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Single Leg Entry | BJJ Technique | BJJ Graph

Oct 25, 202515 min read

Single Leg Entry

bjjtransitiontakedownwrestlingsingle_leg

Visual Execution Sequence

From standing position, you establish grip control while maintaining good posture and head position. You create an opening through hand fighting or feinting, causing your opponent to react or create space. You execute a level change by dropping your hips and bending your knees while maintaining an upright back. Your lead leg steps deep between or outside their legs as you drive forward with your head positioning outside their hip. Your arms wrap around their isolated leg, one hand behind the knee and one at the ankle or calf. You complete the entry by securing the leg close to your chest, establishing single leg control with proper head pressure and body positioning to prevent them from hopping away or defending effectively.

One-Sentence Summary: “From standing with collar and sleeve control, you level change explosively while stepping deep, wrapping arms around their isolated leg to establish single leg control.”

Execution Steps

  1. Setup Requirements: Establish standing grips (collar/sleeve or underhooks), maintain good posture with head up and back straight
  2. Initial Movement: Create opening through hand fighting or feint motion to draw reaction or create opening
  3. Level Change: Drop hips rapidly by bending knees while keeping back straight, preparing to penetrate
  4. Penetration Step: Step deep with lead leg between or outside opponent’s legs while driving forward
  5. Leg Capture: Wrap arms around isolated leg with hands behind knee and at ankle, securing it
  6. Consolidation: Pull leg tight to chest with head outside hip, establish control preventing escape

Key Technical Details

  • Grip Requirements: Initial grips on collar/sleeve or wrists, transitioning to leg wrap during entry
  • Base/Foundation: Level change with bent knees and straight back, not bending at waist which telegraphs intent
  • Timing Windows: Execute when opponent extends leg forward, shifts weight, or is off-balance
  • Leverage Points: Head pressure outside hip prevents circling, arms secure leg close to body
  • Common Adjustments: Adjust head position and leg grip based on opponent’s stance and defensive reactions

Common Counters

Opponent defensive responses with success rates and conditions:

Decision Logic for AI Opponent

If [penetration depth] < 50%:
- Execute [[Sprawl Defense]] (Probability: 55%)

Else if [arm is exposed to overhook]:
- Execute [[Whizzer Counter]] (Probability: 45%)

Else if [head position vulnerable]:
- Execute [[Crossface Counter]] (Probability: 40%)

Else [leg control established]:
- Accept transition (Probability: Base Success Rate + Applied Modifiers)

Expert Insights

John Danaher

“The single leg entry is fundamentally about achieving a deep penetration angle while maintaining structural integrity. The level change must be explosive yet controlled - dropping your hips changes your center of gravity allowing you to drive underneath theirs. Critical is the head position outside the hip, which prevents them from circling away and gives you the leverage to off-balance. The leg capture must be immediate and tight.”

Gordon Ryan

“In competition, I use the single leg entry off my collar tie when opponents try to circle or back away. The key is timing the level change when they step forward or shift weight - that’s when their base is compromised. I prefer securing the leg high, near the hip crease, because it gives me more control options for finishing the takedown. The initial grip fighting is crucial to create the opening.”

Eddie Bravo

“The single leg entry is money for setting up multiple positions, not just the takedown. If they defend well, you can transition to other attacks like going to the back or switching to a double leg. I teach it as part of a takedown system where you chain attacks together. The key is staying committed once you shoot - hesitation gets you sprawled on.”

Common Errors

Error 1: Telegraphing the level change by dropping hands or looking down

  • Why It Fails: Opponent sees shot coming and has time to sprawl or defend effectively
  • Correction: Maintain grip contact and head position until the moment of level change, explode suddenly
  • Recognition: Getting sprawled on repeatedly, opponent always ready for your shot

Error 2: Bending at waist instead of dropping hips with bent knees

  • Why It Fails: Creates weak posture making it easy to sprawl on, reduces driving power
  • Correction: Keep back straight and drop hips by bending knees deeply, like sitting into a squat
  • Recognition: Feeling weak during penetration, getting driven down by opponent’s pressure

Error 3: Not stepping deep enough during penetration

  • Why It Fails: Shallow penetration allows opponent to hop away or circle out easily
  • Correction: Lead leg must step at least between their legs, ideally beside or past their far leg
  • Recognition: Opponent easily escaping by hopping away, unable to secure leg properly

