Cradle
- Wrestling
- Top & Pinning
- intermediate
- Top / breakdown
- 3 steps
Trap the head and a knee, lock your hands and ball the opponent up onto their back. Also known as the Near-side cradle or the Cross-face cradle. Here is the exact breakdown from the DARCE app: 3 steps, the details that make it work, and the mistakes to avoid.
Step by step
- 01
Top position
Break them down and spot the head-and-knee.
- 02
Catch head and knee
Cross-face the head down to a knee, scoop behind that knee and lock your hands together.
- 03
Lock and roll up
Squeeze the head and knee together to ball them up, then roll them onto their back and pin.
Key details
- Drive the head and knee toward each other before locking.
- Lock your hands and keep them locked through the roll.
- Use a cross-face to weaken the head and open the cradle.
Common mistakes
- Reaching for the knee without controlling the head.
- Losing the hand lock as you roll.
- Letting space open between the head and knee.
Related techniques
- Spiral RideWrestlingFrom the top, grab the far arm and near hip and drive in a corkscrew to flatten the opponent.
- Half NelsonWrestlingThread an arm under the opponent’s arm to the back of the neck and turn them to their back.
- Gut WrenchWrestlingLock your hands around the waist and arch to roll the opponent over for exposure (freestyle).
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