The High Crotch is a fundamental wrestling-based takedown that has become essential in modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, particularly in no-gi competition. Unlike the traditional double leg where both legs are attacked simultaneously, the High Crotch focuses on capturing one leg while driving the opponent’s hips backward, creating a mechanical advantage that makes the takedown highly effective even against larger opponents. This technique is particularly valuable because it allows the practitioner to maintain better posture throughout the execution, reducing exposure to guillotine chokes and other standing submission threats.
The High Crotch works by combining forward pressure with rotational mechanics, forcing the opponent into a compromised position where their base is undermined. The key distinction from other single-leg variations is the high placement of the shoulder into the opponent’s inner thigh or lower abdomen, which provides superior control over their hips and prevents them from simply stepping back to defend. When executed properly, the High Crotch can be finished in multiple ways - running the pipe, lifting and returning, or transitioning to other takedown variations - making it a versatile addition to any grappler’s standing game.
In the context of BJJ competition, the High Crotch has gained prominence due to its effectiveness in both gi and no-gi settings, its compatibility with guard pulling as a backup option, and its ability to score takedown points while maintaining relatively safe positioning. The technique requires proper timing, explosive penetration step, and understanding of weight distribution, but once mastered, it becomes one of the highest percentage takedowns available to grapplers at all levels.
Starting Position: Standing Position Ending Position: Side Control Success Rates: Beginner 30%, Intermediate 50%, Advanced 70%
Key Principles
- Deep penetration step with lead leg between opponent’s feet
- High shoulder placement into opponent’s hip/lower abdomen for maximum control
- Head position on outside of captured leg to prevent guillotine exposure
- Driving pressure through opponent’s center of mass, not just pulling the leg
- Continuous forward momentum - static positions allow opponent to defend
- Proper grip on captured leg with arms locked together forming strong connection
- Breaking opponent’s posture backward while maintaining your own forward lean
Prerequisites
- Standing engagement with opponent at arm’s length or closer
- Ability to close distance without telegraphing intention
- Grip fighting control or hand fighting advantage to create opening
- Clear path for penetration step without obstacle from opponent’s lead leg
- Balanced stance with weight distributed to allow explosive level change
- Reading opponent’s weight distribution and foot position
- Mental preparedness for immediate explosive movement
Execution Steps
- Create opening with grip fighting: Engage in hand fighting or collar ties to create the opening for your attack. Use feints, pushes, or pulls to get the opponent to react and shift their weight. Look for the moment when their lead leg is slightly forward or their weight is distributed between both feet. Your grip fighting should disguise the impending level change and prevent them from establishing dominant grips that could stop your penetration. (Timing: 1-3 seconds of active hand fighting)
- Execute penetration step: Explosively drop your level by bending at the knees and hips while simultaneously stepping your lead foot deep between the opponent’s legs. Your penetration step should place your foot at least even with their back foot, ideally slightly past it. Keep your back straight and head up as you change levels - avoid simply bending at the waist which telegraphs the shot and compromises your posture. This step must be fast and deep to prevent defensive reactions. (Timing: Explosive - less than 0.5 seconds)
- Secure the leg and establish high shoulder position: As you penetrate, wrap both arms around the opponent’s near leg, clasping your hands together behind their thigh. Simultaneously drive your shoulder into their lower abdomen or hip area - this high shoulder placement is what distinguishes the high crotch from other single-leg attacks. Your head should be positioned on the outside of their captured leg, pressed against their hip, which both controls their movement and protects you from front headlock attacks. Lock your grip tightly with your arms forming a complete circle around their leg. (Timing: Immediate upon penetration)
- Drive opponent backward: Using your legs to generate power, drive forward and slightly upward through your shoulder into the opponent’s hips. Your objective is to break their posture backward while elevating their captured leg. Keep your elbows tight to your body and maintain constant forward pressure. Your back leg should step up to create a solid base as you drive. The opponent should feel their weight shifting backward onto their free leg, compromising their balance and making it difficult for them to counterattack or establish defensive grips. (Timing: Continuous driving pressure for 2-3 seconds)
- Finish the takedown: Complete the takedown using one of several finishing options based on the opponent’s reactions: (1) Run the pipe - continue driving forward while lifting the captured leg, forcing them to hop backward until they fall; (2) Lift and return - if you have sufficient strength, lift their captured leg high while driving your shoulder through their hips, then pivot and slam them to the mat; (3) Trip the far leg - use your leg to hook or sweep their supporting leg while maintaining forward pressure; (4) Transition to double leg - if they square up, release one arm and capture both legs. The finish should be executed with continuous pressure to prevent recovery. (Timing: 1-2 seconds from initial drive to completion)
- Establish top position: As the opponent falls, immediately work to establish a dominant top position. Follow them to the ground while maintaining control of at least one leg, transitioning to side control, knee on belly, or passing directly to mount depending on how they land. Keep your weight heavy on them to prevent immediate guard recovery. If executing a lift and return finish, ensure you land in a stable position with your weight controlling their hips. Be prepared to defend any last-second submission attempts like guillotines as you settle into top position. (Timing: Immediate transition as opponent hits the mat)
Opponent Counters
- Sprawl defense with hips back and weight down (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Adjust to a low single leg variation or transition to a different takedown. If they sprawl hard, you can run around to their back by circling to the outside of the captured leg while keeping your grip tight. Alternatively, elevate the captured leg higher and switch to a double leg finish by capturing both legs.
