SINGLE LEG TAKEDOWN BJJ
In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu there are two main elements that make up the art, the top game and the guard game. Some athletes will opt to pull guard, so they can execute sweeps, and use different guard systems to enter leg entanglements, and other various submission attacks.
What this article covers:
- The Importance of Takedowns
- What Is a Single Leg Takedown
- Variations of The Single Leg Takedown
- How to Defend the Single Leg Takedown
Other athletes prefer the top game, where they will commonly set up takedown maneuvers to land in dominant control positions. From there they will use grinding pressure to access a different range of submission set ups. There has often been debate about which style is better, as both have advantages, and disadvantages.
Utilising the top game is a great way to gain advantage over an opponent in a competition match. Often when a fight ends as a draw, the competitor that wins is the one that takes the top position, and attempts to pass, as the guard puller is rarely rewarded. Utilising different takedown maneuvers is a great way to set up entry points into the top game. There are different takedowns like the double leg takedown, the single leg takedown, the ankle pick, and the valley drop. Athletes will also utilise Judo throws like the seoi nagi, the uchi mada, the osoto gari, and the ouchi gari. Many of these takedown maneuvers are highly dynamic, and can help the athlete to dominate the match.
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THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKEDOWNS
Takedown maneuvers have been a part of the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu arsenal since the beginning. Not all practitioners of the art will pull guard, and these athletes will work tirelessly on setting up takedown maneuvers. There is a significant dominance in an athlete that can execute a high impact Wrestling takedown, or a dynamic Judo throw. Taking an opponent down is a sign of control, and landing on top of the opponent will give the athlete an extensive advantage. Staying on top of an opponent is a much safer option, because all they have to worry about is their base, and their balance. If an athlete pulls guard they have a lot more worries like being crushed by their opponent's heavy pressure. This is why all athletes need a top game, and the only way to have a dominant top game is to perfect some takedown maneuvers.
An athlete really only needs a few different takedown techniques to have a dominant top game, but it doesn't hurt to have multiple options when trying to take an opponent down. Opponent's will commonly know how to counter a takedown attempt, like sprawling against a double leg takedown, and arm dragging against a wrist grip. This is why having a series of counter measures in place is extremely important so the athlete can take their opponents down efficiently. This is seen in Judo when they set up one move and wait for a reaction before using another to finish a takedown. Some takedowns will put an athlete in a comprehensive control position, and this will not only help them to drain their opponent, it can score them points in a competitive match, but above all else it will give them an opportunity to use their pressure to set up submission attacks.
WHAT IS A SINGLE LEG TAKEDOWN
There are many different kinds of takedown maneuvers, and the single leg is one of the most well known. The single leg takedown is usually one of the first takedown maneuvers an athlete will learn when they begin training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The simple mechanics of this takedown is to pick up their opponent's front leg with their hands, and trap the ankle in between their thighs. The athlete will hug their opponent's thigh tightly, as they use their head to pressure towards the inside of the groin. An important tip to remember is to not place the athlete's head to the outside, as they will become susceptible to chokes like the guillotine. Once the athlete is in position with their opponent's leg tightly secured, they will step their outside leg backwards, as they use their head pressure to force their opponent to the mat. Another important tip is once the athlete steps backwards, this gives room for the athlete to use their head to circle their opponent down towards the mat. The pressure of the head, combined with the momentum of the backward step will create enough tension to take their opponent down to the mat.
HISTORY OF THE SINGLE LEG TAKEDOWN
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu derived from the ancient form of Japanese Jiu Jitsu, and Kodokan Judo. The Samurai would use throwing techniques to dismount assailants from their horses, and this practise became a highly functional part of the ongoing Martial Art. The Samurai would pass these techniques on through the generations, as many future Martial Artists would learn, and add more developments to these techniques. Over the years the art form was developed into Kodokan Judo by Kano Jigoro a Japanese educator who taught many of his students the value of nage waza, which is the Japanese term for throwing techniques. Kano's ideologies were passed down to Mitsuyo Maeda, who became one of Kano's top students.
Mitsuyo Maeda became a pioneer of Martial Arts across the globe, as he traveled through many countries prize fighting, and spreading his techniques one seminar, after another. Mitsuyo would finally settle in Brazil, where he was helped by Gastao Gracie Senior. Mitsuyo would eventually train Gastao's son, Carlos Gracie, and for the next six years Carlos would learn the art of throwing an opponent to the mats. Once Carlos had mastered his craft he taught his younger brothers Helio, George, Gastao Jr, and Oswaldo. It was from this point on that the history of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was born, as Helio, and Carlos created a systematic approach, which incorporated all of the takedown aspects they had learned from Kodokan Judo. The brothers would add many different submissions, and grappling transitions to make the art into the infamous grappling that has evolved today.
