Become Fighter
The single leg: shot on air: Wrestling guide
The same low entry as the double leg, but you secure one leg and work to your feet.
The single leg attacks one leg instead of two. It is slower to finish than a double leg, but easier to reach, and it gives you a way out if your opponent sprawls. Many wrestlers use it more than any other shot.
As with the double leg, this lesson is the entry only, with nobody there. The finish is taught with a partner in the next lesson.
Key points
- Pick the leg that is nearest and furthest forward. That is the one in reach.
- Head goes inside, tight to their hip, with your ear against their body.
- Both hands hold the leg, one at the heel or ankle, one above the knee.
- Bring your rear foot up so you are on your feet or low and balanced, not hanging off the leg.
- Stay close and stay tall as you rise. Your head and chest go up with the leg.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Head on the outside of the leg. Tuck your head inside, tight to their hip, so that you can pin the leg to your body.
- Holding the leg only by the ankle. Hold above the knee as well. Two points of control make the leg hard to pull free.
- Hanging on one knee with your weight on the leg. Get your rear foot up beside your lead foot so you are balanced on your own legs.
- Letting the leg drift away from your chest. Hug it in and keep your elbows tight. A loose leg is an escaped leg.
Combinations that use it
- wr-lc-sl: Level change, Single leg
- wr-lc-pen-sl: Level change, Penetration step, Single leg
- wr-hf-sl: Hand fight, Single leg
- wr-in-hf-sl: Step in, Hand fight, Single leg
- wr-hf-sd-sl: Hand fight, Snap-down, Single leg
- wr-hf-lc-pen-sl: Hand fight, Level change, Penetration step, Single leg
Related techniques
The rest is in the app
The step-by-step breakdown, the timed drill with the coach calling the shots and the quiz are part of Become Fighter Pro, where this lesson sits in the Level change and shots module of Wrestling foundations.
Coming soon to the App Store and Google Play.
More from Level change and shots
- The level change: Wrestling guide
- The penetration step: Wrestling guide
- The double leg: shot on air: Wrestling guide
- Finishing the shots with a partner: Wrestling guide
Combat sports training is hard on the body. Warm up, stay within your limits and check with a doctor first if you have a health condition. Practise in a clear space and stop if you feel pain or dizziness. Learn partner work only under a qualified coach.