Freestyle Wrestling techniques
Legs are fair game. Olympic freestyle's champions, from Tbilisi to Tokyo to Iowa. 20 techniques below.
Clinch
3
An underhook slides your arm under the opponent's armpit and around their back. It lifts their shoulder, turns their body and gives you the inside…
The arm drag pulls the opponent's arm across their body while you step to the side, so they stumble forward past you and you end up on their side…
The snap down pulls the opponent's head sharply toward the mat from a tie-up, so they fall forward onto their hands and knees. From there you hold…
Defence
1
Positions
2The gut wrench is a par terre turn: lock your arms around the waist of an opponent who is face down on the mat, then roll them across your body…
1990–2004
The half nelson is wrestling's basic pinning hold: from on top, slide one arm under the opponent's armpit, put your hand on the back of their neck…
1986–2000Takedowns
6The double-leg takedown drops under the opponent's guard, wraps both legs and drives them to the mat. It is one of the most common takedowns in…
The single-leg takedown captures one of the opponent's legs and uses it to take away their balance, then finishes by turning the corner, tripping…
1984–1992
The fireman's carry drops under the opponent's arm, takes their thigh and rolls them across your shoulders to the mat. It is fast, scores well when…
A body lock wraps both arms around the opponent's torso and locks the hands, pulling their hips tight to yours. From it you can lift, tilt or trip…
Morote-gari is judo's double-leg takedown. You drop your level, step between your partner's feet, wrap both arms around their legs above the knees…
Kuchiki-taoshi is judo's single-leg takedown, sometimes translated 'dead tree drop'. You step outside your partner's leg, grab it with one hand…
Tactics
1
Throws
7
A suplex lifts the opponent from a tight body lock and throws them over by arching back and turning, so they land on their back and you land on…
1948–1982
Ouchi-gari is the 'major inner reap'. You step in chest to chest, hook your leg around the inside of one of your partner's legs and sweep it out…
The reverse body lift is a par terre throw: lock around the waist of an opponent lying face down, peel them off the mat and throw them over. A. K.…
Kosoto-gari is the 'minor outer reap'. You drive your partner's weight back onto one heel, then sweep that heel away with the sole of your foot…
2005–2019Kosoto-gake is the 'minor outer hook'. You drive your partner's weight back onto one leg, hook that ankle or calf from the outside with your own…
De-ashi-barai is the 'advancing foot sweep'. You wait for your partner to take a step, then sweep that foot along its path at the instant their…
Okuri-ashi-barai is the 'sliding foot sweep'. You herd your partner sideways until their feet come together, then sweep both feet in the direction…
Freestyle Wrestling legends
Coaches who fix the details, a system that shows you what to learn next. Join now and book your first class for $20, paid online.