The cradle is a basic technique in amateur wrestling. Its 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 his 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. In that way, the cradled wrestler finds it very difficult to escape.
Cradles aren’t a BJJ move but once you know some BJJ and you start using cradles your mind will open like the Red Sea. Catch Wrestler and Blackzilians coach Neil Melanson gets them from everywhere and nowhere do the BJJ guys see it coming. Butterfly Guard, Weave Passing, Turtles, once you see them you will have a “Holy Sh*t” moment. This system is unlike any other and will become your goto move. Neil has left many a BJJ world champ who made the mistake of coming to roll wondering how the hell he got twisted into a pretzel.
BJJ coral belt Jean Jacques Machado shows an easy and effective escape to the cradle which everybody can do:
Get Out Of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s Worst Positions, Gi Or No-Gi, With Lachlan Giles’s Insights Into Escaping.
The 2019 ADCC Absolute Medalist Teaches How To Get Out Bad Grappling Positions With Narrated Live Rolling Of Him Performing The Techniques.
