Single Leg Takedown: The Ultimate BJJ Wrestling Guide

The single leg takedown is the most important wrestling technique for jiu-jitsu. The double leg needs a big explosive shot and leaves you open to sprawls. The single leg is lower risk because you enter safely, control the distance, and finish without carrying their whole weight.

There is one catch: in BJJ, a lazy shot is the fastest way into a guillotine choke. This guide covers the entry, the head-inside detail that keeps you safe, and two finishes that put you on top.

Head Inside vs Head Outside

You need to decide where your head goes before you shoot, because in wrestling both options are valid but in BJJ one is much safer.

• Head inside. Your head is on their chest or ribs, on the same side as the leg you attack, which blocks the guillotine and makes a kimura hard to set up. Start here.
• Head outside, also called the high crotch. Your head is outside their hip, which is powerful but exposes your neck to the choke and your back to the switch, so learn it later.

The Entry, Step by Step

A takedown is mostly setup, and if you get these five details right the finish is easy.

1. Set it up. You cannot shoot from far away. Use collar ties, arm drags, or a snap to make them step one leg forward.
2. Change levels. Bend your knees, not your waist. Keep your chest up.
3. Shoot. Drive off your back foot and step deep between their legs.
4. Connect. Wrap their thigh, not the calf. Lock your hands palm to palm behind the knee.
5. Glue your head. Press your forehead into their ribs. Any space here lets them frame your face and pull away.

Finish One: Running the Pipe

This is the cleanest and most technical way to finish the single leg without lifting your opponent off the ground.

• Pinch their leg between your knees.
• Take a big circular step back with your outside leg.
• Drop your shoulder heavy onto their thigh while pulling the leg up.
• The circle plus the downward pressure sends them to their hip.

Finish Two: The Tree Top

If your opponent hops on one leg and refuses to fall, switch to this higher-impact lifting finish.

• Stand tall and bring their leg high into your armpit.
• Step your inside leg behind their standing leg.
• Drive forward with your chest and trip them over your leg.
• Pass straight to side control when they land.

Avoiding the Guillotine

The choke happens when your head drops and your spine bends, so fix your posture first by keeping your spine straight and your eyes up. If they do wrap your neck, do not back out; instead drive across their body toward the other side, like a double leg, which relieves the pressure and often finishes the takedown anyway.

Gi vs No-Gi

In the gi, a collar grip or sleeve grip is a great setup: pull them forward, then shoot as they step. In no-gi, arm drags and collar ties do the same job, and once you are on the leg the finishes are identical.

Common Mistakes

• Shooting from too far away.
• Bending at the waist so your head drops.
• Grabbing the calf instead of the thigh.
• Leaving space between your head and their body.
• Stalling with the leg instead of finishing right away.

When to Use It

The single leg is a great answer to a strong guard puller who stands up, and it links well with the low single and the kneebar for advanced players. If you want the higher-power option, read the double leg guide next.