Fireman’s Carry Wrestling Takedown: A Beginner’s Guide

 A coach demonstrates a Fireman’s Carry (kata guruma) throw, lifting the opponent onto his shoulders.

The Fireman’s Carry is a classic wrestling takedown in which you lift an opponent onto your shoulders and bring them down to the mat. It’s one of the most fundamental moves, used by beginners and advanced wrestlers alike, because it’s versatile and effective in many situations (fanaticwrestling.com). The move gets its name from the way firefighters carry people, and it can be a real surprise attack on the wrestling mat. Advantages: The Fireman’s Carry is relatively easy to teach yet, when done with good technique, it’s hard for an opponent to defend (attackstylewrestling.com). A successful Fireman’s Carry can put your opponent directly on their back, giving you a chance to earn near-fall points or even a pin (win by fall) in folkstyle wrestling (attackstylewrestling.com). It’s a high-reward move – you score a takedown and often gain control in a dominant position. Wrestlers in all styles (folkstyle, freestyle, even judo’s kata guruma) use this technique (attackstylewrestling.com), showing how effective it can be.

When to use it: The Fireman’s Carry works best when you can secure one of your opponent’s arms and get in close. Typically, you’ll initiate it from a tie-up or clinch where you have control of your opponent’s arm (for example, an underhook or a grip on their tricep). It’s especially effective if the opponent is pushing into you or has a heavy overhook on your shoulder – their forward pressure helps you load them onto your shoulders. A good rule of thumb: look for moments when your opponent’s stance is slightly high or they reach with their arms. Those are opportunities to shoot underneath. In fact, as legendary coach Stan Dziedzic notes, any takedown (including the Fireman’s Carry) consists of three phases: set-up, attack, and finish (scribd.com). In the sections below, we’ll break down the move into these phases to make it easy to learn step-by-step.

Step-by-Step Technical Breakdown

Step 1: Proper Stance and Tie-Up – Start in a solid wrestling stance: feet staggered, knees bent, back straight, and head up. This position lets you change levels quickly. You and your opponent will usually be in a collar-tie or another upper-body tie-up. From the tie-up, your goal is to secure control of one of your opponent’s arms. A common approach is to grab behind their tricep (upper arm) or use an inside tie on their bicep. Having a firm hold on their arm is critical – as one coaching guide emphasizes, getting a secure grip on the opponent’s upper arm is the most important part of setting up a Fireman’s Carry (attackstylewrestling.com). For example, you might have one hand on the back of their neck and the other hand holding their arm above the elbow. This arm control will serve as your “handle” to pull the opponent over you. Make sure your opponent isn’t controlling your head with their other arm; if they have a tight collar tie on you, you may need to clear it first. Keep your stance staggered (one foot slightly forward) to be ready for the penetration step when the moment comes (scribd.com).

Step 2: Setting Up the Fireman’s Carry – Set-ups are the movements or feints that create the opening for your attack. The key is to make your opponent move in a way that benefits your shot. A good setup for a Fireman’s Carry will accomplish three things: 1) get your opponent to step toward you, 2) make them extend the arm you plan to attack, and 3) make them lift their head up out of stance (scribd.com). There are several setup techniques to achieve this:

• Arm Drag: From a tie-up, you quickly pull (drag) the opponent’s arm across their body. This can make them step forward and pull their arm back – exactly what you want (scribd.com). If they yank their arm away from the drag, they often expose that arm for you to duck under.

• Shoulder Snap-Down: You snap the opponent’s upper body downward by pulling on their head or shoulder briefly. Many wrestlers will react by pulling their head and arm back up – when they do, their arm is lighter and extended, and their head comes up (scribd.com). That’s a great moment to shoot your Fireman’s Carry. (In Bobby Douglas’s book The Takedown, one sequence shows a wrestler snapping the opponent down, then shooting under the arm as the opponent straightens up (scribd.com).)

