Title: Cradle: Steps, Key Details & Mistakes | DARCE

Canonical: https://darce.app/techniques/wrestling/cradle

> Cradle. Trap the head and a knee, lock your hands and ball the opponent up onto their back. Step-by-step breakdown with key details and common mistakes.

# 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.

## When to use it

Use the cradle when the opponent’s head and knee are close together, such as when they turtle or sit on a knee. Cross-face the head down toward the knee. It works well against an opponent who curls up to defend.

## Step by step

1. 01

   ### Top position

   Break them down and spot the head-and-knee.

2. 02

   ### Catch head and knee

   Cross-face the head down to a knee, scoop behind that knee and lock your hands together.

3. 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.

## Common counters

Opponents straighten the near leg, lift their head away from the knee, or block your hands from locking. Some roll through with you and come out on top. Keep the head and knee close, lock your hands fast and stay tight through the roll.

## How to drill it

Your partner kneels on all fours: cross-face the head toward the near knee, scoop the knee, lock your hands and roll them to their back. Do three sets of five on each side, slowly, holding the pin for three seconds each time.

## Related techniques

- [Spiral Ride Wrestling From the top, grab the far arm and near hip and drive in a corkscrew to flatten the opponent.](https://darce.app/techniques/wrestling/spiral-ride)
- [Half Nelson Wrestling Thread an arm under the opponent’s arm to the back of the neck and turn them to their back.](https://darce.app/techniques/wrestling/half-nelson)
- [Gut Wrench Wrestling Lock your hands around the waist and arch to roll the opponent over for exposure (freestyle).](https://darce.app/techniques/wrestling/gut-wrench)

Train it with the AI coach

- [AI MMA Coach Striking, wrestling and grappling, read as one fight.](https://darce.app/ai-mma-coach)
- [AI Wrestling Coach Shots, sprawls, front headlocks, rides and escapes.](https://darce.app/ai-wrestling-coach)
- [AI Greco-Roman Wrestling Coach Upper-body wrestling: pummels, arm drags and suplexes.](https://darce.app/ai-greco-roman-wrestling-coach)
- [AI Sambo Coach Throws and the fast leg locks that follow them.](https://darce.app/ai-sambo-coach)