Add scramble-savvy single-leg counters when sprawls are not enough.
The Bottom Line
You get practical counters for head-inside and head-outside singles, plus low singles. The focus is turning defense into offense with rolls, kicks, and far-ankle. Use it to complement your headlock and guillotine work.
⚡️ Quick facts
Best for: Scramble lovers
Skip if: You want chokes
Tech focus: Whizzer Kick, Far Ankle, Jonesy Roll, Cradle, Backdoor Defense
Biggest takeaway: Counter and score quickly.
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What You'll Learn
This is folkstyle-driven counter-wrestling adapted for grapplers. It covers crackdowns, far-ankle, Jonesy rolls, whizzer kicks, and backdoor counters to common shots.
Use it to add scramble answers when opponents cling to legs.
Primary Techniques You'll Drill
- Whizzer Kick
- Far Ankle
- Cradle
- Jonesy Roll
- Yianni Funk
- Backdoor Defense
- Shin Whizzer
- Hamlin Split Defense
- Crackdown Defense
- Low Single Defense
Format & Level
- Instructional style: Technique Collection, Drill Heavy
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Format: No-Gi
- Runtime: 2 hours and 2 minutes
- Volumes: 4
Should You Buy It?
Skip. I placed it last as an optional scramble toolkit after you own headlock and sprawl basics.
Why David McFadden?
David McFadden is a decorated NCAA wrestler who translated counter-wrestling scrambles to grappling instruction. His material favors funky solutions to stuck positions and complements BJJ overhook games.
Community feedback
Here’s a summary of common feedback from platforms like Reddit’s r/bjj.
😍 Why People Love It
- Viewers like the variety of single-leg counters and scrambles.
- Praised for funky options when standard sprawls stall.
- Pairs well with whizzer-based BJJ approaches.
🤔 Common Criticisms
- Some see it as wrestling-first, not BJJ-system first.
- A few techniques may require athleticism and timing.
- Less neck-attack detail than headlock-centric sets.
Smart Alternatives
- Shin Whizzer by Neil Melanson – BJJ-specific overhook counters with submissions. (Price: $79.00, 4 vols)
- They Shoot, You Score: Single Leg Counter Wrestling by Max & Ben Askren – Budget drill set for single-leg counters. (Price: $47.00, 2 vols)
Sources & References
Official listing: View Creative Counter Wrestling Tricks on BJJ Fanatics
Additional References
Your next step
You have the breakdown, community feedback, and my final thoughts. Now it’s your move.