- Guillotine choke attempt as you shoot (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Maintain proper head position on the outside of their captured leg throughout the technique. If they start to secure a guillotine grip, immediately adjust your head position lower and tighter to their hip, making it difficult for them to get under your chin. Continue driving forward aggressively to complete the takedown before they can lock in the choke, as completing the takedown typically breaks their grip structure.
- Whizzer overhook on your near arm (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: If they secure a whizzer, don’t fight it directly. Instead, use it to your advantage by continuing to drive forward and slightly in the direction of the whizzer. You can transition to running the pipe finish or switch to a fireman’s carry by ducking under their whizzer arm. Another option is to release the whizzer side temporarily and transition to a low single leg finish on the same leg.
- Limp leg defense where they pull their leg back (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Response: Anticipate the leg pull by maintaining continuous forward pressure and high shoulder position. As they try to extract their leg, follow it aggressively while driving your shoulder through their hips. You can also switch to a double leg by quickly capturing both legs, or transition to a single leg finish by adjusting your grip and running around to their back side.
Test Your Knowledge
Q1: What is the key difference between a high crotch and a traditional single leg takedown? A: The high crotch places the shoulder high into the opponent’s hip or lower abdomen rather than lower on the thigh, providing better control over their entire body and hips. This high shoulder placement combined with head position on the outside of the captured leg gives superior driving leverage and makes it more difficult for the opponent to defend by simply stepping back or circling away.
Q2: Why is head position on the outside of the captured leg crucial for the high crotch? A: Outside head position serves two critical purposes: First, it protects you from guillotine chokes and front headlock attacks by keeping your neck away from the opponent’s arms. Second, it allows you to drive your shoulder more effectively into their hips because your head acts as a brace against their body. Inside head position exposes you to immediate submission danger and compromises your driving mechanics.
Q3: How should you respond if your opponent secures a whizzer overhook during your high crotch attempt? A: Rather than fighting directly against the whizzer, use it to your advantage by continuing to drive forward in the direction of the whizzer. You can transition to a fireman’s carry by ducking under their whizzer arm, or switch to a low single leg finish. Another option is to use the whizzer to help you run the pipe finish by driving in the direction they’re pulling. The key is not to stall and fight the whizzer statically, but to keep moving and use their overhook against them.
Q4: What are the three main finishing variations for the high crotch and when is each most appropriate? A: Run the pipe finish - best when opponent is hopping backward on one leg and you have strong forward momentum; continue driving while elevating captured leg until they fall. Lift and return - most effective when you have sufficient strength advantage and can elevate their leg high while driving shoulder through hips, then pivot and return them to mat. Trip the far leg - ideal when opponent is defending with strong base on both legs; use your leg to sweep their supporting leg while maintaining forward shoulder pressure. The choice depends on opponent’s defensive reaction and your relative size/strength.
Q5: What are the optimal penetration step mechanics for a successful high crotch entry? A: The penetration step must be explosive and deep, with your lead foot landing at least even with the opponent’s back foot, ideally slightly past it. The level change should come from bending the knees and hips while keeping your back relatively straight and head up - not from bending at the waist which telegraphs the shot and compromises posture. Your step should be one fluid explosive motion that closes distance before the opponent can react. The depth of penetration is critical because shallow shots allow easy sprawl defense, while deep penetration compromises their base before they can effectively defend.
Q6: How does the high crotch integrate with other wrestling and BJJ techniques to create a complete standing game? A: The high crotch serves as an excellent primary attack that can be chained with other techniques based on defensive reactions. If opponent defends by sprawling, you can transition to a duck under to the back or switch to ankle picks. Against whizzer defense, transition to fireman’s carry. If they square up to defend, convert to double leg. The high crotch also pairs well with upper body throws - fake the high crotch to get opponent’s weight back, then execute foot sweeps or trips. In BJJ-specific contexts, having a threatening high crotch makes your guard pull entries more effective because opponents must respect your takedown threat. The technique also works as a counter to opponent’s failed takedown attempts, securing the leg they expose during their shot.
