Braumon Creighton - The swisher drill

This is the drill for you to practice going from a square stance to a staggered stance. Notice that you don't step back or forward. Your legs each go in opposite directions so your body position relative to your opponent is unchanged.

Braumon Creighton - The Peek from a failed double-leg.

Sometimes, when you don't get in deep on a double-leg, your opponent will sprawl and his arms will end up hanging on either side of your body. Here is a counter to that position.

Braumon Creighton - The square stance

This is the stance you will use when circling. Remember that to shoot you need to go to a staggered stance. The staggered stance has a lead leg, the one in front. When you circle in a square stance, make sure you circle "away" from the leg that will be your lead leg in a staggered stance.

Braumon Creighton - Knee slide after a failed double-leg takedown

If you shoot a double-leg takedown but don't get in deep, here is a way to recover.

Braumon Creighton - A fast shot

If you can get in fast, you will get your shot. Here is how to do it. Learn this and never lose another match.

Braumon Creighton - Double to a navy ride

This is a move that can be used to follow up a double-leg takedown. It takes your opponent to his back for point or a pin. The navy ride is a useful ride that can be attained through a variety of moves, the double-leg takedown is just one way to do it.

Braumon Creighton - The staggard stance

Shooting a takedown is done from the staggard stance. Get in the stance, lower your body and go!

Braumon Creighton - Moving the double drill

Once you get in deep on a double, this is the drill to help you learn how to finish the move.

Braumon Creighton - Setting up a double leg takedown

Ninety percent of getting a successful double-leg takedown is setting it up so you can get in deep. Here is how its done:

Braumon Creighton - Abus Roll

This is a move to use if you get caught in a double-leg takedown.

Braumon Creighton

Many Thanks to Braumon Creighton who conducted a takedown clinic at Novato High School on Friday, November 26th. I will be posting several videos of him teaching our wrestlers. In the meantime, here is a highlight video of this National Champion in action.

Countering the head and arm

There are a number of ways to counter the head and arm. If you fail to learn these, and someone puts you in a head-and-arm, you will be in for a long hard wait as the period winds down.

Here are a couple of counters that you must know.

Bridging from you back

If you can see the lights on the gym's ceiling, you are probably not in a favorable position.

If you find yourself on your back you need to dig deep and explode out of there with everything that you have. If you only have one gallon of energy left in your tank, use it to get off of your back.

Here are some sample ways to do that.

The Head and Arm

This is a flashy move used by new wrestlers. It can take another beginning wrestler to his back quickly.

We don't use this move. The reason is that we are usually not wrestling new wrestlers. Most experienced wrestlers know how to either (a) counter this move or (b) avoid getting into in to begin with.

If you try this move and fail, you will almost certainly be taken down. If you try this move and succeed, you will almost certainly be countered.

However, here is what it looks like. Knowing it is the first step in countering it.

Don't Reach Back!!!

Every beginning wrestler is going to reach back and then find himself on his back. This is how it will happen: The new wrestler will be in the bottom position. He will notice his opponent's head (and maybe shoulders) up right next to his own. It will then occur to him that he should reach back and grab what he can and then execute a throw which will put his opponent on his back.

The problem is, the other wrestler is not going to let you do that. In fact, he is probably waiting for you to give it a try. As soon as you do, he's going to drive into you and put on a half...or he will grab whatever you reach back with and not give it back. He'll take your arms or hands or whatever you are offering and use them against you.

Never, reach back!!

The Arm-Bar

This is a move from the top position. This is a turning move which means the top man uses it to turn the bottom man to his back. If you expose your opponent's back to the mat, you will get 2 or 3 points. If you can hold his back to the mat for 2 seconds, you will win by a pin.

The Sitout

This is an extremely versatile and thus, important move from the bottom position. In its simplest form, it can be either an escape or a reversal. In its more advanced forms, it can lead to pinning combinations. Learn this one to perfection!

Escaping from the 1-on-1

If the top person had a 1-on-1 on you (the bottom person), your options are very limited until you can free your hands and arms. Once you are free, then you can go for an escape or reversal.

Escaping From a Half Nelson

If you cannot escape from the Half Nelson, you will be pinned. This is a move for the bottom man. The situation is that the top man has put on (or is trying to put on) a half nelson (also called "a half"). To get out of it, you must act quickly or it will be too late.

2-on-1

The 2-on-1 is a move from the top, similar in purpose to the 1-on-1. However, instead of having one hand on each of the opponents wrists, the top man has two of his hands on one of the bottom man's arms.

The 1-on-1

This is a controlling move performed by the person on time when his opponent is on his stomach. There are several offensive moves from this position while, at the same time, denying many defensive options to the person on bottom.

The Half Nelson

This is a move from the top position. You must first break the other wrestler down to his stomach. Once that is done, the half nelson can be used to turn him to his back. When his back is exposed to the mat, you will gain 2 or 3 points, depending on how long you can hold him there. If you succeed it putting him all the way on his back and holding him there for 2 seconds, you will will by pin.

Far Arm Near Ankle

This is a move where you are on top and you want to turn your opponent to his back without having to first break him down to his stomach.  Turning an opponent to his back will earn you two or even three points.  If you are able to hold their back to the mat for 2 seconds, you will score a pin which is an automatic win.

Chop and Block

This is a move from the top position.  Most pinning combinations, not all, involve breaking the bottom opponent down to their stomach.  Once they are there.  Make sure to keep hip pressure so they cannot get back up to their base.  There are no points for breaking an opponent down.  This is mearly the first step on the way to making more points or even getting a pin.

Stand Up from the Down Position

When you are on the down position, the stand up is a way to escape.  An escape is worth two points.  Remember, if you are good at escapes, you need to also be good at take downs because once you escape you will both be trying to take each other down.  A take-down is worth two points.

The double leg take-down

This is when two wrestlers are both on their feet in a neutral position.  A take-down is worth two points.