Spiral Ride – A Beginner’s Guide

A beginner's guide to spiral rides

The spiral ride is a fundamental top-position move in folkstyle wrestling that allows you to break down, control, and turn an opponent from the referee’s position (the starting position where one wrestler is on hands and knees and the other covers on top). In a spiral ride, the top wrestler grabs the opponent’s upper body (neck/shoulder area) and a thigh or hip, driving forward in a corkscrew motion to flatten the bottom wrestler. This technique makes it very difficult for the bottom wrestler to move or stand up, giving the top wrestler a chance to work for turns and pins. Mastering breakdowns like the spiral ride is essential for wrestling success, as it is “an important component” of controlling an opponent and preventing their escapes. Below is a step-by-step breakdown of the spiral ride, followed by coaching cues, tips for parents, common mistakes (with fixes), and counters to watch for – all in clear language suitable for beginners.

Step-by-Step Breakdown from Referee’s Position

1. Starting Position: Begin in the referee’s position with you as the top wrestler. Place your chest on your opponent’s back and secure a tight waist grip around their midsection (coachtube.com). Reach deep – the deeper your arm around their waist, the more control you’ll have. (A “tight waist” means wrapping one arm around the opponent’s belly, hand reaching as far as possible to the opposite side.)

2. Secure the Upper Body: With your other arm (the one nearer your opponent’s head), reach underneath the opponent’s near arm and across their chest to grab around the far side of their upper body – ideally locking onto their far shoulder or neck area (coachtube.com). This is sometimes called an “underhook” or a spiral arm control. Make this grip tight as well, as if giving a firm over-under hug. Alternative: Some wrestlers will grab the opponent’s near wrist instead of the shoulder/neck – this variation can prevent the bottom man from posting that hand to stand up (coachtube.com).

3. Explode on the Whistle: The spiral ride works best when you move immediately as the whistle blows to start. Don’t wait – a quick start gives the bottom wrestler less chance to counter (fanaticwrestling.com). Drive your hips forward hard, like a shove, so that you push into the opponent’s back (coachtube.com). This drives the bottom wrestler’s weight onto their hands. At the same time, use your arm under their chest to bump them forward. The goal is to shift their weight off their knees and onto their hands (fanaticwrestling.com), making their base unstable.

4. “Spiral” Them Down: While keeping forward pressure, start a spiraling motion to take them to the mat. This means you’re not driving straight forward only – you’re also steering them at an angle. Pull in and down with your tight-waist arm (squeezing their waist in toward you) (coachtube.com). Simultaneously, use your other arm (under their chest) to torque their upper body down and slightly sideways. Drive with your legs and hips as you do this, rotating your own hips as if running toward the opponent’s head on that side. (Coaches often say “run toward the head” to emphasize driving at a forward angle, not just straight into the hips.) As you drive, you can also use your inside knee or foot to hook or bump their far thigh for extra leverage, helping to collapse that leg. All these motions combined will spiral the bottom wrestler down to the mat.

5. Break the Opponent Down: Continue circling and driving until the opponent flattens out on their stomach. Your goal is to get them extended with hips and belly on the mat. As their thigh collapses and their body turns, follow them all the way down and maintain chest-on-back pressure. End up on top of them, centered, with your toes dug in and weight spread heavy.

6. Secure Control: Once the opponent is broken down flat, keep your weight on them and secure your position. A common follow-up is to throw a leg in – insert one of your legs inside the opponent’s legs – to create a leg ride for even more control (fanaticwrestling.com) Whether or not you leg ride, stay tight: maintain the waist grip or transition to an arm grip (like a wrist or half-nelson) so the opponent cannot easily base up again. From here you can begin working for pinning combinations or tilts (for example, a half nelson or cradle, once the opponent is flat) (coachtube.com).

