YR Sports Lab
When a BJJ match opens with both athletes standing and feeling each other out, the first takedown most people reach for isn't a flashy hip throw, or even the double leg that commits both arms to both legs. It's the single leg takedown, a shot that commits to just one leg. It looks simple, but it's actually the signature weapon of wrestling legend John Smith, refined in the late 1980s, and later carried into the highest levels of BJJ and submission grappling by six-time ADCC champion André Galvão. This entry breaks down its origin story, mechanics, typical entry timing, strengths and limitations, common counters, and what the competition data actually shows.
1. Origins: From a Basement in Oklahoma to Two Olympic Golds
The single leg takedown itself is one of wrestling's oldest fundamental attacks, with no single "inventor." But the modern version most people know today, the "low single leg," is widely credited to American freestyle wrestling legend John Smith. Smith was born August 9, 1965, in Del City, Oklahoma. While at Oklahoma State University he won NCAA individual titles in 1987 and 1988, then went on to win Olympic gold at Seoul in 1988 and Barcelona in 1992, becoming the first American wrestler in eighty years to win two Olympic golds. Add in World Championship titles in 1987, 1989, 1990 and 1991, and he stands alone as the only American wrestler ever to win six consecutive World and Olympic championships.
A Move Built in a Basement
Smith had built his early reputation on the high-crotch takedown, but opponents gradually learned to counter that entry angle by stepping back. In response, he poured countless hours into the basement of Gallagher Hall, Oklahoma State's wrestling facility, refining a version of the single leg shot that sat lower and fired faster. A 1988 Sports Illustrated piece described his single leg as having "the intensity and speed of a mongoose attacking a cobra." That version became known among wrestlers simply as "the John Smith low single," and it turned what had been an uncommon shot in the late 1980s into a mainstream weapon across wrestling and submission grappling alike.
One of the figures most responsible for carrying the shot into the highest levels of BJJ and submission grappling is Brazilian competitor André Galvão (born September 29, 1982, in São Sebastião, São Paulo state). Galvão has said he didn't start seriously training wrestling until he moved to the United States in 2008, and that he significantly upgraded his takedown game ahead of the 2011 ADCC World Championship, where he won double gold in both his weight class and the absolute division. He went on to successfully defend the ADCC absolute superfight title four times in a row, in 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019, and combined with his earlier medals, that run makes him a six-time ADCC World Champion, one of the most decorated takedown-first competitors in submission grappling history. Since retiring from competition, he has continued coaching at Atos, whose students have included former UFC champion Israel Adesanya.
2. Mechanics: Change Levels, Get Your Head Inside, Don't Just Grab the Knee
The single leg's core isn't brute strength; it's getting three things right at once: changing levels, angling your entry, and head position.
| Stage | Key details |
|---|---|
| ① Hand fighting for position | Use hand fighting or grip control to break your opponent's balance first, creating a moment of weight shift instead of shooting cold into a fully braced stance |
| ② Level change | Drop your hips while keeping your spine upright, like riding an elevator straight down rather than leaning forward; skip this step and the opponent sees the shot coming from a mile away |
| ③ Penetration step | Drive your lead knee toward the mat, landing close to the opponent's back foot, so your whole body penetrates inside their two-foot base |
| ④ Head position inside the hip | Your head must stay on the inside of the opponent's hip, never the outside; head on the outside is an open invitation for a guillotine or front headlock |
| ⑤ Control above and below the knee | Wrap both arms around the thigh and control the knee line above and below it; gripping only at the knee lets the opponent hop free or repost the foot |
| ⑥ Turn the corner to finish | Turning the angle is more efficient than driving straight forward into a braced base; common finishes include running the pipe, the knee tap, the inside trip, and the outside (far-leg) trip |
Most instructionals agree that head position is what decides both whether the shot succeeds and how safe it is: keeping your head inside the opponent's hip protects you from a guillotine counter at the same time you're attacking. Leave your head on the outside, and you're handing your neck over while you shoot.
3. Entry Timing and Setups
A single leg rarely lands "cold." Instructionals commonly point to a few typical windows:
First, the instant after hand fighting or an arm drag. Using a grip or an arm drag to break the symmetry of an opponent's stance, then firing the level change and penetration step before they can reset their base, is the most common setup.
Second, right after a Russian tie or a snap down. When an opponent's attention and weight get pulled forward by upper-body control, that's exactly when the lower-body attack opens up.
Third, in MMA or striking-influenced exchanges, right after you've thrown a strike and the opponent's weight is shifting. Their attention is tracking your hands, so the change happening at the level of their legs is easy to miss, making it a common unannounced entry.
