Technique John Smith low single for mma?

[wolffanghameha]

Do you think this is useful for mma? I've been practicing it a lot (there are great John Smith videos online) but only for pure grappling.

Besides Sakuraba did anyone use the low single in MMA?

It seems like it could be used to wrestle up in mma.

Are there practical striking entries into it?
Or if not, as part of a chain wrestle?

 

[EndlessCritic]

Ritu Phogat? Timestamped:

 

[mattemate]

 

[RemyR]

I recall Khabib going low on a single a couple time but not sure which matches

 

[Smato_rules]

Yeah I agree with khabib and sakuraba, I’m not sure why more people don’t use it. I guess you can be prone to scrambles and back attacks, but I really like using it especially wrestling up. I tore my achilles tendon shooting that style of single, so that’s something to watch out for

 

[period]

The John Smith low single was designed and optimized to shoot in from a low stance on a guy in a low stance, against someone who would rather go belly-down than end up on their back. It's not the easiest nor the most high percentage technique from a high stance against a high stance (neither is an ankle pick), and at least in my experience, an opponent who is at least equally willing to pull guard rather than sprawl and let you get away with a go-behind kinda messes with the concept (more so than with most wrestling techniques). Plus, the risk of getting caught in submissions (triangle etc.) is significantly higher than the risk of conventional counters in wrestling. So it's not the most practical takedown for MMA or BJJ.
Low attacks - singles or doubles - can work in MMA and BJJ, but there are easier options imho.

 

[yetanother]

The John Smith low single was designed and optimized to shoot in from a low stance on a guy in a low stance, against someone who would rather go belly-down than end up on their back. It's not the easiest nor the most high percentage technique from a high stance against a high stance (neither is an ankle pick), and at least in my experience, an opponent who is at least equally willing to pull guard rather than sprawl and let you get away with a go-behind kinda messes with the concept (more so than with most wrestling techniques). Plus, the risk of getting caught in submissions (triangle etc.) is significantly higher than the risk of conventional counters in wrestling. So it's not the most practical takedown for MMA or BJJ.
Low attacks - singles or doubles - can work in MMA and BJJ, but there are easier options imho.

Bullshit, it works better froma low stance on a guy in a high stance in BJJ than from a high stance against a guy in a high stance.
Works well in BJJ, if your opponent want to pull in a gi it's one of the few things you can go for without giving them a grip.

 

[period]

Bullshit, it works better froma low stance on a guy in a high stance in BJJ than from low stance against a guy in a high stance.
Works well in BJJ, if your opponent want to pull in a gi it's one of the few things you can go for without giving them a grip.

Better from a low stance against a high stance than from low stance against high stance?

 

[Krimzon]

i use this very often and often successfully in training, albeit against non-wrestlers. i like it because it is relatively low effort and difficult to counter strike. With doubles/singles/high C, you'll likely need to contend with your opponents hips/strength. With low single, if you get your head and hand(s) in the right place, you're 80% of the way there

against higher level jiu jitsu guys, one does need to look out for triangles.

 

[yetanother]

Better from a low stance against a high stance than from low stance against high stance?

It's easier to do against a high stance than a low stance.

 

[period]

It's easier to do against a high stance than a low stance.

That depends. In my experience, it's easier from tie-ups in a low stance than from tie-ups in a high stance. If you shoot in from a distance and the opponent is standing high, he probably doesn't know much about wrestling, because he'll match your head level. And in that case, the problem is that even if the person doesn't sprawl but simply steps with that leg - easier from a high than from a low stance - you're down low and in trouble. It's like gifting opponents a snapdown. Personally, I'd rather go for a low double, outside ankle and knee or cross-step low single (head outside, swinging to the back).

 

[Kratos94]

I think Mateuz Gamrot often shoots for low singles.

 

[wolffanghameha]

And in that case, the problem is that even if the person doesn't sprawl but simply steps with that leg - easier from a high than from a low stance - you're down low and in trouble. It's like gifting opponents a snapdown.

Maybe getting good at misdirection low singles enough to react to their step and then go for the other leg would make it less dangerous.

I wonder about timing it with kicks. Low kick and then shooting as they set that foot back down after checking. Except if they throw their own low/middle kick immediately after checking maybe your head runs into the kick's path.