Defense
See where the sprawl ends and the turn begins
Stopping a shot and turning the corner are separate jobs. This USA Wrestling counter-offense lesson pairs them, giving you a clear place to pause and check whether the legs are still in danger.
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FIELD GUIDE / EDITORIAL COVERBefore you watch
Know the outline of a leg attack and agree with your coach on a controlled training entry. Here you are watching folkstyle wrestling. Strikes, the fence and the space available can change which follow-up an MMA fighter chooses.
Read the change of angle
Follow the defender’s hips during the entry. Once the attacker stops travelling forward, look for the defender moving around them. Rewind and watch the attacker’s arms instead. Can they still collect a leg at the moment the defender starts to turn?
The mistake to catch
Circling early can offer the lead leg again. In class, have the coach freeze a cooperative pair after the entry has been stopped, then restart the turn from that position. Add movement only on mats, and keep weight off the partner’s neck.