Cradle
Wrestling technique
- Type
- Grappling positions
- Martial arts
- Wrestling
The cradle is a basic technique in amateur wrestling which is used to control and pin an opponent. The major purpose is to get into the controlling position while the name refers to the move's similarity to the way a person holds an infant in their arms.
The wrestler performs the cradle by grabbing the neck of their opponent with one arm and wrapping the elbow of the other arm behind the knee of the opponent. The wrestler then locks both hands together to prevent their opponent from escaping. In addition to that, there are many ways to counter the cradle and many variations to the cradle maneuver.
Other Wrestling grappling positions
Japanese terms for grappling positions
| Term | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 下手 | shitate | humble position; inferior |
| 前捌き | maesabaki | battling to knock away the hands of one's opponent, in order to achieve an advantageous position |
| 死に体 | shinitai | losing posture; falling position from which it is impossible to recover |
| 変わり身 | kawarimi | change of attitude (stance, position) |
| 座り相撲 | suwarizumou | wrestling performed in a sitting position |
External links
Facts from Wikidata Q5180472 (CC0); text quoted from English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22.
Data: Wikidata (CC0 1.0); Wikipedia (English) (CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.