10 Best Wrestling Moves For BJJ?

Many top Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu grapplers practice various wrestling techniques to improve their skills. Below are the 10 Best wrestling moves to use in BJJ.

1. Double Leg Takedown

In double leg takedown, a fighter grabs the opponent with both arms around the opponent's legs, and the chest near the opponent’s feet forcing him to the ground.

This technique is widely used in wrestling and is also beneficial in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as well. When you are strangled, it is difficult to get out of the double leg position since the opponent usually ends up in control of your lower body.

The best way to attempt this technique is, to switch levels, you must bend the knees in a way that your head will make contact with the hip of your opponent. Then smash your shoulder into your opponent's stomach. Grab both of their legs simultaneously behind the knee area and pull hard to knock them off balance to complete the double-leg takedown. Double leg is equally beneficial in BJJ and wrestling, it is widely used for taking down the opponent in both grappling arts.

2. Single Leg Takedown

In single leg takedown, you stoop down and bump against the opponent, to knock off their balance. In contrast to double-leg takedowns, single-leg takedowns are performed with the head hitting on the inside of the hip. And instead of the belly, your shoulder will push the hip area. Additionally, as the name suggests, only one leg is grabbed instead of two.

You surge forward and rise up once you have one of your opponent's legs in your control. Step back with your outside leg while their leg is strangled between yours. As you stand above them in the half-guard position, forcing your opponent to drop into the gap you've created.

In Brazilian jiu-jitsu and wrestling, the single-leg takedown is a primary move used to put an opponent to the floor from a standing posture. This takedown variant is a favorite among both novice and expert practitioners who appreciate executing harsh standing games to defeat even bigger opponents.

3. Arm Drag

The arm drag, made famous by BJJ star Marcelo Garcia, utilized to execute takedowns when standing as well as to set up escapes, sweeps, and submissions while on the ground.

It entails holding your opponent's arm firmly in with the same side of your body and your other hand swings across and cups their arm on the tricep.

You can get past your opponent's arm with a forceful tug and a forward stride with your opposing side leg. From there, you have a starting position for several takedown attempts, including the double-leg and single leg takedowns.

Arm drag can also be utilized in the guard position. To seize your opponent's back, you can utilize this technique from the guard as well as from a number of different positions on the mat. If the opponent continues to struggle to regain the advantageous position, you can use a choke, sweep, or armlock for getting a submission.

When using the arm drag technique in wrestling, you stride forward and hook and then drag your opponent's arm. This allows you to target your opponent's back and side.

You can also use it to sweep your opponent, spam your opponent, and defend your guard in BJJ.

4. Collar Tie

A widely used move in wrestling is a collar tie that is also applied in  BJJ. The first posture you attempt after standing, when you fight for control, is often the collar tie.

Although it may appear that all you're doing is hooking your opponent's head, there's more to it than just that. Right where your neck stops and your head begins, one fighter is trying to cup the opponent's head from behind.

To control your opponent, you must apply this technique forcefully with a small stroke or hand jolt. By doing so, you can push them down or to the left and right, depending on their position. One can easily knock off the balance of the opponent by applying the proper collar tie technique.

5. Sprawl

A Sprawl is a defensive move used in reaction to specific takedown attempts. Usually single or double-leg takedown attempts are referred to as a sprawl in martial arts and wrestling. The sprawl is done by sliding the legs backward till they rest on the opponent's upper back who is attempting a takedown.

Perhaps the most crucial move in submission wrestling is sprawl. You will need to know how to sprawl if you are going to compete against a skilled wrestler otherwise you are going down.

You may forcefully land your weight on the opponent's head when you have hefty hips. Beginning with a little hip twist, you drive down on top of your opponent. Immediately after you sprawl, you spring back to your feet to prepare for an attack. A strong sprawl will force an opponent to retreat from his game plan.

6. Biceps Tie

Another way to dominate your opponent and set up takedowns while defending against their moves is using bicep ties. In this technique, one holds both biceps of the opponent with his hands by standing in front of them.

With your elbows tucked in, you cup your opponent's biceps to begin a perfect bicep tie. To drive the opponent where you want them to go, you use this control just like you would use a steering wheel.

This wrestling move can be effective for BJJ, as it allows you to change the position of the opponent. A strong biceps tie gives you a chance to attain a dominating position.

7. Front Headlock

In wrestling, the front headlock is a distinct position and many Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners consider it a dominant position.

The front headlock is an effective position for submission and takedown attempts because, when applied correctly, it places the opponent in one of two positions: either the back position or a choke. The goal of a good front headlock is to immobilize the opponent's head and drive the back of the attacker's neck into the mat.

A solid rule of thumb is to start a front headlock with your shoulder on the back of your opponent's head and both of your knees elevated off the mat. This will keep them hunched over, reducing their mobility to flee or launch a counterattack.

Based on your opponent's attempts to protect, you may then decide which offensive strategy to use.

Think of the front headlock as a dominant advantageous position. You may start to create a front headlock that works well for initiating submissions by mastering its application and execution in conventional wrestling.

You can also utilize this move in BJJ as it allows you to stop the opponent in his/her tracks. In fact, headlock is common in white belts who start BJJ.

8. Body Fold Takedown

When it comes to using upper body strength in BJ and wrestling, body fold takedown is also important.

Wrestling frequently employs under hooks, where your arms are underneath your opponent's arms and tightly wrapped around the body.

The body fold is used after your opponent has committed two serious mistakes. They are standing far too straight, and their elbows are now too far apart from their torsos. You can benefit from the situation by tightly wrapping your arms around your opponent’s body, placing your head on their chest, and your knees behind their knees.

You can make someone lose their balance and fall by pushing the upper body with your head and pulling back the lower body with your arms. This will make their spine bend. Body fold is an extremely effective move for BJJ if you do it well, you'll land directly in the mounted position.

9. Snap Down

Snap down is similar to the sprawl technique, it puts your opponent in the turtle position. It starts when your opponent is hunched down trying to block the incoming attacks. With nothing to keep their forward posture from collapsing. If your opponent is leaning too far forward, you can bring him down onto their face by placing your hands on the top of his head and pulling the head while pushing the legs simultaneously. If you move swiftly and firmly, they will immediately fall into the turtle position.

This explains why the snap-down appears so frequently in freestyle wrestling and why you should use it to your advantage in jiu-jitsu.

10. Underhook Technique

The underhook is a primary submission maneuver that can secure a submission for you if applied and executed correctly. Even if you believe you understand how to do an underhook, there are a few small aspects you should pay attention to.

While practicing No-Gi in a standing position, an underhook mostly ends the fight if applied correctly. It involves more than merely looping your arm beneath the other player. It is most likely that your opponent will dominate you if you perform a poor underhook.

An effective underhook has two key components. Grasp the shoulder of your adversary and extend your elbow while exerting pressure. You can set up a number of moves if you do apply these two crucial things while applying an underhook.

11. Final Words

The techniques used in submission wrestling and BJJ are excellent and will potentially improve your BJJ skills. They offer exceptional control over an opponent, allowing you to set up takedowns and launch multiple counterattacks. You should have a thorough BJJ wrestling strategy after applying these examples to your style that exquisitely bridges the gap between BJJ and wrestling.

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