• Underhook and Step Around: If you have an underhook (your arm under their arm and around their shoulder), lift their underhooked arm slightly to create space. You can even drive into them a bit and then suddenly lower level. Often the opponent will lean back or overhook your arm, which helps open up the entry. One drill from The Wrestling Drill Book shows a setup where W2 underhooks W1, and W1 responds by pinching that underhook and lowering level to shoot the Fireman’s (scribd.com) The key is controlling that underhook arm tightly above the elbow during the drop (scribd.com).

Other setups include a two-on-one (Russian tie), where you control one arm with both of yours, or a fake shot to the legs to get them to sprawl early. No matter the method, remember the principle: you’re trying to create a door to enter through. Often this means inducing the opponent to extend their arm and shift their weight forward, so you can then duck under that arm. Be patient in this stage – a well-executed setup makes the actual takedown much easier.

Step 3: Penetration and Level Change – Once the opponent is set up (arm isolated and weight coming toward you), it’s time to shoot. Drop your level by bending your knees – almost like a quick squat – while keeping your back fairly straight. Take a deep penetration step with your lead leg between your opponent’s feet (scribd.com). This is similar to shooting a deep double-leg takedown. In fact, the Fireman’s Carry entry feels a lot like a low double-leg: shoot deep and drop to your knees under the opponent (attackstylewrestling.com). As you step in, kneel down on that lead leg; your trail leg will swing around and also go down to a kneeling position as you pivot in. (So you’ll momentarily be on both knees on the mat, deep underneath your opponent (scribd.com).)

At the same time, do three crucial things in one motion:

• Head Position: Put your head under and to the side of your opponent’s arm that you are attacking (scribd.com). Your head should pop out on the side of their body (if you’re attacking their right arm, your head comes out past their right side). Keep your head up tight to their body – ideally with your temple or ear against their ribs or under their armpit. (Important: don’t stick your head between their legs or in front of their chest, or you could get caught in a front headlock or cradle.) Keeping your head on the outside of their torso also helps you drive into them.

• Arm Position (Upper Body): With the arm you controlled, hook high on their triceps. As you drop in, pull that arm down and tight across the front of your shoulder/chest. Imagine you’re “slinging” their arm over your shoulder. Do not let go of this arm! A tight grip above their elbow will prevent them from posting that hand on the mat or pulling out easily (scribd.com). Your thumb can hook around their triceps to secure it (scribd.com). This trapped arm is one half of the Fireman’s Carry hold.

• Arm Position (Lower Body): Your other arm (often called the penetration arm) reaches between the opponent’s legs as you drop. Shoot this arm deep inside their crotch and catch their upper leg (around the thigh, just above the knee) (scribd.com). Think of it like grabbing around the back of their leg or knee from the inside. Some beginners mistakenly grab too low (around the knee or calf), but you want to split their legs with your arm. One coach describes it as trying to “split your opponent in half through the crotch” with your attacking arm (reddit.com). This deep position gives you leverage to lift.

At this point, if done correctly, you are underneath the opponent with a low center of gravity. You should have one of their arms pulled tight over one of your shoulders, and your other arm wrapped around one of their legs. Your opponent’s torso is basically draped over your shoulders – you have their arm and one leg secured. Keep your hips under your opponent’s hips (don’t get too extended forward) and keep your head up. This strong, low position sets you up for the finish.

Step 4: Execution of the Lift and Finish – Now comes the payoff. From the deep, kneeling position, you will explode upward and rotate to take your opponent to the mat. Drive with your legs and hips – think of it like doing a quick kneeling jump. As you drive, straighten your back and lift your opponent’s weight onto your shoulders (scribd.com). At the same time, use a “see-saw” motion with your arms: pull down hard on the arm you trapped (this drags their upper body over you) while you punch up with your other arm under their leg (reddit.com). This combined action should pop the opponent off the ground. One training guide puts it simply: “ball up and explode and extend,” getting the opponent’s weight off of you (attackstylewrestling.com). Imagine you’re trying to momentarily carry them across your shoulders – their body should feel balanced on you for a split second.