4. Strengths and Limitations
| Strengths | Limitations |
|---|---|
| Commits to only one leg, giving you a longer reach and a way out if it's countered, a lower-risk trade-off than the double leg | The moment your head ends up on the outside of the opponent's hip, you've handed them both the guillotine and the front headlock |
| Doesn't rely on gi grips, so it works identically with or without a gi, making it one of the most common takedowns under no-gi rules | Gripping only the knee instead of wrapping the thigh lets an opponent twist their hips or kick the leg free with relative ease |
| Reachable from several common upper-body setups, including hand fighting, arm drags and snap downs, giving it a wide range of entries | An opponent with a low, deep sprawl stance sharply limits the space needed to complete the level change and penetration step |
5. Common Counters
Defending the single leg comes down to one core principle: deal with the captured leg immediately, rather than waiting until the shot is fully locked in:
First, stomp the leg back down or twist it free. The instant you feel your leg get grabbed, immediately stomping it back to the mat or twisting your body to kick it free of their grip is the most direct first reaction.
Second, the classic wrestling sprawl. The moment the shot comes in, kick both legs back and drive your hips down into their back, while keeping your own head from getting driven to the side; it's the most basic and effective defensive reflex in wrestling.
Third, the whizzer (overhook) to shut down the attacking arm. If they've already secured the leg, wrapping your near-side arm over their attacking arm from outside and applying downward pressure can disrupt the rhythm they need to turn the corner and finish.
Options once you couldn't free the leg in time
If your leg is already caught, the next move is to break your opponent's posture, driving your weight down through their chest and neck to force their head down and take away their vision and leverage. Because their grip on your leg is also, in effect, their grip on your hips, locking in a Kimura grip or cross-collar-style grip from there can often flip the whole exchange directly into a sweep.
If the opponent has already completed the penetration step and gotten their head inside, most instructionals recommend not fighting for balance head-on. Rather than resisting the direction they're turning, going with the rotation as you fall reduces the chance your knee gets twisted while bearing weight.
6. Competition Frequency
The single leg isn't just a beginner's first takedown; it's also one of the most frequently landed takedowns at the highest level of no-gi submission grappling, the ADCC World Championship. Per JiuJitsu News, citing a BJJ Heroes count of the men's divisions at the ADCC World Championship held in Las Vegas on August 17–18, 2024 (third-party count, accessed 2026/09):
| Takedown type | Count | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Single leg | 15 | Most common takedown in the men's divisions |
| Double leg | 13 | Second most common |
| Uchimata, de ashi barai and other judo-style throws | ~5 each | Combined total well below the single leg and double leg |
That count recorded 62 successful takedowns across the men's divisions overall, with the single leg and double leg together accounting for nearly half of them. The source itself is careful to note that this "is a count of what landed, not a promise it will land on you," a reminder that these numbers reflect one event's ruleset and that year's field of athletes, and shouldn't be assumed to transfer directly to gym training or gi competition under IBJJF rules. Takedowns themselves aren't a submission the IBJJF restricts by belt tier; white belts can use them legally, and they're often the first takedown taught in a gym's beginner curriculum (rules as of this 2026/09 check).
7. Safety Notes
The main risk in a single leg takedown isn't to the person being taken down, it's to the shooter's own knee and neck. If your head ends up on the outside of the opponent's hip while shooting, you've handed them a guillotine or front headlock. And if your lead knee is bearing weight while the opponent rotates it sideways during the penetration step, that's one of the recognized mechanisms behind ACL tears in wrestling. For a fuller look at the mechanics of takedown impact and safe landing technique, our BJJ takedown defense guide (Chinese) covers that in more depth; we won't repeat it here.
・Always keep your head on the inside of the opponent's hip when shooting, to avoid exposing your neck to a guillotine
・Drill slowly at first on soft mats, practicing breakfalls before adding live resistance
・Try to keep your lead knee aligned with your toes on landing, to avoid it getting twisted under load
・On defense, the moment your balance is fully gone, choose a safe way down early rather than fighting it to the last second
FAQ
What is a single leg takedown, and how is it different from a double leg?
A single leg takedown is a takedown built around controlling just one of your opponent's legs: you change levels, penetrate inside their base, secure the one leg, then turn the corner to finish. A double leg, by contrast, commits both arms to wrapping up both legs at once. Because a single leg commits less of your body and reach, it's generally easier to bail out of if it's countered, which is part of why it's such a common opening attack when you don't yet know an opponent's rhythm.
Why is the low single leg named after John Smith, and who invented it?
