Spiral Ride
- Wrestling
- Top & Pinning
- fundamental
- Referee’s position (top)
- 2 steps
From the top, grab the far arm and near hip and drive in a corkscrew to flatten the opponent. Also known as the Spiral breakdown. Here is the exact breakdown from the DARCE app: 2 steps, the details that make it work, and the mistakes to avoid.
When to use it
Use the spiral ride from the top of referee’s position or once you have broken them down to all fours. Take the far arm and the near hip before you drive. It works when they try to build back to a base.
Step by step
- 01
Referee’s position, on top
Chest on their back, one arm around the waist, weight heavy.
- 02
Spiral and flatten
Reach for the far arm and the near hip and drive forward in a corkscrew so they collapse onto their stomach.
Key details
- Drive in a circle, not straight forward. That is the “spiral”.
- Take the far arm out so they cannot post.
- Keep your hips down and weight on their back.
Common mistakes
- Driving straight ahead so they re-base.
- Coming up high and losing your weight.
- Not controlling an arm before driving.
Common counters
Opponents post the far arm to rebuild their base, sit out from under you, or turn in toward your chest. Driving straight forward lets them re-base on their hands. Drive in a circle, keep the far arm and stay heavy on their back.
How to drill it
Your partner starts on all fours and tries to build a base: spiral them flat, let them come back up and repeat. Do three rounds of one minute, finishing each round by chaining into the half nelson.
Related techniques
- Half NelsonWrestlingThread an arm under the opponent’s arm to the back of the neck and turn them to their back.
- 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).
Train it with the AI coach