Coaching Tip: As Hall of Fame coach Stan Dziedzic demonstrates, a proper spiral ride involves arching your back while pulling the opponent’s near arm in (a “chopping” action) and lifting their far leg up, to drive them diagonally to the mat. Think of it like turning a big steering wheel while you push forward – torque their body in a spiral. Always keep driving with your feet and hips until the opponent is fully on their stomach.

Coaching Cues and Parent Tips

• “Chest on Back, Hips In!” – Keep your chest on the opponent’s back and drive your hips into them. This downward pressure is key to stopping their movement (coachtube.com). If you feel your weight too far forward (head over their head), scoot your hips back in – otherwise you could lose balance. Parents on the sidelines can yell “hips in!” or “keep the pressure!” to remind young wrestlers to stay tight.

• Deep Grips: Coaches emphasize not to use “alligator arms.” Make your tight waist deep and your underhook deep. Shallow grips are a common mistake that give the opponent room to escape (coachtube.com). A parent or coach can check this in practice by seeing how far the top wrestler’s hands go – encourage your wrestler to “get that arm deep around!” each time.

• Run Toward the Head: A simple cue while drilling is “run to the head!” This reminds the wrestler to drive at an angle, spiraling the opponent toward their head rather than straight forward. If the wrestler only pushes straight in, the opponent may not go down. By circling toward the head, you collapse their base effectively. In practice, some coaches play a “bull rider” game: the bottom wrestler tries to crawl forward like a bull, while the top wrestler uses a spiral ride to turn them in one direction. The top must constantly steer the “bull” by running toward the head to stop them. This fun drill builds good habits and can be done in short bursts.

• Anticipate Resistance: A spiral ride is dynamic – the bottom wrestler will be trying to build back up. Coaches often tell top wrestlers to “feel him out” and adjust. For example, if you feel the opponent start to sit back or lift an arm, be ready to react (perhaps by jumping to a half nelson or switching to another breakdown). Parents can support this by understanding the move: if you see your child lose the spiral because the opponent countered, you’ll know it’s normal – encourage them to keep wrestling and transition rather than giving up control.

• Stay Behind the Arms: Remind your wrestler to stay behind the opponent’s arms as they break them down. “Chest on back” also implies keeping your head and arms to the sides or above the opponent’s shoulders, not slipping off to the side in front of them. This prevents reversals. A good cue is “stay behind!*” – meaning don’t let the bottom man spin out. If the bottom tries a sit-out or turn-in, the top wrestler should follow their hips and remain positioned behind the opponent’s shoulders.

• Positive Reinforcement: For parents, it’s helpful to focus on one or two key words your wrestler can remember. For instance, praising them with “Great pressure!” when they successfully flatten an opponent, or reminding “Tight waist!” if you notice their grip is loose, can reinforce good technique. Keep it simple and encouraging. Learning the spiral ride takes time, and younger wrestlers might struggle at first to coordinate everything. By understanding the basics yourself (as a parent), you can better appreciate their progress and the small victories, like getting an opponent’s weight on their hands even if they don’t fully get the breakdown at first.

Common Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)

• Leaning too far forward: If the top wrestler’s weight goes too far over the opponent’s head or shoulders, balance is lost. This often happens when the top wrestler gets too eager and jumps forward without keeping hips under them. The danger is the bottom wrestler might shake you off or roll you through. Fix: Stay in a strong base – keep your hips above your knees and your chest heavy on their back, not your head past their head. Think of it like a push-up position on their back. Drive forward, but do not lunge so far that you can’t maintain balance (coachtube.com). If you feel yourself tipping, shift your weight back slightly toward their hips.

• Shallow or loose hold: A spiral ride needs tight control. A common error is gripping too shallow (e.g. just grabbing skin or singlet instead of wrapping deep around the waist/arm). Without tight control, the bottom wrestler can easily peel your hands off or initiate a stand-up. Fix: Make a conscious effort to get your hands as far as possible around the opponent. For the waist hand, reach for the far hip or navel area. For the upper arm, try to get your hand across to the far side of their neck or grab their far armpit tightly. Squeeze your elbows in when you drive – this will tighten your hold. If you notice your wrestler’s arms are slack, remind them “squeeze!” during the breakdown.

