Wrestling

What Is Suplex? How Can You Do It Perfectly?

what-is-suplex-how-can-you-do-it-perfectly

There are some moves that are so powerful and scary that they are banned from the world of martial arts. Being banned from martial arts does not mean that these are no longer used anywhere. These are still used in wrestling. One of these moves is suplex. The move is not as simple as its name. There is a very high chance of injury to the opponent in this move. That is why it is banned from the martial arts world. But it is still used in all forms of wrestling, such as sport wrestling, amateur wrestling, and professional wrestling. If you are wrestling, you can use this scary and powerful move, but if you are in martial arts, if you are in martial arts, for example, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or mixed martial arts, you cannot use it. However, the technique is still very powerful and effective in street fights. So, you may use it as your defense weapon against criminals on dangerous occasions.

1. What Is a Suplex?

Suplex is the powerful move used in wrestling in which you lift your opponent from the front (belly to belly) or from the back (belly to back), and then you throw them in the backward direction. Mostly, they will land on their back. The backward suplex is common, i.e., belly to back. It is a very powerful throw that requires a combination of strength and technique. You have to lift your opponent completely all on yourself. Then, you throw them on their back in the backward direction. This is a suplex.

2. How Can You Do It Perfectly?

Suplex is a complex technique. It is not as easy as its name. There are two forms of suplex. You can perform it from the back of your opponent (back suplex), or you can also do it from the front of your opponent (front suplex). Both these forms need separate attention.

2.1 Back/Backward Suplex (Belly to Back)

2.1.1 Definition

Back suplex or backward suplex is performed by standing at the back of your opponent. You lift them from their back, and then you throw them on the mats. Now, let's get deep into the back suplex and learn how we can do it perfectly.

2.1-back-suplex-belly-to-belly

2.1.2 How To Do the Back Suplex?

  • For the back suplex, the most important thing is the power line. Your body lock is around the power line, which is as important as the power line itself. The body lock in the suplex is very vital for the throw. If it is compromised in any case, it will hamper your throw. Lock or body lock here means that you are grabbing both your hands across your opponent’s hips. The match point of your hands will be at one side of your opponent’s hips.

  • You will place your body lock at one side of your opponent’s hips. Find the hip point of your opponent and place your body lock at one hip of your opponent. Move your body lock towards your hips. With your lead leg, lock your opponent’s leg. So he cannot step away, lower his center of gravity, cannot step inside, or do anything awkward that will hamper the throw in any case. Your body lock must be tight.

  • There are no holes where your opponent can move through and escape. Your right leg will block their legs, and you will get your hips beneath them. In this way, when you will start throwing them, you will use your hips to pick them up. You are not using your arms to lock your body to pick them up. You are just using your hips to pick them. Most people try to pick their opponent with their arms by standing straight.

  • This is not the correct way to pick them. You can’t pick them in this way. So, use your hips instead of your arms to pick them. Get to the side of your opponent and block their legs. Get underneath them. This is the correct sequence. Now, pick them up and throw them on the mat.


Watch the following video for complete details of how you can do the back suplex:

2.1.3 How Can You Practice Back Suplex?

You can practice this at home without any partner. Take a bag for practice. The bag must be at least a foot higher than you when you pick it up. Pick from the back. Grab the bag with your arms across it. Make the body lock on one side of the bag. Then, pick the bag with the help of your hips, not with your arms. In the same way, get underneath the bag a little bit and get yourself to the side of the bag. Pick and then throw on the mat.

how-can-you-do-the-back-suplex-perfectly

2.2 Front/Forward Suplex (Belly to Belly)

2.2.1 Definition

Front suplex is the second form of suplex in which you and your opponent are in front of each other. This is also known as belly to belly suplex. Unlike in the back suplex, you pick your opponent up from the front. After picking up, you throw your opponent in your backward direction. The direction of the throw is same in both forms of a suplex, i.e., your backward.

