Thank you Hayliks, I don't know what I would have said to these guys if you had not got here before I did.
yea.. it never ceases to surpise me at how shitty some advice is... "Hey guys, I'm a striker, and suck at takedown defense, how can I improve my sprawl?" most of the responses "uhmm sprawl all the time!" fucking retards, seriously..
No solo drill can replace practicing sprawl techniques with someone actually shooting on you. Granted you can do some of the other drills listed on this thread to help build the endurance and muscle relfex, but you have to actually have someone trying to put you on your ass to really develop your sprawl . I'm not a wrestler but we've got a few at my gym and have had some come in and there are just a crazy amount of little details to get down. I've got a descent sprawl now but thats because of the wrestlers I have in my MMA school constantly planting my ass on the mat. I will say the drop drill with the partner calling sides though can be helpful as far as improving your reaction time but no drill replaces actually sprawling on another person shooting on you.
- Dress all in red - Go to a local rodeo/farm - Spot a bull, begin to insult its tiny calves/herbivore lifestyle to enrage it - When the bull begins to charge you, commence sprawling Rinse and repeat
Sprawl until it just becomes instinct/reflex. Best way is to have people shoot and try to stuff their takedown. You pick up on things along the way that help you determine when they're shooting, but a sprawl won't work all the time. Personally, practice being on your back and learn how to get up fast using your hips and good movement.