• Not driving with the legs: Some beginners rely only on their upper body (arms) to pull the opponent down. They’ll tug at the waist or arm but forget to drive with their feet. This usually won’t budge a strong opponent. Fix: Remember that your legs and hips generate the power in a spiral ride. When the whistle blows, it’s like doing a short sprint or leg drive into the opponent. Keep your toes planted and push off the mat. Your arms guide the opponent, but your legs supply the force to move them. A good drill to correct this is practicing the motion against a heavy bag or dummy: drive it forward a few inches with your hips each time, so you build muscle memory for that leg drive.

• Stopping the motion too early: Another mistake is stopping the breakdown halfway – for example, getting the opponent to their side or forearms but not fully flattening them. The top wrestler might pause, thinking the job is done, and the bottom wrestler then works back up. Fix: Follow through until the opponent is flat. Don’t stop driving at the first sign of success. Coaches often holler “keep going, keep going!” when a wrestler starts a good spiral. Even once the opponent is down, maintain pressure for a moment longer to secure the position before transitioning to a pinning hold. Practice drills where the goal is to hold the opponent flat for 2-3 seconds after the breakdown – this builds the habit of finishing the job.

• Failing to adjust: The spiral ride is not a static hold – it requires feeling the opponent’s reactions. A common error is applying the initial spiral and then not reacting when the opponent resists. For instance, if the bottom wrestler shifts their weight or tries a counter (like a sit-out or a roll), an inexperienced top might continue with the same pressure point and get reversed. Fix: Be ready to adjust mid-move. If you feel the bottom guy start to build his base (e.g. he manages to get one knee up or grab your hand), transition immediately to your next move. You might chop the arm you feel posting up, or drop to an ankle pick if he starts standing. This presence of mind comes with experience. Coaches often simulate bottom escapes during practice (having the bottom man try different moves) so the top wrestler learns to flow between techniques. In short: don’t ride on autopilot – stay alert and react to keep control (coachtube.com).

Common Counters (Bottom) and How to Respond (Top)

Because the spiral ride is so common, bottom wrestlers will learn ways to counter it. As a top wrestler, you should be aware of these counters and be ready to respond. Here are a few typical bottom reactions and how to deal with them:

• Counter: Knee Slide Forward. Many bottom wrestlers will slide their knees forward on the mat when they feel a spiral ride pressure. This “knee slide” creates space between their hips and yours, making your tight waist looser and reducing your forward drive. It’s a core escape concept for bottom wrestlers (attackstylewrestling.com). Top’s Response: If you feel the opponent knee-sliding away, follow them – don’t stay planted. Shuffle your knees forward as well to keep tight. You can also briefly switch tactics: for example, if they slide out, your tight-waist hand can drop down to grab their far ankle (a tight-waist ankle breakdown) to stop them from scooting forward. Once you trap the ankle, you can drive in again and return to the spiral pressure. The key is not letting them create a gap; maintain contact. Drill idea: start with a spiral, have your partner knee-walk forward, and practice moving with them and dropping to an ankle pick or driving again.

• Counter: Posting and Standing Up. The ultimate goal for the bottom wrestler is often to post a foot and stand up. In a good spiral, you’ve put their weight on their hands, but some wrestlers manage to get one foot up and start to rise. They will also try to control your hands, for instance by peeling your tight waist arm off, to nullify your control as they stand (attackstylewrestling.com). Top’s Response: Anticipate the stand-up. The moment you feel your opponent getting one foot under them, increase your forward pressure – almost like doing a push-up on their back to drive them back down. If they’ve broken your grip on the waist, transition to another handle: grab a wrist or an ankle or even a tight waist on the opposite side. Another option: if they manage to stand, immediately lift and return (mat-return) by locking around the waist or leg and using your lift techniques to bring them down again (this goes a bit beyond the spiral, but is important). Remember, the spiral ride’s purpose is partly to prevent the stand-up before it happens (coachtube.com), so apply it early and aggressively. Coaches might yell “Break him down!” as soon as the whistle blows for this reason. As a parent, if you see your wrestler let an opponent stand up, you’ll know they likely didn’t get enough initial forward drive – encourage them to be more explosive next time.

