Nelson hold
Grappling hold which is executed from the backside of the opponent
羽交い締め
- Type
- Holds and pins, Grappling positions, Chokes and strangles
- Martial arts
- Jujutsu
- Meaning
- Wing Constriction
- Classified as
- grappling hold
- Listed in
- Yawara – Shoden level (Danzan-ryū jujutsu)
A nelson hold is a grappling hold which is executed by one person from behind the opponent, generally when both are on the mat face down with the opponent under the aggressor. One or both arms are used to encircle the opponent's arm under the armpit, and secured at the opponent's neck. Several different nelson holds exist, and they can be separated according to the positioning of the encircling arm(s). A nelson is used to control an opponent or to turn them over onto their back and execute a pin.
The etymology of the term is uncertain. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the term first appeared as "full Nelson" in an 1873 Pall Mall Gazette article where a coroner commented on its danger following a wrestling match. The name is perhaps a reference to Admiral Horatio Nelson, in whose honor several other terms were named, such as "Nelson's blood" (rum).
Other Jujutsu holds and pins
- Ashi-Hishigi
- Gyaku Jūji-jime
- Do-jime
- Yoko shiho gatame
- Katate Hazushi Ichi
- Katate Hazushi Ni
- Ryo Eri Hazushi
- Yubi Tori Hazushi
- Konbou Katate Ori
- Morote Hazushi
- Tekubi Shigarami - "Hand-neck
Japanese terms for holds and pins
| Term | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 逆手 | sakate | underhand grip (e.g. in gymnastics, etc.) |
| 遁術 | tonjutsu | Ninja art of escape |
| 遁法 | tonpou | Ninja art of escape |
| 裸絞め | hadakajime | rear naked choke; sleeper hold |
| 左上手 | hidariuwate | left-handed outside grip (on one's opponent's belt) |
| 左四つ | hidariyotsu | hold in which both wrestlers obtain an underarm grip with the left hand and an over-arm grip with the right |
| 隠遁術 | intonjutsu | Ninja art of escape |
| 右上手 | migiuwate | right-handed outside grip (on one's opponent's belt) |
| 右四つ | migiyotsu | hold in which both wrestlers obtain an underarm grip with the right hand and an overarm grip with the left |
| 両差し | morozashi | deep double underarm grip which prevents the opponent from grabbing the belt |
| 四つ身 | yotsumi | cross-grips (situation in which each rikishi has an underarm grip on the other) |
| 腕を返す | kainaokaesu | to place one's arms under those of the opponent and lift them up, in order to prevent an overhand grip on one's mawashi |
23 terms in total on the holds and pins page.
External links
Facts from Wikidata Q961892 (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.