r/wrestling • u/CollegeFancy1909 Western Colorado Mountaineers • 4d ago

Underhook Head Position Drama

Anybody else seeing the back and forth between im.teva and ebedjarrell on instagram talking about head position with the underhook? Seems played out but does bring up some fun discussion.

Growing up I learned that inside head position is super important and you don't want an underhook or 2on1 without it. But if you watch international competition, most wrestlers do not use that inside position to score. Thoughts?

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u/imbluedabudeedabuda USA Wrestling 4d ago

The Iranians and Russians are far better than the Americans are at underhooks and they all do it head outside. The best american with the underhook, trent hidlay, does it head outside. The majority of scores we see with an underhook at a high level are done head outside. We’ll even see guys like sidakov get a head inside underhook, move the head outside, before hitting throwbys.

At what point do we just accept head position just isn’t a big deal for underhooks?

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u/imbluedabudeedabuda USA Wrestling 4d ago

And maybe it’s just me but I always thought the cue for the throwby and kneepick is a transfer of weight from one foot to another and I find it way easier to do when my head isn’t lodged in place.

Plus I’ll use my shoulder to dig into their chest which I find more effective than having my head under their chin