Clinch or shoot?

[Ryu (non-working password]

Here's a question. What do you think the more effective thing to do is? Shoot or clinch? Obviously if you are a great wrestler, and can pull it off that's one thing, but what about the guys who are not? It has been argued that BJJ practitioners don't have good takedowns, but what if you clinch, and have sufficient takedown knowledge already. Once there do you think you can utilize things like double legs, etc more effectively?
If you miss a clinch you can recover much safer it seems, but a missed shoot will leave you in a VERY bad position.
What are your thoughts?

Ryu

[Underdog]

It depends alot by your bodytipe and who you are fighting.

I'm tall and when I shoot it must be with perfect timing, but generally my level change is very visible.

A shorter person must be advantaged in shooting low.

[Robbie]

I think the Clinch is the more safer of the two.

[Jimmy23]

I prefer a clinch,but then again I focus more on the street and Im heavy for my height(5'10",235#) .I think those with good upper body strength and balance are better in a clinch

[Evilution]

Clinch, then shoot. I love the clinch, it's the middle range between stand-up and ground fighting. A double leg can be greatly facilitated by a clinch followed by some uppercuts, knees or elbows. If you clinch and then go for a double leg and the guy sprawls, it's not that hard to go back to the clinch. Whereas if you just shoot in from the outside and the guy sprawls you will more likely just eat knees and uppercuts or do a face plant.

That's just my opinion based on my experience. Your strategy will depend on who you are and how you fight. I personally don't like to just shoot at all, and I don't like the double-leg either. I do mostly greco-roman upperbody takedowns so I never get sprawled on. But that suits my style because I like to strike in the clinch using wrestling tie-ups, and the takedown only if it presents itself.

I would recommend not just shooting, but using punches to change the distance to a clinch, then throw them off balance using tie-ups, then once the person is off balance the rest is easy.

[Bau13]

All depends on your skill level...
If you got a nice shoot...go ahead and use it...nothing like a quick explosive double leg to bring a guy down..

I wouldn't say its easier to recover from the clinch ...you could screw up pretty bad trying a double in the clinch too...I mean your opponent is ALOT nearer when you mess up in the clinch....both clinch and shoot are equally risky if you missed bad..

I say do whatever...take what you can get...

[rockinronnie]

50% of the time when I shoot, I end up getting caught in a guillotine choke. Sometimes I'm able to break from the choke, and sometimes I'm not. I prefer the clinch, and then work from there on a sweep or a throw.

Ronnie.

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