. Stay light and mobile, and you’ll be in good form.
It’ll take some practice to determine the proper angle of pursuit. This depends on the distance between you and the ball carrier and the speed of the ball carrier. If the ball carrier is particularly fast, take a wide angle of pursuit that will allow you to stay between him and your end zone.
Always keep your head up and your back straight. This position is more balanced and safer. Under no circumstances should you ever lead with your head down, which is extremely dangerous for both you and the ball carrier.
If you’re assisting a tackle, go for the ball, trying to get a hand on it and rip in a down-and-out motion. If your teammate clearly has the tackle in hand, you can do some good by going for the ball at that point, but not before. Never leave your feet to make a tackle, and never lead with your head. This is an illegal maneuver and extremely dangerous.
Making an unsafe slide tackle warrants an automatic red card and ejection from the came, with the possibility of further punishments from the league or your coaches. Only use the maneuver if absolutely necessary.
Never make a slide tackle from behind. Tackles from behind or from head-on are very dangerous and the possibility of a penalty is high. It’s possible to do it correctly in some situations, like if you’re both going for the ball but neither is in possession, but not recommended unless you’re sure you’ll be able to get to the ball first.
A proper slide tackle is just like a baseball slide. You shouldn’t leap up into the air and come crashing down on your hip, or you risk hurting yourself. Drop the shoulder closest to the ball and slide with your leg extended. Never slow down before taking it to the ground. You should accelerate into a slide to make sure that your leg follows through with the motion, clearing the ball, not just falling flat.
Wait for a flurry of punches to shoot down and take out the legs. Georges St. Pierre is particularly good at waiting until the opponent has dropped guard to strike and opened up to the double-leg. Freestyle wrestlers will also commonly use this move, but often somewhat lower than the MMA fighter. Technique-wise, a freestyle wrestler will often drop to their knees very quickly, shooting into the opponent’s shins to pull them backward off their feet, whereas the MMA fighter needs to defend from strikes, which makes it more necessary to stay upright. In Judo, the double-leg takedown is called the morote-gare, and has been a legal maneuver since the early 80s.
Be prepared to get a knee to the gut, or defend elbows. This isn’t the most defensive-minded position, but if you execute it quickly enough, it can be a good way to get yourself out of a sticky situation, and cause a lot of damage.
Practice this in this gym before trying it. A lot. Done incorrectly, your opponent with land on your instead, and you’ll end up with an angry dude sitting on your chest ready to pound your lights out.
