Sweep Single Takedown - Cary Kolat Wrestling Moves
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Standard Sweep Single·Cary Kolat
Cary Kolat teaches his Sweep Single to High Leg Finish Takedown for Collegiate or Freestyle Wrestling. Kolat teaches bot…
Standard Sweep Single
Genusスイープシングル(Suīpu Shinguru)
TransliterationTranslation: standard sweep single
Overview
The Standard Sweep Single executes the fundamental sweep single leg where the attacker uses a lateral penetration step to reach the opponent's lead leg at knee height and sweeps it inward while driving the upper body laterally. [1] The sweeping arc of the attack path catches the opponent's leg from the outside, and the lateral driving force pushes them over their compromised base. [1],[2] The finish involves the attacker following the falling opponent to the mat and establishing a top position. [2] The sweep single is effective as both a primary attack and a chain-wrestling transition from other setups. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
Lineage
The standard sweep single is the baseline version of this lateral single leg attack. [1]
Competition Record
Commonly seen in folkstyle and freestyle competition. [1]
Images
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Isolation of one leg — controlling a single support point destabilises the opponent's base
Joints Involved — Attacker's lead knee (penetration step), hips (level change and lifting), opponent's knee and hip (controlled)
Force Vector — Lateral and upward — lifting or sweeping the captured leg while driving the shoulder into the opponent's body
Finishing Mechanic — Varies by finish — run-the-pipe (forward drive), trip (inside/outside foot trip), or lift (elevation of captured leg)
Position & Entry
From collar tie — Use the collar tie to control distance, inside-step and sweep the lead leg while driving with upper body
From hand fighting — Clear grips, step inside and hook the lead leg with the corresponding foot, drive through with shoulder
Variants
Inside single — shooting to the inside of the lead leg, head inside position
Outside single — attacking from the outside of the lead leg
High crotch — securing the thigh above the knee with head in the hip
Low single — attacking the ankle from outside range without deep penetration
Videos
Drake Ayala Single Leg Takedown | Technique Tuesday
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Standard Sweep Single·FloWrestling
In this Technique Tuesday breakdown, Iowa Hawkeye Drake Ayala shows how to create clean scoring opportunities using his …
Cary Kolat | Sweep Single | Wrestling Technique
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Standard Sweep Single·RUDIS
Stay connected with RUDIS: Website: https://rudis.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_rudis/ TikTok: https://t…
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3 videosWhat Instructors Say
The standard sweep single is a high-level single-leg takedown technique that emphasizes setup, mobility, and high-leg finishing mechanics. Cary Kolat (presented in both RUDIS and his independent channel) teaches a philosophy of aggressive pacing through a heavy crosshand setup—a deliberate hit to the opponent's arm that creates opening and forces a reactive step. Kolat prioritizes maintaining hand mobility rather than locking hands early, keeping his shooting hand above the knee and using his palm on the mat to generate balance and speed. His signature finishing element involves a free-hand punch-to-the-sky motion combined with a knee lift and foot block (not a kick) to prevent the opponent from re-stabilizing, followed by pressure applied to the spine. Kolat also details a seamless transition from the sweep into a cross-lift or crotch-lift turn when the opponent bails out. Drake Ayala (FloWrestling) approaches the finish from a mat-wrestling position with similar hand-placement principles—keeping the shooting hand above the knee—but emphasizes aggressive shoulder pressure into the opponent's hip/thigh area and directional foot drive. Ayala stresses a balance-stealing method using a hopping motion while circling to trip the remaining leg. Both Kolat and Ayala agree on critical hand positioning above the knee and the importance of body-weight pressure, though Kolat emphasizes knee-lift mechanics and spine pressure while Ayala stresses shoulder-to-hip contact and directional circling. Kolat's instruction includes strategic transition theory for freestyle wrestling, whereas Ayala focuses narrowly on mat-phase finishing mechanics.
Synthesized from 3 instructors
- Cary Kolat Wrestling Moves — Sweep Single Takedown - Cary Kolat Wrestling Moves: Detailed the crosshand setup (hit-and-go), emphasis on hand mobility rather than locking, palm-down balance work, free-hand punch-to-sky knee lift and foot block, and transition pathways into turns (crotch lift, cross lift). Introduced the principle of managing reputation and pacing control.
- FloWrestling — Drake Ayala Single Leg Takedown | Technique Tuesday: Focused on elbow-pull entry, mat-phase finishing mechanics, critical hand placement above the knee, shoulder pressure into hip/thigh area, foot drive up the body, and balance-stealing via hopping and circling to trip the far leg.
- RUDIS — Cary Kolat | Sweep Single: Reinforced Kolat's setup and finishing principles, elaborated on the sweep-to-cross-lift transition with natural grip repositioning, and contextualized competitive application and referee discretion at elite levels.