2.2-front-suplex-belly-to-belly

2.2.2 How To Do the Front Suplex?

  • To do this form of suplex (front suplex), position yourself in front of your opponent. Your chest must be aligned with their shoulders. You must be exactly in front of them. Grab your opponent from their upper back. Have a strong grip. You can have an S-grip, butterfly grip, or gable grip. Choose any grip, but make sure that you have strong grip and have a grip on their upper back. Now move your front leg, the leading leg. Take your leg in between your opponent’s legs. Take it as far as you can. Keep your body lock firm.

  • With your body lock, pull your opponent towards yourself. Move your body lock across your opponent a little bit lower. Pull your leading leg closer to your opponent’s leg. Now, to throw your opponent, squat down and throw it in the backward direction. When you have thrown, face your opponent in the direction of throw.

  • The important thing is to keep the body lock firm and in the right position. Firstly, you have to keep the body locked on your opponent’s upper back. After that, when you start to throw them, you have to lower your body lock toward their hips.

  • The next important thing is picking up your opponent. Although the body lock and its positioning are very important, you cannot pick your opponent with the body lock. You have to pick with your body.


Watch the following video for complete details of how you can do the front suplex:

2.2.3 How Can You Practice Front Suplex?

The method for practicing the front suplex is the same as that of the back suplex. You can take a punching bag such as the Elite Sports Punching Bag Set. Start practicing on it. Use it as your opponent. Have a grip on it. Pick it and follow all the same steps as you will follow while doing a suplex on your opponent. You can also use a grappling dummy such as Elite Sports Grappling Dummy. Just make sure that anything you use for practicing front suplex or back suplex must be a foot higher than you when you pick it.

how-can-you-do-the-front-suplex-perfectly

3. Last Words

Suplex is the powerful technique to use against your opponent. It can injure your opponent. If you are in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, you cannot use suplex. But if you are in wrestling whether sport, ameteur or professional wrestling, you can use it. The things required for perfect suplex throw are timing and sequence of steps. You should follow all the steps in the same sequence as given above. Failure to follow the step or sequence will hamper your perfect suplex throw. While practicing it with your partner, be very careful as you can get your partner injured. Practice it doing in the presense of any professional who know how to do the suplex. When there is no professional, don’t do it alone. Don’t do it with your partner. You can do it with punching bag or grappling dummies.

4. Frequently Asked Questions

4.1 What is a Suplex?

Suplex is the powerful move used in wrestling in which you lift your opponent from the front (belly to belly) or from the back (belly to back), and then you throw them in the backward direction. Mostly, they will land on their back. The backward suplex is common, i.e., belly to back. It is a very powerful throw that requires a combination of strength and technique. 

4.2 Is Suplex Allowed in the BJJ?

No, suplex is not allowed in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Because of serious consequences and injuries it can result, it was banned completely from BJJ.

4.3 How Many Forms of Suplex Are?

There are two forms of suplex. You can perform it from the back of your opponent (back suplex), or you can also do it from the front of your opponent (front suplex). Both these forms need separate attention.

4.4 How Can You Throw The Front Suplex Perfectly?

Follow the steps given below to throw the front suplex perfectly;

  • Position yourself in front of your opponent. Your chest must be aligned with their shoulders.

  • Grab your opponent from their upper back. Have a strong grip. You can have an S-grip, butterfly grip, or gable grip.

  • Now move your front leg, the leading leg. Take your leg in between your opponent’s legs. Take it as far as you can.

  • Now, to throw your opponent, squat down and throw it in the backward direction.

  • When you have thrown, face your opponent in the direction of throw.

4.5 How Can You Throw The Back Suplex Perfectly?

Follow the steps given below to throw the back suplex perfectly;

  • Position yourself at the back of your opponent.

  • Find the hip point of your opponent and place your body lock at one hip of your opponent.

  • Move your body lock towards your hips.

  • With your lead leg, lock your opponent’s leg. So he cannot step away, lower his center of gravity, cannot step inside, or do anything awkward that will hamper the throw in any case.

  • Do not use your arms to pick them up. Use your hips to pick them up.

  • Get to the side of your opponent and block their legs. Get underneath them.

  • Pick them up and throw them on the mat.

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