Single Leg Technique
0
High-Crotch Single Leg·Askren Wrestling Academy
Cutting the corner and shelf single leg technique with Coach Ben. Head to awawisconsin.com/camps to register for camp …
Translation: high-crotch single leg (katakana)
Range & classification
Category
Strike & defenceLocksClose rangeFighting multiple people
Distance
CloseMiddleLong
Body target
Upper bodyMiddle bodyLower body
Overview
The High Crotch Single Leg subfamily attacks the opponent's leg at the highest point — the inner thigh or hip crease — by driving the head to the inside and reaching deep between the legs. [1] The high crotch position provides tremendous lifting power because the attacker's head and shoulder are positioned directly under the opponent's centre of mass, allowing for powerful elevation. [1],[2] High crotch entries are typically initiated from a standard penetration step and can be finished with a lift, a trip, or a transition to a double leg. [2] The high crotch is particularly effective against wrestlers with strong sprawl defence because the deep inside position makes it difficult to sprawl the hips back. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Country of origin· shown in random order
- GreeceWrestling
- USAWrestling, MMA
- BrazilMMA
- RussiaSambo
Effectiveness
Lineage
Competition Record
Images
No images yet for this technique.
Sign in to suggest an image.
Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Level change and forward drive — penetrating step closes distance, shoulder drives into opponent's hips
Joints Involved — Attacker's knees (deep bend for level change), hips (explosive extension for drive), shoulders (contact point)
Force Vector — Forward and upward — shoulder pressure lifts opponent's centre of gravity while legs drive through
Takedown Mechanic — Disruption of base — clasping both legs eliminates the opponent's ability to post or backstep
Position & Entry
From wrestling stance (outside step) — Set up with jab or collar tie, level change with a penetration step, drive shoulder into opponent's hips, clasp both legs and drive through
From collar tie setup — Snap the opponent's head down, when they react by posturing up, change level and shoot the double
From underhook position — Secure an underhook, use it to clear the opponent's defence, change level and blast into the double leg
Videos
1 video
Learn This Technique
No instructional courses yet for this technique.
Sign in to suggest a course.
Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
3
Moderate3/10
Single leg is one of the safest takedowns; controlled descent (John Smith methodology)
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Beginner
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Illegal
— IJF — Banned since 2010 leg grab prohibition — direct han...
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDFRestricted
Legal
— 2 points
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— Unified MMA — Legal takedown technique
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— ADCC — Legal, scored 2-4 points in second half of match
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal — all takedowns permitted
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDF— FIAS Combat Sambo — Legal
FIAS Combat Sambo RulesPDF— 2 points
NCAA Wrestling Rules 2025-26PDFTraining Notes
✓Drive your head to the inside (between their legs) and reach deep to the inner thigh or hip crease
✓The high crotch gives you more lifting power than any other single-leg position
✓Your shoulder should be under their hip, acting as a shelf for the lift
✓Keep your back straight and lift with your legs — the high position makes elevation natural
✓Transition to a double leg by grabbing the far leg if the opponent defends the lift
✓The high crotch is ideal against taller opponents because the deep inside position nullifies reach
Common Mistakes
!Head on the outside during the high crotch entry — inside head is what makes this position work
!Not reaching deep enough into the crotch, ending up with a mid-thigh grip that has no lift
!Lifting with the back instead of the legs from this deep inside position
!Staying on your knees after the entry instead of immediately driving to your feet
!Not transitioning when the high crotch stalls — you must chain to other attacks
!Attacking the near leg from outside angle, which is a standard single, not a high crotch
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Sprawl — drop hips back and drive weight down to stuff the takedown attemptWhizzer (Overhook) — overhook the attacking arm and drive hip pressure to kill the angleCross-Face — push the attacker's head across their body to break their grip and alignmentLimp Leg — pull the attacked leg free by going limp and circling away
Setup Chain
1Level Change — lower your stance to penetrate below the opponent's arms
2Penetration Step — drive the lead knee between the opponent's feet
3Head Position — place head on the inside of the opponent's hip for control
4Grip the Leg — clasp hands behind the thigh or knee for a secure hold
5Drive and Finish — drive forward or angle off to complete the takedown
Sources & References
Primary Source
Japanese amateur wrestling terminology
1OtherJapanese Martial Arts Community Terminology
Japanese amateur wrestling terminology
2OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
3CitationJapanese amateur wrestling terminology
Standard katakana transliteration used in Japanese wrestling (レスリング)
Community
Athletics
Requires
explosive lower body power, level change speed, forward drive
Favours
stocky build with strong legs and low centre of gravity
Key muscles
quadriceps, glutes, hamstrings, core, shoulders
Sub-techniques
Find by what a technique does — not its name
Every move, in any martial art, shares a few universal traits. Mix and match below to pinpoint the right tool — or compare equivalents across styles.