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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
✓Take a lateral penetration step toward the opponent's lead leg while maintaining collar tie control
✓Reach across your body and sweep the lead leg at the knee, pulling it toward you
✓Simultaneously push their upper body in the opposite direction with the collar tie
✓Your body should move as one unit — the lateral step, the sweep, and the push happen together
✓Keep your head up and eyes on the opponent throughout the sweep
✓Follow through by continuing the lateral drive to take them past the point of balance
Common Mistakes
!Reaching for the leg before stepping laterally — the step creates the angle for the sweep
!Sweeping and pushing in the same direction instead of opposite directions
!Staying squared up during the sweep instead of creating an angle
!Not pulling the leg firmly enough — a light touch won't collapse a braced leg
!Losing the collar tie during the sweep, letting the opponent posture and defend
!Not following through after the initial sweep contact, allowing the opponent to recover
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Sprawl — drop hips back and drive weight down to stuff the takedown attemptLift the Targeted Leg — raise the foot being attacked to avoid the reap or sweepStep Over — lift the targeted leg over the sweeping limb to evadeCounter-Throw — use opponent's committed weight shift to execute a counter technique
Setup Chain
1Establish Grip — secure collar tie, underhook, or body lock for control
2Off-Balance (Kuzushi) — push or pull to shift opponent's weight onto the target leg
3Execute the Reap/Sweep — attack the loaded leg with the sweeping or tripping action
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
penetration step speed, upper body endurance for finishing, balance
Favours
longer arms for reach, quick hips for level change
Key muscles
quadriceps, hip flexors, shoulders, grip/forearms
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I lock my hands when shooting a sweep single leg?
No—Cary Kolat recommends against locking your hands on the single leg, as it limits mobility. Instead, keep your hands free to stay mobile and adjust during the takedown, especially in freestyle wrestling.
What's the most important hand position when finishing a single leg?
Drake Ayala emphasizes that your shooting hand must be positioned above the knee—moving it just 4-6 inches higher prevents opponents from executing escapes like wizards, sprawls, or stepping over. Positioning below the knee leaves you vulnerable to multiple counters.
How should I use my shoulder and upper body to finish the single leg?
Drake Ayala places his shoulder into the opponent's hip/thigh area from nearly on top (not to the side) and applies heavy pressure with his head and shoulder. This pressure directs the opponent's body weight in the direction of the takedown, which is critical for actually finishing the move.
What's a good basic strategy for setting up the sweep single?
Cary Kolat recommends keeping it simple: use a big, heavy hit to open up the opponent's position and create fear of attack, then execute the takedown. He emphasizes controlling pace and putting hands on your opponent from the start of the match.
How does the Standard Sweep Single work?
The Standard Sweep Single executes the fundamental sweep single leg where the attacker uses a lateral penetration step to reach the opponent's lead leg at knee height and sweeps it inward while driving the upper body laterally. The sweeping arc of the attack path catches the opponent's leg from the outside, and the lateral driving force pushes them over their compromised base.
Where does the Standard Sweep Single come from?
The standard sweep single has been a wrestling competition technique for generations, particularly valued in freestyle wrestling for its effectiveness from motion. The technique has been adopted into BJJ and MMA as a reliable standup attack.
Is the Standard Sweep Single 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 Standard Sweep Single?
Danger rating 3/10. Moderate — single leg is one of the safest takedowns; controlled descent (John Smith methodology)
How do I set up the Standard Sweep Single?
The standard setup chain: Establish Grip → Off-Balance (Kuzushi) → Execute the Reap/Sweep.
How do I defend against the Standard Sweep Single?
Standard counters include: Sprawl — drop hips back and drive weight down to stuff the takedown attempt / Lift the Targeted Leg — raise the foot being attacked to avoid the reap or sweep / Step Over — lift the targeted leg over the sweeping limb to evade / Counter-Throw — use opponent's committed weight shift to execute a counter technique.
What are the variants of the Standard Sweep Single?
Common variants: Inside single (shooting to the inside of the lead leg, head inside position); Outside single (attacking from the outside of the lead leg); High crotch (securing the thigh above the knee with head in the hip); Low single (attacking the ankle from outside range without deep penet…).
How effective is the Standard Sweep Single in competition?
Commonly seen in folkstyle and freestyle competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Standard Sweep Single?
Top errors to watch for: Reaching for the leg before stepping laterally — the step creates the angle for the sweep / Sweeping and pushing in the same direction instead of opposite directions / Staying squared up during the sweep instead of creating an angle / Not pulling the leg firmly enough — a light touch won't collapse a braced leg.
What are other names for the Standard Sweep Single?
The Standard Sweep Single is also known as Suīpu Shinguru, Standard Sweep Single Leg, Sweep Pick, Crescent-Path Single.