Error 4: Poor head position allowing opponent to circle away

  • Why It Fails: Head inside or not tight to hip gives opponent angle to turn and escape
  • Correction: Drive head outside their hip and maintain pressure throughout entry
  • Recognition: Opponent constantly circling away despite having leg captured

Error 5: Failing to secure leg tight to chest immediately

  • Why It Fails: Loose leg control allows opponent to retract leg or counter attack
  • Correction: Pull captured leg tight to chest immediately upon wrapping arms around it
  • Recognition: Opponent pulling leg free or countering before control established

Timing Considerations

  • Optimal Conditions: When opponent steps forward, shifts weight, has narrow stance, or is extended in grip fighting
  • Avoid When: Opponent has wide stable base with hips back, when you’re off-balance or fatigued
  • Setup Sequences: After snap down brings posture down, from arm drag creating angle, after collar tie creates opening
  • Follow-up Windows: Must establish control within 2-3 seconds or opponent will defend successfully

Prerequisites

  • Technical Skills: Level change mechanics, penetration step footwork, basic wrestling stance and movement
  • Physical Preparation: Hip flexibility for deep level change, leg strength for explosive penetration, conditioning for sustained pressure
  • Positional Understanding: Standing grappling concepts, distance management, grip fighting fundamentals
  • Experience Level: Beginner-friendly entry, fundamental technique for all levels

Knowledge Assessment

  1. Mechanical Understanding: “What creates the proper level change for single leg entry?”

    • A) Bending at the waist
    • B) Dropping hips by bending knees while keeping back straight
    • C) Just stepping forward
    • D) Jumping toward opponent
    • Answer: B

  2. Timing Recognition: “When is the optimal moment to shoot single leg entry?”

    • A) When opponent has wide stable base
    • B) When you’re off-balance
    • C) When opponent steps forward or shifts weight
    • D) When opponent is driving into you
    • Answer: C

  3. Error Prevention: “What is the most common mistake that telegraphs the single leg entry?”

    • A) Dropping hands or looking down before shooting
    • B) Moving too quickly
    • C) Gripping too tightly
    • D) Breathing heavily
    • Answer: A

  4. Setup Requirements: “Where should your head be positioned during single leg entry?”

    • A) Inside their hip
    • B) On their chest
    • C) Outside their hip
    • D) Against their stomach
    • Answer: C

  5. Adaptation: “How should you adjust if opponent begins to sprawl during entry?”

    • A) Give up immediately
    • B) Continue driving forward, adjust angle, or switch to double leg
    • C) Pull backward
    • D) Stand back up without maintaining contact
    • Answer: B

Variants and Adaptations

  • Gi Specific: Use sleeve and collar grips to control posture and create openings, pants grip on leg for additional control
  • No-Gi Specific: Use wrist control or underhooks for setups, body lock around leg without gi grips
  • Self-Defense: Highly applicable for street situations, effective against untrained opponents, close distance safely
  • Competition: Essential technique in wrestling and submission grappling, sets up multiple takedown finishes
  • Size Differential: Smaller practitioners benefit from speed and angle, larger practitioners use power and reach

Training Progressions

  1. Solo Practice: Shadow wrestling with level change mechanics, penetration step footwork patterns without partner
  2. Cooperative Drilling: Partner allows entry completion for repetition and muscle memory development
  3. Resistant Practice: Partner provides progressive defensive reactions including sprawl and whizzer
  4. Sparring Integration: Attempt entries during live standing grappling, develop timing and setup recognition
  5. Troubleshooting: Identify and correct specific problems like telegraphing, shallow penetration, or poor head position

LLM Context Block

Purpose: This section contains structured decision-making logic for AI opponents, narrative generation, and game engine processing.

