How Do You Do a Basic Cradle in Wrestling?By Coder| August 31, 2023 Wrestling Wrestling is a physically demanding sport that requires skill, strength, and technique. One popular move in wrestling is the cradle. The cradle is a basic move that can be used to control your opponent and score points. In this tutorial, we will learn how to do a basic cradle in wrestling. Step 1: Set Up To execute a cradle, you need to start in the top position. This means you are on top of your opponent while they are lying on their back. Your legs should be straddling their body, with one leg between their legs and the other leg outside. Step 2: Secure the Wrist With your opponent lying on their back, you need to secure one of their wrists. Reach across their body and grab their opposite wrist with your hand. Make sure to grip it firmly. Step 3: Control the Head Next, you want to control your opponent’s head. Use your free hand to grab the back of their head or neck. This will prevent them from moving and make it easier for you to execute the move. Executing the Cradle Now that you have secured your opponent’s wrist and controlled their head, it’s time to execute the cradle. Step 4: Roll Towards Their Head To begin the roll, shift your weight towards your opponent’s head while maintaining control of their wrist and head. This will put them off balance and make it easier for you to roll them onto their back. Step 5: Hook Their Leg As you roll towards their head, use your free leg to hook one of their legs from the outside. This will prevent them from being able to kick out or escape the cradle. Step 6: Roll onto Their Back Continue rolling towards their head, using your momentum and leverage to roll your opponent onto their back. As you do this, keep a tight grip on their wrist and maintain control of their head. Scoring Points Once you have successfully rolled your opponent onto their back, you can earn points. In wrestling, when you expose your opponent’s back to the mat, it is considered a pinning position. The longer you can hold them in this position, the more points you can score. 2 points: If you can hold your opponent in a pinning position for 2 seconds. 3 points: If you can hold your opponent in a pinning position for 5 seconds. Fall: If you can hold your opponent in a pinning position for a full second count of the referee (typically 2-3 seconds), it is considered a fall, resulting in an immediate win for you. The cradle is an effective move that can catch your opponents off guard and lead to scoring opportunities. It requires proper technique and practice to execute it successfully, so make sure to train regularly with a coach or partner. In conclusion, the cradle is a basic wrestling move that involves securing your opponent’s wrist, controlling their head, and rolling them onto their back for scoring opportunities. Practice this move diligently and incorporate it into your wrestling arsenal!
