Head to the outside or inside for single leg?

[The Colonel]

So I'm just curious what other people prefer when it comes to shooting for singles. Whenever I go for a single (whether I shoot or just set it up from a clinch) my head is always to the outside. That way I can do duck unders, fireman's carry, spin, change off to double legs etc. But a buddy I used to train with did nothing but head to the inside singles because he felt it was safer for MMA as you no longer have to worry about getting guillotined. Head to the outside singles just feel natural to me and I have to really think about it when I keep it on the inside.

So what do you guys think, for doing MMA/submission wrestling, is it more advantageous to keep your head on the inside or outside and what are the pros and cons of each?

 

[fishead]

even in wrestling I've always done single legs with the head on the inside.

 

[Gsoares2***]

Yeah, not the best leverage on the outside.. and you expose your self to being crucifixed, reverse omoplatta

 

[hayliks]

the only single leg i used with the head on the outside was from a duck under, for mma i use the duck under to take the back. also i feel that a single leg is a rather weak takedown for mma, because if you don't take him down right away, it puts you in a an awful position to receive some brutal strikes to the head while you're working the takedown.

 

[combatkimura]

Single legs head on the inside (esp for mma). My best shot is a high crotch where the head is on the outside, I do however quickly move my head to the inside when I bring the leg up.

 

[Grappling Magic]

Easier to control your opponent when you Single Leg on the inside & gain better ground position. I feign Single Leg outside when I intentionally go for the Duck Under.

 

[BearTrap]

I usually shoot a single hi-c with my head outside. This works for me since I use my shoulders to follow through, instead of my head.

 

[samurai_guy]

I usually shoot a single hi-c with my head outside. This works for me since I use my shoulders to follow through, instead of my head.

Yea, a hi-c is not a 'single leg'. Your head is always on the inside for a single. Hi-c's and doubles your head is on the outside.

 

[BearTrap]

Yea, a hi-c is not a 'single leg'. Your head is always on the inside for a single. Hi-c's and doubles your head is on the outside.

Point taken. Been sick lately and the med.s are playing tricks with my head.

 

[Zankou]

*Love* the crucifix when guys go for the single with head outside.

Head inside, I love to counter with the rolling omoplata. Just depends which one they take.

 

[majorlarge]

Yea, a hi-c is not a 'single leg'. Your head is always on the inside for a single. Hi-c's and doubles your head is on the outside.

you do freestyle wrestling, in canada??

 

[Spoonman7]

I was always taught head on the inside

 

[samurai_guy]

you do freestyle wrestling, in canada??

No. I do folkstyle most of the year and freestyle/greco in the late spring/summer, in the US.

 

[Arnis_7788]

Outside, when you're in the inside you espose yourself.

 

[Doop]

definitely inside man so you can guide with your head also

 

[JarMan]

Head on the outside is not a single leg. It is called high-c, high-crotch, or - more recently - people have been calling it a "head outside single." I'm a little old-fashioned in my terminology, though, so for me if your head is outside, it is not called a "single leg" even if you only have one leg.

As for whether I prefer a single leg or high-c, definitely the single leg. Josh Koscheck used a single leg very effectively in his last fight. He initially shot the single (with head inside, of course) but came up with the leg and finished by chopping the far leg, sort of like finishing a double leg, but with your head still on the inside.

I like to use the single leg to work behind my opponent and eventually step over the leg that I shot on. Usually my opponent will go to their back and I will end up in their half guard, which is fine with me, because for me that is much easier to pass than full guard.

 

[dimmak]

Outside, when you're in the inside you espose yourself.

Wrong.

In grappling terms, wrong. In fighting terms, youre kinda right. They can use downward elbows to your spine/head if youre too slow.

 

[HllJllN]

also if you head is outside you could get crossfaced