Category
Distance
Body target
Lift High-Crotch
GenusThe Lift High Crotch is a genus where the attacker, having secured the high crotch position with head on the inside and arm deep between the legs, finishes by explosively lifting the opponent off the mat. [1] The lift removes the opponent's base entirely, leaving them airborne and helpless against being deposited on the mat in any direction the attacker chooses. [1,2] The lift requires significant explosive power through the legs and hips, combined with a deep enough inside position that the attacker's shoulder acts as a platform under the opponent's hip. [2] The lift high crotch is one of the most dominant takedown finishes when executed with proper positioning. [2,3]
Explore
Standard High-Crotch
GenusThe Standard High Crotch executes the fundamental high crotch single leg entry and finish where the attacker shoots a penetration step to the inside, drives the head to the inner thigh, and wraps the arm deep around the opponent's leg at the hip crease. [1] From this position, the attacker can finish by lifting, turning the corner, or transitioning to a double leg depending on the opponent's reaction. [1,2] The standard high crotch emphasises head position (ear tight to the inner thigh), deep arm penetration, and maintaining a strong base during the finish. [2] This is considered one of the most complete takedown entries because of the many finishing options available. [2,3]
Explore
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does keeping my head up and using shoulder pressure matter when shooting a high-crotch single leg?
Keeping the head up and jamming your shoulder in creates proper pressure that makes it much easier to attack the knee and control your opponent. Without this head and shoulder pressure, you're forced to finish in the middle rather than securing the corner, significantly reducing your chances of completing the takedown.
What's the most common mistake that kills my high-crotch single leg finish?
Pulling the knee too early dramatically decreases your chances of finishing the single leg successfully. Instead, focus on capturing and controlling the knee position before attempting to drive through.
How does the High-Crotch Single Leg work?
The High Crotch Single Leg subfamily attacks the opponent's leg at the highest point — the inner thigh or hip crease — by driving the head to the inside and reaching deep between the legs. The high crotch position provides tremendous lifting power because the attacker's head and shoulder are positioned directly under the opponent's centre of mass, allowing for powerful elevation.
Where does the High-Crotch Single Leg come from?
The high crotch single leg was developed and refined in American wrestling, becoming one of the most taught takedown entries in both folkstyle and freestyle programmes. Olympic and World Championship wrestlers have used the high crotch as a primary offensive tool for decades.
Is the High-Crotch Single Leg legal in competition?
IJF: banned — Banned since 2010 leg grab prohibition — direct hansoku-make for touching opp…; IBJJF: legal — Legal at all belt levels, scored as takedown (2 points); UWW: restricted — Legal in freestyle (2-4 points), banned in Greco-Roman (no attacks below waist); Unified MMA: legal — Legal takedown technique; ADCC: legal — Legal, scored 2-4 points in second half of match; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal — all takedowns permitted; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal — Legal; NCAA Folkstyle: legal — Legal, scored as takedown (2 points)
How dangerous is the High-Crotch Single Leg?
Danger rating 3/10. Moderate — single leg is one of the safest takedowns; controlled descent (John Smith methodology)
How do I set up the High-Crotch Single Leg?
The standard setup chain: Level Change → Penetration Step → Head Position → Grip the Leg → Drive and Finish.
How do I defend against the High-Crotch Single Leg?
Standard counters include: Sprawl — drop hips back and drive weight down to stuff the takedown attempt / Whizzer (Overhook) — overhook the attacking arm and drive hip pressure to kill the angle / Cross-Face — push the attacker's head across their body to break their grip and alignment / Limp Leg — pull the attacked leg free by going limp and circling away.
What are the variants of the High-Crotch Single Leg?
Common variants: Blast double (high-impact forward drive through the opponent without ch…); Snatch double (pulling both legs together and driving laterally); Run-the-pipe double (running through the opponent in a linear drive); Low double (deep penetration step attacking below the knees).
How effective is the High-Crotch Single Leg in competition?
Jordan Burroughs used the high crotch as his primary entry en route to Olympic gold (2012) and four World Championship titles. The high crotch is one of the most commonly scored techniques in senior-level freestyle wrestling.
What are common mistakes when doing the High-Crotch Single Leg?
Top errors to watch for: Head on the outside during the high crotch entry — inside head is what makes this position work / Not reaching deep enough into the crotch, ending up with a mid-thigh grip that has no lift / Lifting with the back instead of the legs from this deep inside position / Staying on your knees after the entry instead of immediately driving to your feet.
What are other names for the High-Crotch Single Leg?
The High-Crotch Single Leg is also known as Hai Kurotchi Shinguru Reggu, High Crotch, High C, Inner Thigh Single.