From here, finish the throw by turning and dumping the opponent to the mat. Typically, you will rotate in the direction of the trapped arm, throwing the opponent over the shoulder that’s under their arm. A textbook finish goes like this: once you’ve lifted, rotate your shoulders and roll your opponent over the front of your body, guiding them down to the mat on their back or side (scribd.com). In other words, you’re flipping them over you. Continue to pull down on their arm as you turn – this forces them to flip. It’s important to keep holding the arm and leg as you deliver them to the mat, so you control how they land. Many beginners end up doing a “Fireman’s Dump,” which is a variation where you don’t fully stand the opponent up but instead roll them diagonally off your shoulders. That’s okay too – you’ll still secure the takedown as long as you end on top. In either case, try to follow through to a dominant position: come down chest-to-chest on top of your opponent if possible. As you land, keep your head tight to their torso and maintain control of their arm so they can’t easily wriggle away or counter.

Finally, cover and finish the move by establishing control on the mat. In folkstyle, your goal now is to keep them down (perhaps even looking for a pin). Coaching tip: “Keep your head tight and don’t let your opponent off his back. You have a good chance to secure the fall (pin) or get maximum back points” if you hold them there (attackstylewrestling.com). Often, a well-executed Fireman’s Carry will leave the opponent momentarily stunned on their back or side, allowing you to quickly get a half nelson or another pinning hold. Even in freestyle, where exposure is what scores, that big lift and dump can score 4 or even 5 points if executed grandly. So finish strong by consolidating your control.

Finish Variations: Depending on how your opponent reacts mid-throw, you have options. One classic follow-up is a change-off to a double leg if the opponent starts to counter your carry. For example, if you go for the Fireman’s and they manage to whizzer (overhook) your arm and sprawl one leg back, you can release their arm and grab both legs to transition into a double-leg takedown (scribd.com). Bobby Douglas demonstrates this: after shooting the Fireman’s, the opponent tried to counter by “whipping over,” so the attacker immediately switched direction, grabbed both legs and completed a double-leg tackle (scribd.com). The ability to flow into a double leg or even a single leg finish is a great skill once you’re comfortable. However, as a beginner, focus first on completing the basic carry before worrying about advanced change-offs. Another finish variation is sometimes called the opposite-leg Fireman’s or high-crotch Fireman’s, where you attack the opposite leg and sit through – but that’s more advanced. Initially, aim to master the standard finish: lift, turn, and “throw” the opponent onto the mat under control (scribd.com).

Coaching Tips for Parents (Helping Young Wrestlers)

Teaching and encouraging a young wrestler to learn the Fireman’s Carry can be a fun experience. Here are some parent-friendly coaching tips to support your child:

• Keep It Fun and Positive: At the beginner level, the goal is to learn and have fun, not to execute a perfect Olympic-level throw. Encourage your child when they attempt the move, and celebrate small improvements. For example, “Great job getting low!” or “Nice try – you almost had it!” Positive reinforcement builds their confidence. Avoid putting too much pressure on winning; focus on effort and progress instead.

• Emphasize Safety and Proper Technique: Make sure your child warms up and stretches before practicing throws. When drilling the Fireman’s Carry, use proper mats or a padded surface. Remind your wrestler to keep their head up and back straight during the lift – this not only makes the move work better, it also prevents neck strain (scribd.com). If practicing at home, you (the parent) can kneel as a dummy while your child goes through the motions slowly. Always supervise closely and stop if anything looks unsafe.

• Break the Move into Steps: Help your child practice each phase (stance, setup, level change, lift) one at a time. For instance, you can play a game of “freeze”: have them get the arm and leg position (Step 3) and then pause – check that their knees are bent and their arm is deep around your leg. Then let them try the lift. Breaking it down makes a complex move easier to learn. You can even have them practice the penetration step and level change without an opponent, as a shot drill. In The United States Wrestling Syllabus, coaches often isolate the segments of a takedown for practice (scribd.com). Do the same at home in a casual way.

• Use Simple Cues: Parents can use easy reminders that match what coaches teach. Some good cues for the Fireman’s Carry: “Level change!” (to remind them to bend knees and drop low), “Deep step!” (to step between the opponent’s legs), “Head up!” (keep the head looking forward/up during the lift), and “Pull the arm tight!” (so they don’t forget the opponent’s arm). These cues reinforce the key points. For example, if you notice your child is not dropping low enough, a gentle “Remember to level change first” can help.

