Half Nelson
- Wrestling
- Top & Pinning
- fundamental
- Top / breakdown
- 3 steps
Thread an arm under the opponent’s arm to the back of the neck and turn them to their back. Also known as the Half. 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
Control them broken down with chest pressure.
- 02
Thread the half
Drive one arm under their near arm and across the back of the neck, palm on the head.
- 03
Turn to the back
Crank the head and lift the arm to roll them over onto their shoulder blades.
Key details
- Get the arm deep, hand on the back of the head, not the neck alone.
- Drive into them as you turn so they cannot bridge out.
- Walk toward their head to finish the turn.
Common mistakes
- Shallow grip that slips off the head.
- Turning without driving forward, letting them bridge.
- Forgetting to lift the trapped arm.
Related techniques
- Spiral RideWrestlingFrom the top, grab the far arm and near hip and drive in a corkscrew to flatten the opponent.
- CradleWrestlingTrap the head and a knee, lock your hands and ball the opponent up onto their back.
- Gut WrenchWrestlingLock your hands around the waist and arch to roll the opponent over for exposure (freestyle).
See it animated in DARCE
Film a round and the app finds which techniques showed up in your game, where the Half Nelson fits, and what to drill next. Private beta, 50 founding seats.
Join the waitlist