Safety Considerations
When practicing the high crotch, execute all training repetitions with control to protect both yourself and your training partner. The most significant safety consideration is protecting your neck during the penetration step - maintain proper outside head position at all times to avoid guillotine exposure. When finishing with lift and return variations, ensure you’re on proper mats and control the opponent’s landing to prevent head or neck injuries. Practice releases so training partners can safely exit the position if needed. During live training, tap early if caught in a guillotine during a failed high crotch attempt rather than fighting through submission danger. For the training partner, avoid cranking guillotines or kimuras immediately when defending high crotch attempts - give your partner time to adjust position or release. Both parties should communicate about intensity levels, especially when drilling finishing variations that involve lifting or slamming. Always warm up properly before practicing explosive penetration steps to prevent knee and hip injuries.
Position Integration
The high crotch is a foundational wrestling-based takedown that has become integral to modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu standing exchanges. It fits into the broader BJJ system as a primary takedown option that leads directly to dominant top positions like side control or mount when finished successfully. The technique is particularly valuable because it allows grapplers to engage standing opponents while maintaining relatively safe positioning - the outside head position minimizes submission risks that plague other takedown attempts. Within a complete BJJ game, the high crotch serves multiple strategic functions: it scores takedown points in competition, establishes top position to begin passing sequences, and creates psychological pressure that makes opponents more susceptible to guard pulls or other attacks. The high crotch also integrates seamlessly with guard play - a failed high crotch can be immediately converted to a guard pull, making it a low-risk option compared to other takedown attempts. Advanced practitioners use the high crotch as part of combination wrestling sequences, flowing between single legs, double legs, and upper body throws based on defensive reactions. The technique’s compatibility with both gi and no-gi makes it especially valuable for grapplers competing in multiple formats. Understanding the high crotch and its relationship to other standing techniques is essential for developing a well-rounded BJJ game that doesn’t rely solely on pulling guard.
Expert Insights
- Danaher System: The high crotch represents a perfect example of mechanical advantage through superior positioning in the context of takedown mechanics. What makes this technique systematically superior to many single leg variations is the high shoulder placement into the opponent’s hip structure, which gives you control over their center of mass rather than merely controlling an isolated limb. When you place your shoulder high into their hip or lower abdomen, you create a lever system where your entire body weight and leg drive can be directed through their weakest structural point - the connection between their upper and lower body. The outside head position is not merely a safety consideration; it is biomechanically essential because it allows your spine to remain aligned with your direction of force, creating what we call a ‘power line’ from your feet through your hips, shoulders, and into the opponent. The penetration step must achieve depth because shallow penetration allows the opponent to simply redistribute their weight backward, but deep penetration places you underneath their center of gravity where they cannot effectively use their weight against you. Study the technique as a complete system: setup through grip fighting creates the opening, penetration establishes position, high shoulder creates mechanical control, continuous drive prevents defensive recovery, and finishing variations adapt to opponent’s defensive structure. Each element depends on the others - remove one and the entire system degrades significantly.
- Gordon Ryan: The high crotch is one of my absolute highest percentage takedowns in competition, especially in no-gi where it’s harder for opponents to control your movement with grips. What I’ve found through countless competition rounds is that the high crotch works when other takedowns fail because it allows you to maintain such an aggressive forward posture - you’re never really in danger of being guillotined if your head stays outside, and you can drive through people who would otherwise stuff your shots. The key to making it work at the highest levels is understanding that you’re attacking their balance and posture, not just grabbing their leg. I’m always thinking about driving my shoulder through their hip to break their posture backward while simultaneously elevating that captured leg - when you get both mechanics working together, even much larger opponents go down. In competition, I’ll often use the threat of the high crotch to set up other attacks or make my guard pulls more effective because opponents have to respect that I can take them down. My favorite setup is to get a collar tie or two-on-one grip control first, use that to break their posture slightly forward, then explode into the high crotch when their weight shifts. The run the pipe finish is my go-to because it’s lowest risk - you just keep driving forward until they fall, maintaining dominant position the whole time. Don’t overthink it in competition; execute with full commitment and continuous forward pressure.
- Eddie Bravo: The high crotch is crucial in the 10th Planet system because it gives you that wrestling base you need when someone’s trying to shut down your guard game or you’re in a ruleset where you need to actually take people down. What I love about this technique is how it naturally flows with our whole combat jiu-jitsu philosophy - you can threaten it to make people react, use those reactions to enter into your rubber guard or lockdown game, or actually finish it when you need those takedown points. We drill a specific variation where you use the high crotch entry but if they defend hard, you immediately transition to the truck position instead of forcing the forward finish - that’s the kind of creative adaptation that makes techniques work in real scenarios. The way we teach it at 10th Planet, you’re always thinking about the technique as one option in a flow rather than an isolated move. Your opponent sprawls? Cool, duck under to the back. They whizzer? Perfect, that sets up the transition to fireman’s carry or you can use it to help you run the pipe. They try to guillotine? Their mistake - your head position should make that impossible if you’re doing it right. We also emphasize that in a street fight or MMA context, the high crotch is safer than a double leg because your head isn’t as exposed to punches and you can see what’s coming. Train it as part of your overall no-gi game, not just as a standalone wrestling move, and you’ll find opportunities to hit it that other people miss completely.