Execution Decision Logic

decision_tree:
  conditions:
    - name: "Stance and Distance Check"
      evaluation: "stance_width < wide AND distance <= close"
      success_action: "proceed_to_level_change"
      failure_action: "circle_and_create_distance"
      failure_probability: 60
 
    - name: "Level Change Quality Check"
      evaluation: "hips_dropped >= 60 AND back_straight"
      success_action: "proceed_to_penetration"
      failure_action: "execute_sprawl_defense"
      failure_probability: 55
 
    - name: "Penetration Depth Check"
      evaluation: "step_depth >= deep AND head_position_outside"
      success_action: "accept_transition_with_modifiers"
      failure_action: "execute_hopping_defense"
      failure_probability: 50
 
  final_calculation:
    base_probability: "success_probability[skill_level]"
    applied_modifiers:
      - setup_quality
      - timing_precision
      - opponent_fatigue
      - knowledge_test
      - position_control
    formula: "base_probability + sum(modifiers) - sum(counters)"

Common Troubleshooting Patterns

troubleshooting:
  - symptom: "Getting sprawled on before completing entry"
    likely_cause: "Telegraphing shot or shallow penetration"
    diagnostic_questions:
      - "Are you dropping hands or looking down before shooting?"
      - "Is your level change explosive and sudden?"
      - "Are you stepping deep enough during penetration?"
    solution: "Maintain grips until moment of shot, explode level change suddenly, step deeper between their legs"
 
  - symptom: "Opponent easily hopping away after leg capture"
    likely_cause: "Poor head position or loose leg control"
    diagnostic_questions:
      - "Is your head outside their hip with pressure?"
      - "Is the captured leg pulled tight to your chest?"
      - "Are you maintaining forward drive throughout?"
    solution: "Drive head firmly outside hip, pull leg tight immediately, maintain constant forward pressure"
 
  - symptom: "Feeling weak or getting stuffed during entry"
    likely_cause: "Bending at waist instead of dropping hips"
    diagnostic_questions:
      - "Is your back straight during level change?"
      - "Are you dropping hips with bent knees?"
      - "Can you feel power in your legs during drive?"
    solution: "Keep back straight, drop hips by bending knees deeply, drive from legs not back"
 
  - symptom: "Opponent whizzering arm and controlling position"
    likely_cause: "Exposed arm position or improper timing"
    diagnostic_questions:
      - "Is your inside arm vulnerable to overhook?"
      - "Are you maintaining tight connection throughout?"
      - "Is timing optimal when opponent off-balance?"
    solution: "Keep arms tight to body during entry, time shot when opponent weight shifted, fight whizzer immediately"

Timing and Setup Guidance

timing_guidance:
  optimal_windows:
    - condition: "Opponent steps forward with lead leg"
      success_boost: "+15%"
      recognition_cues: ["Forward weight shift", "Extended step", "Momentum toward you"]
 
    - condition: "After snap down breaks their posture"
      success_boost: "+12%"
      recognition_cues: ["Head pulled down", "Posture compromised", "Recovering balance"]
 
    - condition: "From arm drag creating angle"
      success_boost: "+10%"
      recognition_cues: ["Opponent turned slightly", "Angle created", "Balance disrupted"]
 
  avoid_windows:
    - condition: "Opponent has wide stable base"
      success_penalty: "-20%"
      recognition_cues: ["Feet wide apart", "Low stance", "Hips back"]
 
    - condition: "When you're off-balance or moving backward"
      success_penalty: "-15%"
      recognition_cues: ["Poor base", "Retreating", "Reactive position"]
 
    - condition: "Opponent anticipating shot with hands low"
      success_penalty: "-15%"
      recognition_cues: ["Defensive posture", "Hands protecting legs", "Weight back"]
 
setup_sequences:
  - sequence_name: "Collar Tie to Single Leg"
    steps:
      - "Establish collar tie control"
      - "Create reaction or opening with push/pull"
      - "Level change and shoot as they respond"
    success_boost: "+12%"
 
  - sequence_name: "Snap Down to Single Leg"
    steps:
      - "Snap opponent's head down"
      - "As they fight back up, time level change"
      - "Penetrate while their weight adjusting"
    success_boost: "+10%"

Narrative Generation Prompts

narrative_prompts:
  setup_phase:
    - "You establish your grips, hand fighting for position and control."
    - "You wait for the opening, watching their weight shift and footwork."
    - "The moment arrives - they step forward, weight transferring to their lead leg."
 
  execution_phase:
    - "You drop your hips explosively, level changing with perfect posture as you drive forward."
    - "Your lead leg penetrates deep between theirs as your arms begin wrapping their isolated leg."
    - "Your head drives outside their hip while both arms secure the leg tight to your chest."
 
  completion_phase:
    - "You establish single leg control, their leg captured and body positioning preventing escape."
    - "Forward pressure continues as you consolidate the position, ready to finish the takedown."
    - "The entry is complete - you have dominant control of their leg with multiple finishing options."
 
  failure_phase:
    - "They sprawl their hips back explosively, stuffing your penetration before you can secure the leg."
    - "Their whizzer comes over your arm, controlling your shoulder and preventing you from establishing position."
    - "You feel them hopping away on their free leg, your penetration wasn't deep enough to control them."

