How to Do a Russian Arm Tie in Wrestling

In a wrestling match, while each wrestler is on his feet, competitors often clench and tie up with the arms to work toward a favorable position to attempt a takedown. Tying up is very common among heavier wrestlers who do not have the quickness to shoot in on the legs of their opponent from far away. The Russian arm tie is a way to isolate one of your opponent's arm as you tie up, that can allow you to control him and secure a leg for a single leg takedown.

Instructions

    • 1

      Grab your opponent's wrist with an overhand grip. You should grab the wrist across your body, that is, grab his right wrist with your right hand, or his left wrist with your left hand.

    • 2

      Take your free hand and bring it under the arm of the wrist you are holding, and use it to grab your own wrist with an overhand grip. If done on the right side, your right hand should be grasping his right wrist, and your left hand should be threaded under his arm, grabbing your right wrist. This completes a loop where both of your arms are able to exert strength on a single arm of your opponent.

    • 3

      To move toward a takedown, exert force on your opponent's arm pulling it downward toward the mat, as if to plant his palm on the mat. This will make your opponent hunch forward and become off balance, as it exposes the leg on the side of your arm tie.

    • 4

      Quickly release your arm tie as your opponent is off balance and lock your arms around your opponent's leg. You will now be standing with your opponent's leg in your arms, and he will be standing on one leg.

    • 5

      Finish as you would a single leg takedown, by tripping your opponent's support leg, or shooting for his support leg and grabbing it.