The low single leg was refined by American wrestling legend John Smith in the late 1980s while he was at Oklahoma State University. He'd built his early career on the high-crotch takedown, but as opponents learned to counter it by stepping back, he spent countless hours in the basement of Gallagher Hall developing a lower, faster version of the single leg shot. He then rode it to multiple World and Olympic titles, and the technique has carried his name ever since.
Can white belts drill the single leg takedown?
Yes. Takedowns are a foundational skill shared by both BJJ and wrestling, not a submission the IBJJF restricts by belt level, so white belts can start learning it right away, and it's often the very first takedown taught in a gym's beginner curriculum. The real learning curve is balance and safe landings, so it's best to drill breakfalls under a coach's supervision before adding live resistance.
How do I defend against a single leg takedown?
The most direct fix is to immediately pull the captured leg back down to the mat or twist it free of their grip the instant you feel the shot land. If you can't free the leg in time, the next option is to break your opponent's posture by driving weight down through their chest and neck, then lock in a Kimura grip or cross-collar-style grip to turn the tables into a sweep.
Does the single leg takedown show up often in competition?
Very often. It's one of the most frequently landed takedowns under no-gi submission grappling rules. Per JiuJitsu News, citing a BJJ Heroes count of the men's divisions at the August 2024 ADCC World Championship (accessed 2026/09), the single leg landed 15 times out of 62 total successful takedowns, edging out the double leg's 13.
References
1. Wikipedia contributors. John Smith (American wrestler). en.wikipedia.org/John_Smith_(American_wrestler) (accessed 2026/09; supports Smith's birth on August 9, 1965, in Del City, Oklahoma, his 1987/1988 NCAA titles, his 1988 Seoul and 1992 Barcelona Olympic golds, his 1987/1989/1990/1991 World Championship titles, and his record of six consecutive World and Olympic championships)
2. BJJEE. History Of The Low Single Leg and Overlooking the Legend who Invented it, John Smith. bjjee.com (accessed 2026/09; supports John Smith developing the low single leg in the late 1980s in the basement of Gallagher Hall at Oklahoma State, his earlier reputation for the high-crotch takedown, his 434-2-2 career record, and the 1988 Sports Illustrated "mongoose attacking a cobra" description)
3. JiuJitsu News. Best BJJ Takedowns: With Statistics & Modern Techniques!. jiujitsu-news.com (accessed 2026/09; supports the third-party count, citing BJJ Heroes, of the men's divisions at the ADCC World Championship held in Las Vegas on August 17–18, 2024: 62 total takedowns, with 15 single legs and 13 double legs)
4. Wikipedia contributors. André Galvão. en.wikipedia.org/André_Galvão (accessed 2026/09; supports Galvão's birth on September 29, 1982, in São Sebastião, São Paulo state, and his statement that he only began learning wrestling as an adult after moving to the United States in 2008)
5. BJJEE. Andre Galvao Only Started To Learn Wrestling When He Moved to US; Explains His Formula For Takedown Success. bjjee.com (accessed 2026/09; supports Galvão only starting to learn wrestling after moving to the US and developing his takedowns with wrestling coach Fred Leavy)
6. Evolve Daily. Legacy: The Storied Career Of Andre Galvao. evolve-mma.com (accessed 2026/09; supports André Galvão significantly upgrading his takedown game ahead of ADCC 2011 where he won double gold, successfully defending the ADCC absolute superfight title four times in a row in 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019, and the article's own description of "Former UFC Champion Israel Adesanya" training at an Atos-affiliated academy and earning his purple belt directly from Galvão)
7. GrapplerHQ. Single-Leg Takedown for BJJ: Entries & Finishes. grapplerhq.com (accessed 2026/09; supports the mechanics: changing levels after hand fighting, keeping the head inside the opponent's hip to avoid exposing a guillotine, wrapping the thigh and controlling above and below the knee, and finishes including running the pipe, the knee tap, and inside/outside trips)
8. InFighting. How To Defend The Single Leg Takedown. infighting.ca (accessed 2026/09; supports the defensive counter of stomping the captured leg back down or twisting it free, then breaking the opponent's posture and using a Kimura or cross-sleeve-style grip to turn the exchange into a sweep)
9. Lightfoot AJ, McKinley T, Doyle M, Amendola A. (2005). ACL tears in collegiate wrestlers: report of six cases in one season. Iowa Orthop J. PubMed PMID 16089088 (supports the claim that takedowns are a common ACL-tear mechanism in wrestling: 83% of ACL tears that season occurred during takedowns, most while the weight-bearing knee was near full extension and under rotational stress)