Image Generation Prompts

image_prompts:
  setup_position:
    prompt: "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu standing position, two practitioners in wrestling stance with collar and wrist control, both wearing blue and white gis, ready to engage, mat background, technical illustration style"
    key_elements: ["Standing stance", "Grip control", "Balanced position", "Engagement distance"]
 
  mid_execution:
    prompt: "BJJ single leg entry in motion, attacker dropping hips in level change, lead leg stepping deep, arms beginning to wrap around opponent's isolated leg, explosive movement captured, technical illustration"
    key_elements: ["Level change", "Deep step", "Leg wrap beginning", "Head position outside"]
 
  completion_position:
    prompt: "BJJ single leg control position, attacker has opponent's leg captured tight to chest, head outside hip, opponent off-balance, control established, technical illustration style"
    key_elements: ["Single leg control", "Leg secured", "Head pressure", "Opponent off-balance"]

Audio Narration Scripts

audio_scripts:
  instructional_narration:
    script: "From standing position, establish your grips and wait for the right moment. When they step forward or shift weight, explode into your level change by dropping your hips with bent knees. Step deep with your lead leg as you drive forward. Wrap both arms around their isolated leg and drive your head outside their hip. Pull the leg tight to your chest to establish control."
    voice: "Onyx"
    pace: "Moderate"
    emphasis: ["explode into your level change", "step deep", "drive your head outside", "pull the leg tight"]
 
  coaching_cues:
    script: "Establish grips. Wait for it. Now! Drop those hips. Step deep. Drive that head outside. Wrap the leg. Pull it tight. Keep pressure. Good control."
    voice: "Onyx"
    pace: "Energetic"
    emphasis: ["Now!", "Step deep", "Drive that head", "Pull it tight", "Good control"]
 
  competition_commentary:
    script: "Watch the setup here - good hand fighting establishing position. Perfect timing as the opponent steps forward. Explosive level change with great posture. Deep penetration step. Arms wrap the leg. Head drives outside the hip. Single leg control secured. Textbook entry."
    voice: "Onyx"
    pace: "Fast"
    emphasis: ["Perfect timing", "Explosive level change", "Deep penetration", "Single leg control secured", "Textbook"]

Competition Applications

  • IBJJF Rules: Legal at all belt levels, essential for takedown scoring (2 points)
  • No-Gi Competition: Highly effective without gi grips preventing entry, fundamental wrestling technique
  • Self-Defense Context: Excellent for safely closing distance and taking down attacker
  • MMA Applications: Essential takedown entry in mixed martial arts, sets up ground control

Historical Context

The single leg takedown entry is one of the most fundamental techniques in wrestling, with origins dating back to ancient Greco-Roman wrestling. It became a cornerstone of freestyle and folkstyle wrestling in the 20th century and was adopted into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as practitioners recognized the importance of takedown skills. The technique remains one of the highest percentage entries in both wrestling and BJJ competition, favored for its relative safety and multiple finishing options once control is established.

Safety Considerations

  • Controlled Application: Execute with control to avoid knee injuries to opponent during entry
  • Mat Awareness: Ensure adequate space for movement and potential takedown completion
  • Partner Safety: Communicate during drilling, especially when resisting or defending entry
  • Gradual Progression: Build up speed and power gradually, master mechanics before adding intensity

Position Integration

Common combinations and sequences:

  • Double Leg Entry - Alternative takedown entry with similar level change mechanics
  • Snap Down - Setup technique that creates openings for single leg entry
  • Arm Drag - Creates angle advantageous for single leg entry
  • Sprawl Defense - Primary defense against single leg entry that must be understood
  • Standing up - Primary starting position for single leg entry

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