Single Leg Variations

The Single Leg Takedown and its variations represent one of the most versatile and fundamental takedown systems in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling. This technique family involves controlling one of the opponent’s legs while using various finishing methods to bring them to the ground. The beauty of the single leg system lies in its adaptability - when one finish is defended, the practitioner can seamlessly flow to another variation, creating a chain of attacks that overwhelms the opponent’s defensive structure.

Unlike the double leg takedown which commits both arms to leg control, the single leg allows for superior balance and head position control, making it safer against guillotine counters and easier to defend against sprawls. The single leg system includes numerous finishes: the traditional lift and dump, the ankle pick, the knee tap, the inside trip, the outside trip, the back trip, and the run-the-pipe finish. Each variation exploits different defensive reactions, making the single leg a complete takedown system rather than a single technique.

Mastery of single leg variations transforms a grappler’s standing game from predictable to highly dynamic. Elite competitors have demonstrated how single leg entries can be chained directly into leg lock positions, creating seamless transitions from standing to ground submissions. This modern application has elevated the single leg from a simple takedown to a sophisticated entry system that bridges wrestling fundamentals with advanced BJJ leg entanglement strategies.

Starting Position: Standing Position Ending Position: Side Control Success Rates: Beginner 30%, Intermediate 50%, Advanced 70%

Key Principles

Control the ankle or lower leg with both hands while maintaining head position on the inside or outside
Break opponent’s base by elevating their leg or driving them backward while they balance on one foot
Chain multiple finishing variations together based on opponent’s defensive reactions
Maintain constant forward pressure to prevent opponent from establishing defensive posture
Use head position as an additional point of control to off-balance opponent
Transition seamlessly to leg entanglements if takedown finish is unsuccessful
Keep hips close to opponent’s standing leg to maximize control and minimize their mobility

Prerequisites

Standing position with both grapplers on their feet in neutral or clinch range
Clear entry path to penetrate toward opponent’s legs without telegraphing intention
Grip fighting advantage or clear moment to shoot without opponent’s hands controlling your head
Proper distance management - close enough to penetrate but not so close that knees are blocked
Level change mechanics prepared to drop hips and shoot underneath opponent’s center of gravity
Head position awareness to avoid guillotine setups during entry phase
Balanced stance that allows explosive forward drive without compromising defensive position

Execution Steps

Level change and penetration: Drop your hips explosively while stepping forward with your lead leg. Your head should drive toward the opponent’s centerline as you lower your level beneath their hips. Keep your back straight and chest up to maintain structural integrity during the shot. Your hands should be ready to secure the leg while your head makes contact with their torso. (Timing: Execute the level change in one explosive motion to prevent opponent from sprawling)
Leg capture and secure grip: As you penetrate, wrap both arms around the back of the opponent’s knee or lower thigh. Your inside hand (closer to their centerline) should cup behind their knee while your outside hand reaches across to complete the grip. Pull the leg tight to your chest and shoulder. Your head should be positioned on the inside (between their legs) or outside depending on the entry angle. (Timing: Secure the grip immediately upon contact before opponent can retract their leg)
Elevate and drive: Stand up forcefully while lifting the captured leg to break opponent’s base. Drive forward into their standing leg while elevating their captured leg to at least hip height. Your head should drive into their chest or ribs to further disrupt their balance. Maintain tight control of the leg against your torso while keeping your hips close to their standing leg. (Timing: Continuous forward pressure - do not pause between capture and elevation)
Read defensive reaction: As you drive and elevate, assess how the opponent responds. If they hop backward on their standing leg, prepare for a dump or trip finish. If they plant their standing leg firmly and reach for your head, prepare for an inside trip. If they turn away to defend, prepare for a back trip or run-the-pipe finish. Your ability to read this reaction determines which variation you execute. (Timing: React within 1-2 seconds of initial elevation while opponent is still off-balance)
Execute appropriate finish variation: Based on their defensive reaction, execute the appropriate finish: (1) Lift and dump - elevate leg high and turn the corner to dump them on their back; (2) Inside trip - use your inside leg to hook their standing leg while driving forward; (3) Outside trip - circle to the outside and hook their standing leg from the outside; (4) Ankle pick - drop your level suddenly and pull their standing ankle while driving forward; (5) Knee tap - release the elevated leg, grab their standing knee, and pull it toward you while driving your shoulder into their chest. (Timing: Commit fully to the finish variation - hesitation allows opponent to recover base)
Secure top position or transition to leg entanglement: As opponent falls, control their descent and establish your preferred top position. If executing a traditional finish, move immediately to side control, mount, or knee on belly. If they defend the takedown by sitting or rolling, maintain control of their leg and transition to single leg X-guard, inside ashi garami, or outside ashi garami for leg attack opportunities. Do not release leg control until you have established a dominant position. (Timing: Transition occurs immediately as opponent’s back or hips contact the mat)