• Stay Patient and Encouraging: The Fireman’s Carry can be tricky for young wrestlers at first. They might struggle with coordinating the lift or might hesitate to get underneath someone. That’s okay. Share with them that even advanced wrestlers took time to perfect this move. Encourage them to practice regularly and remind them that each attempt gets them better, even if they don’t throw their partner perfectly. If they get frustrated, have them take a short break or try a different drill (perhaps a simpler double-leg shot) then come back to it. Always end practice on a positive note, like doing a fun wrestling game or acknowledging their hard work.

• Communicate with Coaches: Stay in touch with your child’s wrestling coach about how the move is taught. Coaches may have specific methods or terminology (“high-crotch carry” vs “fireman’s”, etc.). By knowing the coach’s points of emphasis, you can reinforce the same messages at home. For example, if the coach says “don’t wrap the leg at the knee, go deep,” you can echo that when practicing with your child (this matches the advice of keeping the attacking arm deep through the crotch (reddit.com). This consistency helps the young wrestler remember. And if you’re unsure about anything, don’t hesitate to ask the coach for clarification or a quick demonstration so that you feel comfortable helping your child.

Above all, show enthusiasm for your wrestler’s effort. Your support and understanding – even just knowing the basics of a Fireman’s Carry – will help your child feel more confident and motivated to learn the move.

Common Beginner Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

Even with good instruction, beginners often make a few predictable mistakes with the Fireman’s Carry. Here’s a list of common errors and ways to fix them:

• Staying Too High on the Shot: A frequent mistake is not dropping low enough on the level change. If a wrestler bends at the waist but keeps their hips high, the opponent will sprawl and crush the attempt. Fix: Emphasize a deep level change – hips should sink low and at least one knee should hit the mat on the entry (attackstylewrestling.com). You want to be under the opponent. Practicing the penetration step into a dummy or even just shadow shooting can ingrain the habit of dropping low. A good cue is “shoot to your knees” (attackstylewrestling.com) – meaning don’t be afraid to put both knees on the mat under your opponent.

• Poor Arm Position on the Leg: Some beginners reach for the opponent’s leg but only grab around the knee or lower. Wrapping the leg too low (around the knee) leads to weak control – the opponent’s leg might slip out or the lift turns into just a tug on their knee. As one coach noted on a forum, “Some guys will wrap the knee and that can lead to [just dumping them sideways]” (reddit.com). Fix: Reach deep between the legs, aiming to hook around the thigh (above the knee) every time (scribd.com). We sometimes tell kids to try to “grab the far leg” (even though you won’t actually reach the far leg, that mindset ensures you go deep enough). A deep arm through the crotch gives you a strong lever to lift with.

• Not Securing the Arm Tight: The Fireman’s Carry will fail if the opponent’s controlled arm slips out. Beginners might forget to keep that arm tight, allowing the opponent to post or whizzer. Fix: Once you grip the opponent’s upper arm, squeeze it tight to your body and pull it downward throughout the movescribd.com. Think of that arm as your handle to steer the opponent. A tight grip above the elbow is essentialscribd.com – if you feel your grip sliding, readjust before lifting. Drilling the carry step with a partner keeping their arm relaxed can help learners focus on maintaining arm control. Coaches often yell “keep the arm!” for this reason.

• Wrong Head Position: Sometimes a newcomer will put their head on the wrong side or let it dangle low. For example, diving the head between the opponent’s legs or towards the opponent’s opposite side can lead to getting stuck or even put you on your back. Fix: Always remember “head goes with the arm.” Your head should pop out on the same side of the opponent’s body as the arm you have trapped (scribd.com). Keep it tight against their side. A high head is also key to a successful lift – if you find yourself looking at the mat, lift your head up (this naturally straightens your back and helps the lift). A strong posture with head up will prevent opponents from forcing your head down in defense.

