Technique Tuesday: Elbow-Control Technique Series

Technique Tuesday: Elbow-Control Technique Series

Nearly every day, we feature a piece of world-class technique from our extensive library, including these elbow-control techniques from your feet.

Jun 23, 2016 by Kyle Bratke
Technique Tuesday: Elbow-Control Technique Series

Nearly every day, we feature a piece of world-class technique from our extensive library.

This week, we’re kicking things off with some elbow-control techniques from your feet. As we saw at the World Cup, controlling ties is extremely important at all levels of wrestling.

Lou Rosselli: Elbow Control To Head Inside Single

Rosselli, a 1996 Olympian, shows to start with head position, then pull with the elbow control hand. With his opposite hand, he attacks with a head inside single and then finishes high by sweeping out his opponent's leg.


Adam Tirapelle: Terry Brands-Style Leg Attack Near Leg

Another technique in controlling your opponents elbow is to clear the elbow. NCAA champion Adam Tirapelle controls his opponent's elbow from the collar tie, but this time he turns his opponent's body and drives through him at an angle. Pull the head, control the elbow, slide him by at an angle and attack his near leg. Tirapelle says he learned this technique from watching Terry Brands matches over and over. 


Wynn Michalak: Elbow Pinch To Post Double

Another way to control the elbow from your feet is as three-time All-American Wynn Michalak calls it, an elbow pinch. Michalak attacks his opponents elbow with both hands, one over top the elbow and the other under the elbow. He then pulls down on the elbow forcing his opponent to step forward and post his arm. Once his opponent reaches out, Michalak posts above the elbow and blows straight through his opponent with a crisp double. 


Dardanes Brothers: Elbow-Control Opposite-Side Single

For years the Dardanes brothers stormed through collegiate competition with heavy hands and great attacks from their feet. Those attacks were made possible by great set-ups, and one of those set-ups was elbow control. In this attack you are making your opponent think that you are clearing the elbow off. Once your opponent steps, you attack the opposite. This attack is all about getting a reaction out of your opponent. 


Zach Esposito: Tedeev Heavy Hands To Find Elbow And Attack Low

NCAA champion Zach Esposito shows that low level attack Olympic champion Elbrus Tedeev had so much success with. Espo shows how to mimic Tedeev's pressure by banging very hard on the head to eventually find the opponent's elbow on his lead leg side before attacking your opponent with his opposite hand. This is a great low attack from near side elbow control.