Opponent Counters

Sprawl defense - opponent drops their hips and sprawls their legs back while pushing down on your head (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: If they sprawl successfully, transition to ankle pick by circling to the outside, grabbing their far ankle, and pulling while their weight is back. Alternatively, switch to a double leg by securing both legs if they sprawl with legs too wide
Guillotine counter - opponent wraps your neck in a guillotine choke as you shoot (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Keep your head on the inside during entry to minimize guillotine exposure. If caught, immediately drive forward and turn the corner to relieve pressure while completing the takedown. In no-gi, consider releasing and backing out if the guillotine is deeply locked
Wizard control - opponent overhooks your arm and controls your head, neutralizing the finish (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: If opponent establishes wizard control, immediately switch to a different variation. Circle away from their overhook side while maintaining leg control, or transition to running-the-pipe finish by circling behind them. Can also drop for ankle pick on standing leg
Limp leg defense - opponent relaxes their captured leg making it difficult to elevate (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: When leg goes limp, immediately switch to attacking their standing leg. Execute knee tap by releasing the limp leg, grabbing their standing knee, and driving forward. Their relaxed leg actually makes the standing leg more vulnerable
Frame and create distance - opponent posts hand on your head/shoulder and extends their arm to create space (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Continue driving forward while circling to remove their frame. Use your head to pressure under their armpit rather than against their frame. If frame is strong, drop level suddenly and attack standing ankle with ankle pick variation

Common Mistakes

Mistake: Reaching for the leg without proper level change, shooting with hips too high
- Consequence: Opponent easily sprawls and establishes front headlock control, putting you in defensive position
- Correction: Emphasize explosive level change before reaching for the leg. Drop your hips below opponent’s hips and drive forward before arm extension. Practice level change mechanics separately from the full shot
Mistake: Stopping forward pressure after initial leg capture, pausing to reassess position
- Consequence: Opponent recovers their base, establishes defensive grips, and neutralizes the takedown attempt
- Correction: Maintain continuous forward drive from penetration through finish. Single leg is a dynamic chain of movements without pause. Drill the complete sequence as one flowing motion
Mistake: Failing to control head position, allowing opponent to control your head with their hands
- Consequence: Opponent controls the direction of your movement, prevents finish variations, and sets up guillotine or front headlock
- Correction: Keep your head tight to opponent’s torso throughout the sequence. Drive your head into their chest or around their hip depending on variation. Never allow separation between your head and their body
Mistake: Using only arm strength to lift the leg without engaging hips and legs
- Consequence: Technique becomes exhausting, ineffective against larger opponents, and easy to defend
- Correction: Generate lifting power from standing up with your legs while pulling the captured leg to your chest. Your arms only maintain the grip while your entire body drives upward and forward
Mistake: Committing to one finish variation regardless of opponent’s defensive reaction
- Consequence: Opponent defends successfully because they know what’s coming, leading to failed takedown and potential counter
- Correction: Develop flow between multiple finish variations. Practice recognizing defensive cues and switching finishes mid-execution. Drill specific reactions to specific defenses until responses become automatic
Mistake: Keeping feet too far from opponent’s standing leg during execution
- Consequence: Opponent maintains mobility, can hop away from finish attempts, and creates distance to escape
- Correction: Keep your hips and feet close to opponent’s standing leg. Your inside foot should be next to or between their feet to limit their mobility and maximize your control
Mistake: Releasing the captured leg prematurely before establishing dominant position
- Consequence: Opponent recovers guard or scrambles back to standing, wasting the successful entry
- Correction: Maintain leg control until completely secure in top position or leg entanglement. The captured leg is your primary control point until you establish position on the ground

Training Progressions

Phase 1: Fundamentals (Weeks 1-2) - Basic penetration step and leg capture mechanics Partner stands stationary while you practice level change and penetration. Focus on proper hip drop, forward drive, and clean leg capture. Partner offers zero resistance. Perform 10-15 repetitions per side, emphasizing perfect form over speed. Work both inside and outside head positions. (Resistance: None)

Phase 2: Static Finishes (Weeks 3-4) - Individual finish variations from established position Begin from position where you already have the single leg secured. Partner stands on one leg with minimal resistance. Practice each finish variation separately: lift and dump, inside trip, outside trip, knee tap, ankle pick. Perform 5-8 repetitions of each variation per side. Focus on proper mechanics and smooth execution. (Resistance: Light)