• Lifting with the Back (Not Using Legs): Beginners might try to muscle the opponent up using their back strength alone, leading to a strained, slow lift (or none at all). Fix: The power should come from your legs and hips, not just your arms or back. Think “explode up” by extending your hips and driving with your feet (attackstylewrestling.com). A good drill is practicing just the lifting motion with a partner who is kneeling – have the wrestler get the arm and leg and then stand up using proper form. If the wrestler feels strain in their lower back, it means they need to bend their knees more and get their hips under the opponent. Remind them to “use your legs like a spring.” When done right, even a smaller wrestler can lift a bigger opponent briefly by timing the upward thrust with a pull on the arm.

• Not Turning the Corner (Dumping to the Side): Some beginners shoot in well but then stop mid-move, ending up on both knees holding the opponent, and simply fall to the side. This usually results in a scramble instead of a clean takedown. Fix: After the penetration, commit to the finish. Focus on rotating your shoulders and taking your opponent over the top forward, not just tipping sideways. One tip is to imagine throwing them over your head in a forward roll (scribd.com). If you feel you’re just collapsing sideways, it may be due to not driving with the legs or not pulling the arm hard enough. Continue to drive through the opponent. A little practice on a crash pad or with coach’s supervision can help the wrestler get the feeling of fully rotating the opponent.

• Letting Go Too Early: In the excitement of the throw, beginners sometimes release the opponent’s arm or leg too soon, thinking the job is done. This can allow the opponent to twist out or even reverse the throw. Fix: Finish the move all the way through. Hold that arm and leg until the opponent is on the mat and under control. Only release the leg when you’re ready to transition to securing position. A good habit is to land and immediately go into a control pinning hold (like keeping the arm and circling to a half-nelson). That ensures you maintain advantage. As a mantra: “Don’t let go until they’re flat.”

Everyone makes mistakes learning a new move. The key is to recognize them and adjust. Coaches like Bobby Douglas broke down such mistakes and second-effort moves in his manual – for instance, if your Fireman’s Carry is countered mid-way, you might switch to a double-leg or a sit-through to keep the attack alive (scribd.com). As a beginner, focus on the basics above. With practice, these mistakes will happen less, and your Fireman’s Carry will become smooth and reliable.

Common Counters and Defenses

Just as you are learning to execute the Fireman’s Carry, your opponents (and their coaches) are learning how to counter it. Here we’ll cover basic defenses against the Fireman’s Carry, and how a young wrestler can respond if their Fireman’s Carry attempt gets stopped.

Defending the Fireman’s Carry (for the opponent): The moment a wrestler feels someone shooting in for a Fireman’s Carry (especially if they feel their arm being pulled over and the attacker’s head dropping under), the classic defense is a combination of a whizzer and sprawl. A whizzer is an overhook – the defender snakes the arm that’s being attacked over the opponent’s arm and clamps down hard. This overhook pressure can prevent the attacker from completing the lift or can even flatten the attacker. Simultaneously, the defender should sprawl their legs back, throwing their hips to the mat. Sprawling drives weight onto the attacker and makes it much harder for the attacker to lift or turn the corner. In practice, teaching kids to “sprawl and whizzer” as soon as they feel someone under them is an effective first line of defense. Another defensive reaction is to grab around the attacker’s waist and pull up, while sprawling, to keep the attacker from getting underneath – this is more advanced, but some instinctively do it to counter throws. If the defender times it right, they can stuff the Fireman’s Carry and end up on top of the attacker. In fact, youth wrestling drills often include sprawling and crossfacing whenever an opponent shoots, which applies here as well.

A specific counter some wrestlers use is sometimes called the “fireman’s carry stretch” or hook counter: as the attacker drops, the defender hooks one of their arms inside the attacker’s leg (or crotch) and splits their base wide, essentially doing the splits. This can halt the throw mid-air. You might see this if a strong opponent suddenly sprawls one leg far out to the side while whizzering – it stops you from lifting them. The bottom line for defense is, stay heavy and make it ugly for the person attempting the Fireman’s Carry – whizzer hard, sprawl legs back, and try to break their grip on your arm or leg.

