Single Leg Shot

MOVE:

Single-Leg Shot (Head Inside)

GOAL:

Attack one leg while keeping balance, posture, and safety, so your child can finish clean without getting sprawled on or hurting their neck.

BEST TIME TO USE:

When the opponent’s weight is on their lead foot and their heel is in front of their knee (toes loaded, not sitting back).

PREREQS:

• Proper wrestling stance

• Ability to level change (bend knees, not waist)

• Understanding of basic penetration step

SAFETY:

• Neck stays straight (no bending or craning)

• Head stays between the knees

• Knee never slams straight down

• No diving or reaching without foot movement

STEPS (numbered):

1. Load the spring (back leg)

   • Either step the back foot slightly forward to compress the spring

   • Or step the back foot slightly back to load the hips over the spring

2. Put your opponent out of position

   • Make their weight go onto their toes

   • Their heel should be in front of their knee (this means they’re vulnerable)

3. Match feet

   • Your front foot should be on the same side as your opponent’s front foot

4. Penetration step

   • Lunge forward with the front foot

   • Heel hits first → roll heel → toe → knee

   • Keep space between heel and butt (do NOT collapse)

5. Level change correctly

   • Knees bend, hips hinge

   • Head stays between your knees, not outside your base

6. Arm entry

   • Front hand reaches and wraps just below the knee, above the calf

   • Snake the hand down the calf

   • Back hand locks knuckles up, palm down

7. Head position

   • Head rests on opponent’s body (often floating rib)

   • Neck stays straight—no shrugging

   • Contact point is the corner of the forehead near the hairline

8. Posture as a kickstand

   • Hips angled, spine straight from hips up

   • Head posts into opponent above the stomach

   • Prevents them from leaning forward or crushing you

9. Prevent the sprawl

   • Pull the calf between your knees

   • Or knee-pound their knee toward their base

   • Trail leg steps up quietly (no “swish” sound)

   • Knee points into opponent like a ramp

KEY DETAILS (3–5):

• Head stays inside and centered

• Heel-to-knee motion keeps power without crashing

• Straight neck = safe neck

• Calf tight between knees stops the sprawl

• Trail leg provides structure, not balance loss

COMMON ERRORS → FIX:

If the head pops outside, then slow the shot and keep head between knees

If the butt hits the heel, then shorten the step and keep knee bent

If they sprawl hard, then pull the calf tighter and bring the trail knee up

If the neck hurts, then check posture, neck must stay straight

CUES (5–8):

• “Load the spring”

• “Heel → toe → knee”

• “Head between knees”

• “Straight neck”

• “Post with the head”

• “Calf tight”

• “Quiet trail leg”

• “Build the ramp”

SUMMARY (1–2 sentences):

A great single-leg shot is not a dive, it’s a controlled spring forward with posture, head position, and leg control working together. When done right, it’s powerful, safe, and repeatable even against bigger opponents.