Over the last century the art of the takedown has been mastered by many world class athletes, as fierce competitors like Lucas Lepri, Marcus Almeida, Andre Galvao, Roberto Abreu, and Nick Rodriguez have become extremely powerful takedown artists. The innovation of the takedown has been somewhat thwarted by the leg entanglement game, but these athletes are still world class in how they pick apart their opponents, and take them down powerfully to the mat. Even though the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has become more of an intricate transition game, the art of the takedown will never die, and this is because powerful athletes are still looking to dominate an opponent with heavy top pressure, and powerful takedowns that cause significant impacts to their opponents. This is how athletes can take control, and begin to dictate how they want their fights to go.
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VARIATIONS OF THE SINGLE LEG TAKEDOWN
The single leg takedown has a multitude of different variations that athletes will need to master. The main variation of this takedown is a simple one that involves picking up the leg, and trapping the ankle of an opponent between an athlete's legs, while they hug their opponent's thigh with a tight grip. Their head will be on the inside of the thigh, as they step their outside leg away, making room to use their head as pressure, to then circle their opponent to the mat. This is the traditional single leg takedown, and is taught to many beginners of the art. Many instructors will teach this takedown maneuver, and talk about feeding the pipe through the legs, and this is a good way to understand the mechanics of a single leg takedown maneuver. Feeding the pipe through their legs means the athlete will step away, and use their head to move their opponent, while they are pulling the leg through their own legs. This will give the athlete room to take the opponent down to the mat. This movement will purely upset the balance of an opponent, which makes the single leg takedown an easy maneuver to achieve.
Another variation of the single leg takedown is for an athlete to step into their opponent, and pick up their front leg. This can be achieved a couple of different ways, as an athlete can simply just rush in and pick up the leg, or they can use their foot in a sweeping motion to lift their opponent's foot, before then scooping in with their hands to secure the leg. The difference in variation is the athlete will first secure the single leg position, before pushing their opponent's leg forward to catch hold of the ankle. From here they can step over their opponent's leg to the outside of their body, as they shelf the leg, by bringing it on top of their forearm. This will cause a significant balance offset, and as the athlete begins to lift their foot even higher, they can perform a foot sweep on the last standing leg to get their opponent down to the mat.
Another important variation of the single leg takedown is the high crotch. An athlete will use this takedown especially if their opponent tries to lift their body weight out of the athlete's grips. To secure this position, the athlete will set up the traditional single leg position, before maneuvering their outside hand into the groin, allowing their other hand to connect, as they step forward into a base position. It is important to note that an athlete must have their hips lower than their opponents, as this is how they will gain the right leverage. From this high crotch position, the athlete will simply use their core strength, and the leverage to lift their opponent up, and then over onto the mat. This can be an extremely powerful attacking takedown, and one that is used in collegiate Wrestling.
The low single leg takedown is another variation that is extremely dynamic, and can be super effective against a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, or Mixed Martial Arts opponent. This takedown was mastered by Khabib Nurmagomedov in many of his highly successful Mixed Martial Arts fights. To secure this takedown an athlete will strike from further away, as they begin prowling for the takedown. The athlete will begin their level change, as they shoot in really low to the mat, and cup the back of the closest ankle. As they begin to drive into this ankle grab, they will use their other arm to attack the hip. This driving momentum is similar to an ankle pick, as it will force the opponent into the mat with a dynamic movement.
Another low single leg variation will see an athlete attempt a similar position, as they level change into the low single. The athlete will pick their moment, as they shoot in again low to the mat. This time as the athlete traps the ankle they will position themself on the inside of both legs, allowing the leverage over their shoulder to drive pressure into the opponent. The athlete has two options from this position, the first is to turn their body towards the outside of their opponent's leg, as they circle back around, and use the momentum to take the dominant control position. The second option is to look to the outside, but simply lean their body weight towards the inside, as they use their hooks to trap the leg, and set up a half mount position. This is another effective method of taking an opponent down, as all athletes should be trying to master all avenues of the single leg takedown game.
HOW TO DEFEND THE SINGLE LEG TAKEDOWN
Defending a single leg takedown can happen in the first few instances of a grappling match. An athlete always needs to be ready when they are on their feet, and waiting to counter attack when an athlete comes in for a takedown. Defending takedowns is all about distance management, and knowing how to stay close enough to attack, but far enough away that their opponent will be forced to telegraph their movements. The stand up battle is all about staying in base, and grip fighting. Keeping a solid base at all times means that an athlete is extremely hard to takedown, as an opponent will fail at offsetting their balance. Grip fighting is all about taking the dominant grips, and making sure that any threatening grip is broken, or counteracted. These are extremely important aspects about defending any type of takedown maneuvers.
When an opponent does manage to secure a tight grip on the leg, an athlete will find themself having to hop around to keep their balance. One good method of defense is by pummeling their shin out of their opponent's legs, and placing it to the outside of their legs. This will open up an opportunity for the athlete to jump into a closed guard. This type of defense is highly effective, and will frustrate an opponent. If the athlete is athletic enough, then they can even move into a jumping triangle, or a jumping arm bar. This counter movement may seem like a low percentage move, but because the opponent is already in a low position due to the single leg takedown attempt, achieving this submission does become much more likely. This counter movement has been seen multiple times, even at the world class professional level.
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