Counters for the Attacker (if your Fireman’s Carry is stopped): As a young wrestler, it’s important not to panic if your first attempt doesn’t go perfectly. If you shoot a Fireman’s and get stuck underneath (maybe the opponent sprawled but you still have a leg), you have a few options to recover or continue the attack:

• Change off to a Double-Leg: This is a high-percentage follow-up. If the opponent whizzers your arm and you can’t lift them, release their arm and grab behind both of their knees. By switching your grip to a double-leg tackle, you can drive sideways and finish a takedown on their legs (scribd.com). Essentially, you abandon the fireman’s mid-move and complete a double leg. This works especially well if the opponent is sprawling one leg back – you just go for the other leg too. Many coaches teach this as a built-in second attack: “Fireman’s not there? Switch to the double!” The citation from Bobby Douglas’s guide shows an example where the wrestler changed from Fireman’s to double-leg when the opponent tried to counter (scribd.com). Practice switching to a double in drilling so it becomes fluid.

• Sit-Through or Roll-Through: If the opponent overhooks your arm and starts to drive into you (blocking your lift), one advanced counter-attack is to do a sit-through roll. You would keep hold of their arm, sit your hip to the mat and roll, pulling them over in a sort of modified tilt. Bobby Douglas describes an overhook and sit-through change-off when the Fireman’s Carry is countered (scribd.com). This is more advanced and might be something a coach will teach later, but essentially you use the opponent’s whizzer against them by rolling under and coming out on top. For young wrestlers, a simpler version is if you get stuck under and to the side, you can sometimes come out the “back door” – meaning, circle your head out from under their arm and grab a leg to still score a takedown. This requires some scrambling ability, though.

• Bail Out and Reset: If everything is going wrong – say the opponent sprawled hard and you lost the arm – it’s often best to let go and square back up to avoid giving up points. In youth wrestling, knowing when to abort a move is important. If you feel yourself getting flattened and in a bad position (e.g. about to be spun behind), release and belly down to a defensive position to prevent getting put on your back. You won’t score, but you’ll live to fight on without giving up a big move. Encourage young wrestlers that it’s okay to abandon a failing attempt; they can try again later rather than cling to a lost cause and get caught.

In summary, the common counters to a Fireman’s Carry involve stopping the lift. A strong sprawl or whizzer can do that, so as the attacker you want to hit the move fast and clean to prevent the opponent from executing those counters. As the defender, you want to react immediately with heavy hips and arm control to foil the carry. Wrestlers should learn both sides: how to do the move, and also how to defend it so they aren’t caught off guard. With experience, your young wrestler will learn to recognize when a Fireman’s Carry is coming and instinctively sprawl, as well as how to finish their own carries before the opponent can counter.

By understanding the Fireman’s Carry step by step, both wrestlers and supportive parents can appreciate the technique behind the move. This guide combined insights from classic wrestling manuals – for example, Bobby Douglas’s “The Takedown” provided the technical foundation for the move (scribd.com), Stan Dziedzic’s “Wrestling Syllabus” emphasized the importance of setups and proper positioning (scribd.com), and Johnson’s “Wrestling Drill Book” reinforced key points like controlling the arm above the elbow (scribd.com). Remember that mastery comes with practice. Encourage your young wrestler to drill the basics, stay safe, and most importantly, have fun learning this exciting takedown. With time and practice, the Fireman’s Carry can become a favorite move that boosts their confidence on the mat. Good luck and enjoy the journey in wrestling!

Sources: The techniques and tips above were compiled from established wrestling coaching resources and manuals, including Wrestling – The Making of a Champion: The Takedown by Bobby Douglas (scribd.com), The United States Wrestling Syllabus by Stan Dziedzicscribd.com, and The Wrestling Drill Book by Dennis A. Johnson et al.scribd.com, as well as contemporary coaching guides and articlesattackstylewrestling.comattackstylewrestling.comattackstylewrestling.com. These sources offer detailed breakdowns and have informed the step-by-step approach in this guide.