How To Do A Single Leg Takedown

One of the most basic moves you will learn while training in wrestling is the Single Leg Takedown. It will be one of the first moves you learn with your wrestling coach along with How To Do The Double Leg Takedown. The single leg takedown is effective in mixed martial arts competition when your stand up game is not working or you have it apart of your overall fight strategy.

The single leg takedown is also effective in a street fight against a bigger opponent. When in a street fight against a larger opponent your two worries should be him throwing wild punches and landed one. If you are smaller chances are it will knock you out cold. The second fear you should have is him successfully executing a takedown and landing on top of you in a full mount position.

You know his next move will be to ground and pound you with all his strength and might. Of course you train in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling to effectively protect yourself on the ground, but sometimes it doesn’t work in your favor. That is the reality of it all. And sometimes no matter how good you are on the ground sometimes you will lose.

Look at the greatest UFC and Jiu-Jistu fighters as an example. Some of the greatest fighters get submitted on the ground or knocked out on the ground while their opponent is facing them. Again, that’s the reality of it all. You win some you lose some. Anyhow back to the lesson.

How To Sprawl In MMA

How To Do A Single Leg Takedown

1 – Set Up Your Takedown

One of the single leg takedown mistakes is not setting up your takedown. People who have no experience in fighting will be in a fight and shoot (wrestling term) their body towards their opponent in hopes of grabbing their leg and bringing them to the ground. But as soon as their opponent sees them shooting in they raise their knee and you get hit in the face by it. Or they’ll see you shooting in and move out of the way and you fall straight to the ground.

You have to set up a move like a single leg takedown by jabbing or hooking them. Some fighters use a fake to the top then go in for the takedown. Whatever method you use to set up the takedown make sure that it is effective. There is nothing wort than getting kicked in your face when going in for a predictable takedown.

2 – Leg Grab

After the set up you have to shoot in for the single leg grab. Timing is everything with this move, that’s why it will take hours of practice to perfect. When you go for your shot remember to keep your elbows as close to your sides as possible. If you do this right, it will be nearly impossible for your opponent to defend.

The footwork for the shot is fairly simple. First you take your leg closest to the leg you are attacking and step outside of that leg. This is called the penetration step, the deeper you get the leg the better, just do not over extend yourself. Then you will use your hips to drive his leg up once you’ve grabbed it, this will feel like a hip thrust from a lunge.

You have to grab the leg as soon as possible. Remember to keep your arms tight to your sides as I mentioned before. Don’t reach out to grab the leg, instead lock your arms around the leg at the knee joint when your chest is near his side.

Single Leg Takedown By MMA Legend Dan Henderson

Single Leg Takedown BJJ

Doing a single leg takedown in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a bit different than MMA. Especially when you are in competition. In BJJ competitions you can do Gi or no Gi and this can effect your set up to the takedown in different ways. There are different set up techniques in these two different situations.

In BJJ Gi competition your competitor can latch onto grips with the gi, and fighting through the grips can be incredibly difficult. It is said that often times good wrestlers who get into BJJ with no grip fighting ability are slowed down by the grips or completely stopped in some cases. I have seen this to be true but all it takes is practice to get the hang of things and the wrestler will fit right in when it comes to defending that.

Below is a video of set ups and execution of Single Leg & Double Leg Takedowns

BJJ Single Leg Takedowns

Single Leg Takedown Highlights

MMA Shoot Takedown

In martial arts or any other combat sport a takedown is a technique that involves off-balancing an opponent and bringing him or her to the ground. When this move or technique is executed the objective is for the attacker to land on top.

The process of quickly advancing on an opponent and attempting a takedown is known as shooting for a takedown, or simply shooting. This is what it’s called in the wrestling, BJJ, and MMA world. The technique really originated from wrestling and expanded into different martial art forms.

Takedowns are usually distinguished from throws by the forward motion and target of advancement (typically the legs); the terms are used interchangeably for techniques. Takedowns are featured in all forms of wrestling and stand-up grappling.

Proper Takedown Technique

As I said many times there is a right and wrong way to execute moves and techniques withing wrestling and mixed martial arts in general. You pull off a move then you can have your opponent in a world of hurt. If you fail to be in the proper position or do a move that’s anticipated by your opponent you can be knocked out or submitted with ease.

When conducting a single leg takedown there are simple rules to remember:

1. Setup The Single Leg Takedown

2. When you shoot remember to keep your elbows as close to your sides as possible

3. When you shoot use your hips and legs do not bend over to grab the leg

4. Take your leg closest to the leg you are attacking and step outside of that leg

5. Never step directly into your opponent this will make him sprawl or put you into a guillotine.

6. Step in at and angle and hook the leg closest to you pressing your head against your opponents mid-section. Keep your head on the outside position. It’s the safest

7. Once you have a grip on your opponent’s leg, you must control their leg correctly to prevent their escape.

8. Finish the leg takedown by driving into your opponent and lifting him up or twisting your body so he can spin to the ground. Adjust and amend the technique as you choose

Single Leg Takedown Defense

The best single leg takedown defenseis the Single Leg Sprawl. A sprawl is a wrestling takedown move used in other forms of martial arts such as MMA and BJJ.

The sprawl is performed by scooting the legs backwards, so as to land on the upper back of the opponent attempting the takedown. If you witness this you will see one guy hunched over the back of his opponent pushing down on his neck and sprawling out both of his legs behind him. The resultant position is also known as a sprawl or sprawling position.

You can do this for a single or double leg takedown if done correctly you will effectively defend yourself from a takedown.

Bruce Steinel Low Single Leg Takedown