Single Leg Takedown

What it is

The single leg takedown catches one leg above the knee with your head on the inside, lifts it to your hip and runs them down or trips the standing leg. It is the safer of the two basic takedowns because your head stays off the centre line. It usually lands in half guard, which is why top half guard is one of the first passing positions to learn.

When to use it

• They stand with one foot forward, giving you a lead leg to attack.
• They step in or reach toward you and leave a leg close.
• You have cleared a grip and their lead leg is exposed.

How to do it

1. Hand fight to clear the lead hand, lower your level and step your lead foot to the outside of their lead leg.
2. Wrap both arms around the leg above the knee and lock your hands, with your head on the inside of their hip.
3. Stand up with the leg, lifting it to your hip and keeping your head tight to their chest.
4. Pinch the leg between your thighs so they cannot pull it free.
5. Run forward with small steps so they hop and lose balance, or sweep their standing leg with your foot.
6. Follow them to the mat and land in top half guard or side control.

Key details

• Head inside, pressed into their chest, so they cannot snap your head down.
• Lift the leg to your hip, not your chest. High legs are easy to pull out.
• Keep moving. A standing single leg that stops is a single leg that gets whizzered.
• Pinch your knees around the leg so your hands can do other work.

Common mistakes

• Mistake: head outside with no control of the leg, so they push your head down and sprawl.
• Mistake: standing still with the leg in the air, so they whizzer and throw you.
• Mistake: letting the leg slide down to your knees, so they kick free and step out.

What they will try

• They sprawl the leg back and get a front headlock or a whizzer.
• They hop and reach for your hips, then pull guard or hit a kimura.

Gi and no-gi

Wrist control and collar ties replace the sleeve and collar grips in the setup. The finish does not change.