Check out weekly technique breakdowns by 3x NCAA champion Jason Nolf, presented by Athletes Ocean.
Sammy Sasso Shot to Cradle | Technique Tuesday
May 4, 2026
In this week's Technique Tuesday, two-time Big 10 champion Sammy Sasso breaks down the cradle he uses to turn an opponent's shot into a pin — the same move he used to pin the #1 ranked wrestler in the country at Who's Number One his senior year.
Sammy walks through his baseline shot defense, then shows the exact moment to transition to the cradle when an opponent locks high on your hip and standard defense starts to break down. He details the shoelace grip on the free leg, the "hand in the hole" between the ear and arm, and how to feed the knee to lock the cradle in tight. From there, he shows how to rock the hips up, hook the bottom leg, and pop the knee outside the ribs to finish the fall.
This is the cradle Sammy developed at 11 or 12 years old when he was losing matches 2-1 and 3-1 — and it became the takedown that defined his career.
You'll learn:
- How to read when an opponent has slid their lock up to your hip and base defense isn't enough
- The shoelace grip that shuts down their drive leg
- The "hand in the hole" entry between the ear and arm to set up the cradle
- How to feed the knee, lock your wrist, and crush the carotid for a tight cradle
- How to rock your hips, hook the bottom leg, and finish the fall
When they shoot, you cradle. This is how you turn defense into back points.
Time Stamps:
00:00:00 - Intro
00:00:18 - Baseline Defense & Where It Breaks
00:01:30 - Setting Up the Cradle
00:02:03 - Locking the Cradle Tight
00:02:32 - Finishing the Fall
00:03:40 - Full Sequence Walkthrough
00:05:48 - Outro
Check out the Full Instructional: https://app.athletesocean.com/product/sammy-sasso-defense
Get the Athletes Ocean iOS App