Phase 3: Flow Drilling (Weeks 5-8) - Chaining multiple variations based on defensive reactions Partner provides specific defensive reactions (sprawl, wizard, frame, etc.) and you practice flowing to appropriate counter-finish. Start slow and gradually increase speed. Work on reading cues and switching variations mid-execution. Drill specific sequences: if sprawl then ankle pick, if wizard then run-the-pipe, if frame then knee tap. (Resistance: Medium)

Phase 4: Live Entry Practice (Weeks 9-12) - Timing entries from standing position with movement Both partners move naturally in standing position. Practice setting up and timing your single leg entries with grip fighting, footwork, and feints. Partner provides moderate resistance but allows successful entries for learning purposes. Focus on creating angles and explosive penetration. Work on recognizing optimal moments to shoot. (Resistance: Medium)

Phase 5: Competitive Drilling (Weeks 13-16) - Live execution against full resistance Both partners attempt takedowns with full resistance. Focus on executing single leg variations against legitimate defensive efforts. Work on maintaining pressure under fatigue and adapting to dynamic defensive reactions. Include transitions to leg entanglements when takedown is defended. This is essentially standing sparring with emphasis on single leg opportunities. (Resistance: Full)

Phase 6: Integration and Refinement (Ongoing) - Combining single leg with complete standing system Integrate single leg variations into your complete takedown game. Use single leg to set up other takedowns and vice versa. Practice transitioning seamlessly from failed single legs to leg entanglements, guard pulls, or alternative takedowns. Film your sparring and analyze single leg opportunities you missed. Continue refining timing, setups, and finish selection based on opponent type and defensive tendencies. (Resistance: Full)

Variations

High Crotch Single Leg: Instead of gripping behind the knee, the hands lock higher on the thigh near the hip. Your shoulder drives into their inner thigh while your head positions outside. This variation provides superior control and makes it easier to elevate the leg for dump finishes. (When to use: Use against taller opponents or when you can penetrate deeply. Particularly effective in no-gi where leg grips can be slippery. Provides better defense against wizard control and whizzer counters.)

Low Single (Ankle Pick Single): Grip is secured on or below the ankle rather than the knee. Your head stays outside and you drive forward while pulling the ankle toward you and slightly up. Often used as a re-attack after initial single leg is defended or as a counter to sprawl defense. (When to use: Excellent against opponents who sprawl well or maintain wide base. Works well when opponent is moving backward or when they are off-balance. Common in no-gi and MMA where lower grips are more secure.)

Run-the-Pipe: After securing the single leg, circle behind the opponent while maintaining leg control. Your head moves from the front to their back as you circle. Complete the takedown by pulling their leg while driving your shoulder into their back, or transition directly to back control. (When to use: Use when opponent establishes strong wizard control or overhook. Effective when opponent turns away to defend. In no-gi, this can lead directly to back take or body lock position.)

Knee Tap Finish: From single leg position, release the elevated leg and immediately grab their standing leg’s knee with both hands. Pull the knee toward you while driving your shoulder into their chest. This causes both legs to collapse as they fall backward. (When to use: Deploy when opponent makes their elevated leg heavy or limp. Particularly effective when opponent has strong wizard control preventing traditional finishes. Works best when opponent plants their standing leg firmly.)

Inside Trip Finish: While maintaining single leg control, use your inside leg to hook behind their standing leg (similar to ouchi gari). Drive forward while pulling the elevated leg and sweeping their standing leg backward with your hooking leg. (When to use: Use when opponent stands square and plants their standing leg. Works well when you have inside head position. Common against defensive grapplers who refuse to move or commit.)

Single Leg to Ashi Garami: If takedown is defended, transition directly to leg entanglement by sitting to your hip while maintaining leg control. Fall to inside ashi garami or outside ashi garami position depending on leg configuration. This transitions from takedown attempt to leg lock position. (When to use: Use in no-gi or when opponent successfully defends the takedown finish but you maintain leg control. Particularly effective in submission-only formats or when opponent has strong takedown defense but weak leg lock defense.)

Test Your Knowledge

Q1: What is the primary advantage of the single leg takedown system compared to the double leg takedown? A: The single leg allows for better balance and head position control since only one leg is attacked while maintaining base on both your feet. This makes it safer against guillotine counters, easier to maintain during the finishing sequence, and allows for superior adaptability to switch between multiple finish variations. Additionally, the single leg commits only your arms to leg control while keeping your legs and hips mobile for various finishes.

