Taking the Headache Out of the Head Tie-up

By Milt Sherman

MOST YOUNG wrestlers will at some time or another work on the head (collar) tie-up, as shown in Photo 1. It is apparently just a natural thing to do or to pick up from watching "pro rasslin'." Since so many wrestlers work from this position, it is necessary for the defensive man to learn how to counter it.

While the head tie-up is a good position from which to start a headlock or a fireman's carry, many wrestlers go into the position with no such intention in mind, and it frequently becomes a static or stalling position from which no one scores.

We urge our wrestlers to stay out of the head tie-up unless it is actually part of their offense. Whenever our opponents use this as a static position, we consider it a mistake and we try to make them pay for it -- using one of the four techniques shown in the photos: the Pop-Up, the Shrug, and two options from the Russian.

Should all four of these techniques be taught to a team or should the coach concentrate on just one of them? The decision will depend upon the available coaching time, the experience of the wrestlers, and the coach's personal style. From our perspective, we doubt whether everyone on the team will be able to latch on to any specific move. Kids are different. But we do believe that almost everyone will be able to use at least one of the four.

In wrestling, the athlete calls most of his own "plays" and each has his favorite moves. The coach can prevent a lot of headaches by helping each athlete find that successful favorite move. He may even relieve "the headache" of the head tie-up.

Pop-Up

Wrestlers who use the head tie-up (Photo 1) generally return to it time and time again. This movement (return to the tie-up) offers a good set-up for the double-leg takedown.

As the opponent gains the head tie-up, the defensive wrestler (DW) should gain inside control by placing both hands on the opponent's biceps (Photo 2) and pushing the opponent's arms off the head and arm.

In anticipating another head tie-up, the DW should immediately drop into an attack stance with the back foot ready to push off and both hands, with his thumbs in ready to pop up on the opponent's forearms (Photo 3) as the latter reaches to tie up again.

As the opponent reaches, the DW steps in for a double-leg takedown (Photo 4) -- using his favorite finish for the double-leg.

The Pop-Up is a very straightforward set-up that doesn't require a great deal of flexibility or quickness. The main requirement is to coordinate the Pop-Up with the lowering of the hip level during the takedown shot.

Shrug

Another option for countering the head tie-up, the Shrug is noted for its safety and when it works the DW will likely gain two points for a takedown. And if it doesn't work well enough to score, it will probably enable the DW to free himself from the head tie-up anyway. It will not put the wrestler in jeopardy. For example, a failed double-leg takedown attempt will often leave the offensive wrestler under his opponent and subject to a defensive takedown. A failed Shrug attempt leaves both wrestlers facing each other on their feet.

From the tie-up position (Photo 5), the DW reaches over the opponent's tie-up hand and places his own hand on the opponent's neck with his thumb in front of the neck and the four fingers behind it. The wrestler also uses his far-side (right) hand to grab the opponent's elbow (Photo 5) - placing the thumb outside the opponent's elbow and the four fingers on the inside.

The DW initiates the Shrug by turning his head away from the opponent's tie-up and twisting his own body in the same direction (Photo 6). If the opponent has used his right hand for the tie-up, the DW will shrug by turning to his own right. The turning of the head will create an opening to shrug the opponent by.

The DW can now complete the move by using both hands to shrug the opponent's elbow and head by him - an action that should place the wrestlers roughly side by side. By anticipating this position, the DW should be able to slip behind the opponent (Photo 7) and lock his hands around the man's waist - placing the DW a trip away from a two-point takedown.

Generally speaking, an athlete should never "just shrug off" an opportunity for success. However, the wrestler should shrug off his opponent's head tie-up for an easy takedown!

Russian

Another technique off the head tie-up is the Russian Arm Lock (or Russian), an action similar to the Shrug.

From the tie-up position, the DW uses his far-side hand to grab the wrist that the opponent used in the head tie-up (right wrist), then drapes his near-side arm over the opponent's tie-up arm so that the wrist is at the opponent's arm pit (Photo 8). The Russian is initiated by looking away from the tie-up. This helps loosen the opponent's grip on the neck. The DW then pulls the opponent's wrist off the neck and pulls it to his own chest while continuing the shrug motion with a twist of the body.

This action should place the DW outside of his opponent's arm (Photo 9). In this position, the wrestler should exert a pull up-like pressure on the opponent's arm, pulling with hands at the wrist and upper arm while leaning his chest on the opponent's elbow. From this position, the DW has several options. Two have already been discussed and are readily adapted to the Russian: the double-leg takedown and the Shrug.

To hit a double-leg takedown from the Russian, the DW lifts the opponent's arm with both hands while simultaneously lowering his hips (Photo 10). The footwork is a typical drop-step motion, pushing off with the back foot and stepping in with the front foot. The front knee drives forward to the mat, as in Photo 4, and the DW can then use the many finishes for the double-leg.

I have attached the Article with the picture's of each move.