Are Suplexes Allowed in Freestyle Wrestling?


Are suplexes allowed in freestyle wrestling?

While some wrestling styles are more alike than they are different, there are key differences all wrestlers should be mindful of. Certain rules may or may not pertain to the current style of wrestling you’re participating in. For those in freestyle wrestling, you may be wondering if suplexes are allowed.

Suplexes are allowed in both freestyle wrestling and Greco-roman wrestling. However, folkstyle wrestling has stricter rules for what takedowns are allowed. This is because suplexes can be dangerous, especially if performed incorrectly. 

Since folkstyle wrestling is practiced in high schools and colleges they have stricter rules. That said, suplexes are not only allowed in freestyle wrestling, they are a staple takedown. Just make sure you know how to correctly perform a suplex before trying it on your opponents. 

In this article, we’ll be exploring how to perform a suplex and what exercises you can begin practicing now to help you perform a successful suplex in the future. If you’re interested in learning more about these, keep on reading. 

What Is A Suplex in Freestyle Wrestling?

As we stated above, a suplex is a powerful technique that requires a wrestler to slam their opponent down on the mat. Seeing how this is a more aggressive grappling move, it’s not allowed in all forms of wrestling. 

For example, folkstyle wrestling does not usually allow suplexes, seeing how they have stricter regulations and a different scoring system. It’s important to note that this offensive move can easily result in injury, so it’s important to begin practicing this move with proper supervision. 

Remembering all these factors will ensure that you stay safe on the mat while also understanding which forms of wrestling allow suplexes to be performed. 

How to Perform a Suplex for Freestyle Wrestling?

There are plenty of different methods wrestlers can use to execute a suplex correctly, but in this article, we’ll focus on how freestyle wrestlers perform this move. To keep yourself and your opponent safe on the mat, it’s crucial you follow each of these steps. 

Successfully Get Behind Your Opponent

Once you’ve used the proper technique needed to get behind your opponent, it’s time to get in position to execute the suplex. The first thing you’ll want to do is lock your hands around your opponent’s stomach or waist. 

You must be able to do this without any resistance, ensuring that your opponent is completely under your control during this time. Once you’ve gotten fully behind your opponent and gotten them in a proper bear hug from behind, it’s time to focus on your stance. Get in the Correct Positioning

Get in the Correct Positioning

Holding yourself in the correct stance on the mat before executing a suplex is crucial to keeping yourself and your opponent injury-free. You’ll want to make sure that your feet are as close to your opponent as possible, as this will make it easier to launch your opponent upwards. 

It’s important to note that your feet should be about shoulder-width apart when you do this to execute this move correctly. Once your feet are in position, it’s important to arch your back while also pushing your hips outwards fully. 

This move can’t happen without your back and legs’ strength, so they must be in the correct positioning to achieve a suplex on the mat. Once you’ve gotten yourself in the proper stance, it’s time to begin executing the move itself. 

Start to Throw Your Opponent

Once you have your hands firmly locked around your opponent and your stance is correct, you can begin lifting your opponent to execute the suplex. The first thing you’ll want to do is either turn your hips to the right or left, depending on how you plan to throw your opponent. 

Doing so will allow you to maintain control of not just your opponent but of yourself during this move. While doing this, ensure your body is locked firmly against your opponent, and you begin lifting with your hips. 

To successfully push off, you’ll want to use your toes to move upwards correctly. Once you’ve got both you and your opponent up in the air, make sure to arch your back until your opponent’s shoulder blades hit the mat. 

Roll Into a Dominant Position

Once you have successfully lifted you and your partner upwards and slammed them correctly down on the mat, ensure that you keep the locked arm position, you are already in. Once you’re on the mat, be sure to roll into a dominant position to complete the suplex.

That being said, this move is obviously easier said than done, so it’s important to practice in the presence of a professional when first starting. This offensive move can easily result in injury for both you and your partner, so it’s best to take it slow when learning how to perform this grappling move.

But before you begin practicing the move itself, there are plenty of exercises wrestlers can begin practicing today to enhance their mobility and strength, which will help them perform suplexes in the future. 

Here is a great example of how to suplex in freestyle wrestling from Bubba Jenkins from the FightTips Youtube Channel!

Exercises That Will Help You Execute a Suplex in Freestyle Wrestling

As we stated above, the instructions we went over earlier are easier said than done, and it will take a lot of practice to execute this move correctly. At the beginning of this process, partaking in the proper exercises will help wrestlers enhance their strength and mobility.

Below, we’ll explore different exercises and stretches that all wrestlers should partake in that will pay off the next time you’re on the mat. 

Shoulder Bridges

Shoulder bridges are a great exercise to use when learning how to suplex your opponent. For starters, shoulder bridges rely on your hips and legs’ strength to move your body upwards, which is exactly where you need to build your strength to perform a suplex.

To perform a shoulder bridge, lay down on your back with your feet planted firmly on the mat. Begin pushing your hips upwards as far as possible, and you can either repeat this move with reps or hold this position as long as possible. 

Making this move will allow you to build strength in your legs and hips and build up your back mobility over time. 

Bridge Walks

Bridge walks around another great way to strengthen your whole body while building up your back mobility, which will be needed to execute a suplex. Begin with your back against the wall, and take at least one or two steps forward to get into position.

Once you’ve done that, begin arching your back and walk down the wall with your hands. This is great practice, seeing how you’ll have to master how to arch your back when performing a suplex. Eventually, you’ll be able to do this without having a wall beside you, but for beginners, using the wall as a starting point is a great tool.   

Table Tops

Tabletops are a great way to open up your chest and strengthen your back mobility, making it an ideal move to practice when learning how to execute a suplex. Hold this position as long as you can to build strength and endurance, which will come in handy no matter what kind of technique you’re looking to perform on the mat. 

Front Squats

Last but not least is the front squat. This is the perfect exercise to help you develop strength in both the legs and core for a suplex. Incorporating all these stretches and exercises into your daily practices will allow you to become skilled enough to execute a proper suplex in no time. 

Conclusion

In this article, we discussed whether suplexes are allowed in freestyle wrestling and how you can execute this move correctly. While suplexes are allowed in freestyle wrestling, they aren’t allowed in all wrestling styles, such as folkstyle wrestling, so it’s important to be mindful of that.

To properly execute a suplex, it’s important to begin actively strengthening your legs, hips, and back, as well as practicing with the correct supervision. Hopefully, you have a better understanding of what a suplex is and how you can correctly perform this move in freestyle wrestling.

Joshua Paul

Joshua Paul is a BJJ purple belt who lives in Austin, Texas. Joshua loves all forms of grappling and when he is off the mats he is likely spending time with his wife and son.

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