Q2: Why is continuous forward pressure emphasized throughout the single leg sequence rather than pausing to reassess? A: Continuous forward pressure prevents the opponent from recovering their base and establishing defensive structures. The single leg is most effective as a dynamic chain of movements where each action flows into the next. Any pause allows the opponent to plant their standing leg firmly, establish grips like wizard control or overhooks, and potentially counter with submissions or front headlock positions. The pressure keeps them reactive and off-balance throughout the sequence.

Q3: When an opponent successfully sprawls against your single leg entry, what is the most effective counter-adjustment and why? A: When opponent sprawls successfully, immediately transition to an ankle pick finish by circling to the outside while maintaining some leg control. As they sprawl, their weight shifts backward and their far ankle becomes exposed and vulnerable. Circle toward their back while grabbing their far ankle and pulling it toward you while they’re overcommitted to the sprawl. This uses their defensive reaction against them and often results in a successful takedown from a seemingly defended position.

Q4: How does head position affect your defensive safety and offensive options during single leg execution? A: Head position is critical for both safety and finish options. Inside head position (between opponent’s legs) provides strong control and prevents wizard/whizzer counters but makes you more vulnerable to guillotine attempts. Outside head position is safer from guillotines and allows for better run-the-pipe and outside trip finishes but gives opponent potential for wizard control. Elite grapplers switch head position dynamically based on opponent’s hand position and defensive reactions, always keeping their head tight to opponent’s torso to maintain control.

Q5: What specific defensive reaction indicates you should transition from a traditional single leg finish to a knee tap variation? A: When the opponent makes their elevated leg heavy and limp while planting their standing leg firmly, this indicates you should switch to knee tap. The limp leg defense neutralizes lift-based finishes, but it simultaneously makes their standing leg vulnerable because all their weight commits to that one leg. The knee tap exploits this by attacking their standing leg directly - releasing the limp leg and grabbing their standing knee to collapse their entire base.

Q6: In modern no-gi BJJ competition, what position should you transition to if your single leg takedown is defended but you maintain leg control? A: Transition to inside ashi garami or outside ashi garami (depending on your position relative to their leg) by sitting to your hip while maintaining control of their leg. This seamlessly converts a defended takedown into a leg entanglement position where you can attack with heel hooks, knee bars, or ankle locks. Modern grapplers have made this transition a fundamental part of their games, viewing the single leg not just as a takedown but as an entry system into leg attacks.

Q7: Why is it important to keep your hips close to the opponent’s standing leg during single leg execution? A: Keeping your hips close to their standing leg limits their mobility and prevents them from hopping away or creating distance. When your hips are close, you can control the range and direction of their movement, making all your finish variations more effective. Distance allows them to hop backward repeatedly, circle away from your attacks, and potentially disengage entirely. Close hip positioning also improves your ability to feel their weight shifts and react appropriately with the correct finish variation.

Safety Considerations

When practicing single leg variations, controlled execution is essential to prevent knee injuries during takedown finishes. Partners should tap if they feel excessive torque on their knee or ankle during practice. Start all variations at slow speed and gradually increase intensity over weeks of training. Ensure adequate mat space and proper surface to prevent injury during falls. When drilling finishes like inside trips and outside trips, be particularly careful with your partner’s standing leg as sudden sweeps can cause ligament damage if executed with full power on an unprepared partner. In live training, release leg control if your partner taps to prevent joint strain. The transition to leg entanglements should also be practiced progressively, as sudden drops to ashi positions can torque the knee if partner is not expecting the position change. Always communicate with training partners about intensity level and stop immediately if anyone experiences joint pain.

Position Integration

The Single Leg Takedown system serves as a critical bridge between standing grappling and ground positions in BJJ. From a strategic perspective, it represents the primary takedown entry for grapplers who want to maintain defensive safety while establishing top position. Unlike throws or double legs that require full commitment, the single leg allows for measured entry with multiple exit options if the technique is unsuccessful. Within the broader positional hierarchy, successful single leg finishes lead directly to dominant top positions: side control, mount, knee on belly, or turtle top depending on how the opponent falls. The modern evolution of the single leg has expanded its integration to include seamless transitions to leg entanglement positions (inside ashi, outside ashi, 50-50) when traditional finishes are defended. This makes the single leg particularly valuable in no-gi competition where the threat of leg locks is prevalent. Elite competitors use single leg entries as part of a complete standing-to-ground system that includes takedowns, guard pulls, and leg attacks as interconnected options rather than separate techniques. The single leg also integrates defensively - when opponents shoot on you, understanding single leg mechanics helps you defend and counter with your own attacks. From a pedagogical standpoint, single leg variations should be taught as a complete system rather than isolated techniques, emphasizing the flow between entries, finishes, counters, and transitions to ensure students develop a comprehensive understanding of standing grappling that integrates smoothly with their ground game.