How to Understand Wrestling Throws

Throws are one of the most important aspects of wrestling. Getting your opponent to the ground quickly in a way that leaves you in a dominant position not only scores points with judges but also sets you up to win the wrestling match with a hold or pin. Whether you're a wrestler or a fan, follow these steps to understand wrestling holds.

Instructions

    • 1

      Survey the different forms of wrestling. Each of the various disciplines that fall under the wrestling category have different kinds of holds. Check out the holds from Greco-Roman wrestling, judo, sambo, professional wrestling and the grappling martial arts. Notice the difference in the throws and the common mechanics that connect them to understand wrestling throws.

    • 2

      Learn about the shoulder throw. The shoulder throw is a specialty of judo that has been transmitted into the techniques of multiple martial arts systems. The shoulder throw is so called because it leverages an opponent over your shoulder. There are dozens of variations but all of them share the same basic throwing mechanics.

    • 3

      Check out the hip throw. The hip throw is another kind of fundamental wrestling throw. An opponent gets his hip lower than the center of gravity of his opponent. Using the hip to both destabilize and leverage the opponent, the thrower can easily slam the opponent to the ground. Judo calls these throws Koshi Waza and akido calls it koshinage. Look for hip throws in all forms of wrestling to better understand throwing techniques.

    • 4

      Watch sacrifice throws. Sacrifice throws are a more risky but very effective category of throwing that calls for the aggressor to use his body weight to destabilize, pull or push the opponent to the ground in a way that brings both wrestlers down. Sacrifice throws are extremely common in mixed martial arts, though you can see this kind of throw in all forms of wrestling.