Jimmy Sheptock Single Leg System

Last updated Sep 08, 2026

Attack System Intermediate difficulty

What is Jimmy Sheptock Single Leg System?

The Jimmy Sheptock Single Leg System connects clearing standing ties to a single-leg entry, then selects high or low finishes according to the defender’s balance and counter grips.

Reaching a leg and completing a takedown are different skills. A useful single-leg study project names the tie that creates access, the position reached after the shot, and the first defense that changes the finish. That structure helps you diagnose a failed attempt without automatically blaming the entry.

The Single Leg Takedown by Jimmy Sheptock is the matched instructional. Sheptock covers tie clearing, head-inside finishes, whizzer reactions, and lower finishing positions in a wrestling curriculum. The drills, sequence, and assessment criteria below are an original BJJGraph study plan; use them to organize practice alongside the course and feedback from a coach.

Study this system with BJJ Fanatics

Explore a relevant instructional alongside this guide. Check the syllabus and sample on BJJ Fanatics to decide whether it suits your training.

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The Single Leg Takedown

with Jimmy Sheptock

Who it suits: Grapplers who want detailed wrestling instruction for their single leg. Review posture, submission exposure, and the landing with a BJJ coach when adapting the material to grappling rounds.

Sheptock covers tie clearing, head-inside finishes, whizzer reactions, and lower finishing positions in a wrestling curriculum.

View course & syllabus on BJJ Fanatics

Core Principles

  • Clear the tie that blocks the entry before shooting through it.
  • Recognize the collected-leg position before choosing the finish.
  • Keep posture under review as resistance changes.
  • Treat an established whizzer as new information.
  • Include the BJJ landing and submission exposure in adapted practice.

Key Components

Tie clearance (Separate hand fighting from reaching the leg.) Choose one collar-tie or wrist-control situation and work only to a clear entry path before adding the shot.

Collected-leg position (Recognize what finish is available after the entry.) Begin with the single leg already established and identify the defender’s balance and counter grip before moving.

High-or-low finish (Develop a small finishing choice rather than a long list.) Review one upright finish and one low finish with a coach, then let the defender’s reaction determine which is practiced.

Whizzer response (Treat the counter grip as a distinct problem.) Give the defender a controlled whizzer and pause whenever posture or grip deteriorates; rebuild or use the reviewed response.

Implementation Sequence

  1. Tie clearance: BJJGraph study task: Choose one collar-tie or wrist-control situation and work only to a clear entry path before adding the shot. Key points:
  • Separate hand fighting from reaching the leg.
  1. Collected-leg position: BJJGraph study task: Begin with the single leg already established and identify the defender’s balance and counter grip before moving. Key points:
  • Recognize what finish is available after the entry.
  1. High-or-low finish: BJJGraph study task: Review one upright finish and one low finish with a coach, then let the defender’s reaction determine which is practiced. Key points:
  • Develop a small finishing choice rather than a long list.
  1. Whizzer response: BJJGraph study task: Give the defender a controlled whizzer and pause whenever posture or grip deteriorates; rebuild or use the reviewed response. Key points:
  • Treat the counter grip as a distinct problem.
  1. Connect and review: Link the first two practiced tasks in a constrained round, then add the next stage only when both partners can identify the cue and stopping condition. Record the earliest control failure and return to that stage for the next set.

Where to begin in the instructional

Start with tie clearing and the inside-tie entry, then one head-inside finish; add the whizzer and low-finishing sections when those problems appear.

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Explore the course contents on BJJ Fanatics: The Single Leg Takedown →

What Challenges Will You Face?

  • The shot runs into an unchanged collar tie.: Isolate hand fighting until the agreed entry path is available.
  • The leg is collected but the finish has no direction.: Pause at the collected-leg position and identify the defender’s balance.
  • A whizzer collapses posture during every attempt.: Lower resistance and have a coach review the position before adding a finish.
  • A wrestling finish concedes an immediate BJJ attack.: Continue into the landing and review that transition with a BJJ coach.

How to Measure Your Progress

Tie clearance: Separate hand fighting from reaching the leg. Proficiency indicators:

  • Can describe the starting condition for tie clearance.
  • Recognizes the agreed defensive response without prompting.
  • Can identify where the task broke down and select a relevant reset.

Collected-leg position: Recognize what finish is available after the entry. Proficiency indicators:

  • Can describe the starting condition for collected-leg position.
  • Recognizes the agreed defensive response without prompting.
  • Can identify where the task broke down and select a relevant reset.

High-or-low finish: Develop a small finishing choice rather than a long list. Proficiency indicators:

  • Can describe the starting condition for high-or-low finish.
  • Recognizes the agreed defensive response without prompting.
  • Can identify where the task broke down and select a relevant reset.

Whizzer response: Treat the counter grip as a distinct problem. Proficiency indicators:

  • Can describe the starting condition for whizzer response.
  • Recognizes the agreed defensive response without prompting.
  • Can identify where the task broke down and select a relevant reset.

How to Train This System Effectively

Drilling Approach

BJJGraph practice suggestion: Choose one collar-tie or wrist-control situation and work only to a clear entry path before adding the shot. Then connect it to collected-leg position. Compare the first lost control point after each round. Keep the first repetitions cooperative and agree on resistance, space, and reset conditions. Once the starting task is clear, add one defensive option at a time and compare the result with the intended control objective.

Progression Path

1. Tie clearance (Focus: Separate hand fighting from reaching the leg. Use the corresponding component drill before broadening the defender’s choices.) 2. Collected-leg position (Focus: Recognize what finish is available after the entry. Use the corresponding component drill before broadening the defender’s choices.) 3. High-or-low finish (Focus: Develop a small finishing choice rather than a long list. Use the corresponding component drill before broadening the defender’s choices.) 4. Whizzer response (Focus: Treat the counter grip as a distinct problem. Use the corresponding component drill before broadening the defender’s choices.)

Common Mistakes

  • The shot runs into an unchanged collar tie.
  • The leg is collected but the finish has no direction.
  • A whizzer collapses posture during every attempt.
  • A wrestling finish concedes an immediate BJJ attack.

Which Positions, Transitions, and Principles Connect to This System?

Take one idea into your next session

BJJGraph practice suggestion: Choose one collar-tie or wrist-control situation and work only to a clear entry path before adding the shot. Then connect it to collected-leg position. Compare the first lost control point after each round.

BJJGraph earns a commission if you buy through this link, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what the graph teaches.

Check the sample and current price on BJJ Fanatics: The Single Leg Takedown →

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