Is a sprawl or knee generally more effective against takedowns?

Question

Coming from a more traditional/striking focused background, I always struggle with the advice of not staying so upright in order to be better positioned to defend takedowns (single or double leg). I recently watched this video about using knees to counter takedowns and it really spoke to my style, since it allows me to maintain a stance better suited to striking and use striking to defend.

This made me wonder though since from the UFC matches that I have watched, the more common strategy against takedowns seems to be the sprawl rather than using knees, in fact I'd say I've seen the flying knee used more often against a takedown attempt than a stand up knee, but of course I could be wrong.

My question than is, generally is a sprawl or knee more effective against takedowns? Or at least which should I focus more on when practicing? I understand that knowing both is better, but if I needed to choose one over the other which would it be? If it is the sprawl still I would appreciate some insight into why this is generally more effective, especially considering that as a striker I would think using what I'm best at (striking), would be more effective than trying to improve at sprawling since any grappler will always be better at this than me, including getting past my sprawls.

Answer 1

There is nothing special about the knees. If you want to defend leg shots, I do not think the choice between knees and sprawls makes sense.

The wrestling view of defense has multiple layers:

1. hands
2. elbows
3. head
4. hips

Your defense starts with the hands. If you can defend with those, you do not need the later layers. Likewise if you can defend with the elbows, you don't need your head (probably not a good idea if striking anyway) or hips. Sprawling is done with the hips, once you have failed to defend with the hands, elbows, and head. You can maintain distance using your hands and elbows the same way you do with your knees. If you would normally use your hands against grapplers, then just use your hands. I suspect the reason the Muay Thai fighter prefers knees against low attacks is because he wants to keep his hands high in his normal fighting stance.

When I say defense starts with the hands, I do not mean you are trying to punch someone in the head in respose to them are shooting in on your legs. I mean that you put your hand between yourself and the opponent to maintain distance. If you can reliably hit someone as they are changing levels and moving in, you certainly should do that, but most fighters do not have this level of coordination or reflexes.

That said, for you on the knees versus sprawl question, I recommend learning to sprawl, simply because I think it would teach you more in a know your enemy sense and provide a different perspective even if you don't end up using it. Leg shots and sprawls are the basics of wrestling; you should at least get some practical experience so you can judge for yourself whether your reflexes are fast enough to defend a leg shot with whatever your preferred techniques are.