• Counter: Sit-Out or Changeover. A sit-out (or a “changeover”) is when the bottom wrestler suddenly turns in and sits their hips out to one side, trying to face the top man and possibly come out the back door. Essentially, they pivot from hands-and-knees to a hip, often when they feel the top’s pressure lessen on that side (coacht.com). It’s a classic counter series taught in wrestling. Top’s Response: Stay square and follow. The worst thing you can do is get caught with your weight too far forward or all on one side – that’s when a sit-out succeeds. If you feel the opponent’s hips slip to the side, immediately sink your hips back (to stay heavy) and rotate toward that side to keep your chest on them. Often, a spiral ride can transition into a front headlock or a cradle if the bottom man turns in too much – so use that against them. For example, if he sits out to your left side (and you’re losing the tight waist), you might release the waist and quickly hook his head and arm for a front headlock, spinning behind again. Another strategy: as the opponent sits out, catch their far arm (the arm that was posting) and pull them back in with a tight waist or half nelson. In essence, don’t let him face you – keep circling behind. Coaches often drill the reaction: when bottom does a sit-out, the top wrestler “swims” an arm through and spins behind to regain the ride. Practice staying behind the shoulders no matter what. As one coach’s rule of thumb: “whichever way he turns, you should still be on top in the end.”

• **Counter: Back Pressure and Hand Control. Some bottom wrestlers will perform a “pressure back” move – they suddenly arch their back and drive backwards into you (the opposite of you driving into them). They also focus on grabbing your spiral ride arm (often the one under their arm) to prevent you from pulling them down. This combination can unbalance a top wrestler who isn’t ready. Top’s Response: Use their backward momentum against them. If an opponent thrusts back into you, that often means their head is coming up – which is a perfect time to slip in a Half Nelson on the side your arm is under their arm. In fact, coaches teach a drill for this: as soon as the bottom man starts to push back and lift one arm, the top jumps sides and applies a half nelson, using the pressure to turn them (or at least to regain control). So if you feel that back-pressure and your underhooked arm gets forcefully controlled, consider switching to a different move: a half nelson as mentioned, or even a cradle if they leave their head open. Another response is to drop your weight lower (to avoid being rolled) – sink your hips and widen your knees so their backward push doesn’t topple you. From that solid base, work to free your hand they’re grabbing by using your other hand to peel their fingers or by rotating your grip. Bottom line: stay calm and reestablish control either with a new hold or by outlasting their surge (once they stop pushing, reapply your spiral or go to another breakdown).

Remember, as Coach Bobby Douglas often highlighted, wrestling is about chain wrestling – knowing how to move to the next hold if the first one is countered. The spiral ride is a great first move from the top, but if the opponent counters, transition smoothly to another technique (arm chop, tight-waist & ankle, half nelson, etc.). By understanding common counters, you as a top wrestler (and your coaches/parents) won’t be caught off guard. Instead, you’ll “be alerted to the countermoves your opponent might make and [be] shown how to deal with them”, turning the spiral ride into an even more effective weapon in your arsenal.

Works Cited

Douglas, Bobby. Wrestling – The Making of a Champion: The Takedown. Cornell University Press, 1972. (Noted principles of anticipating opponent’s counters.)

Dziedzic, Stan. The United States Wrestling Syllabus. Leisure Press, 1983. (Breakdowns from referee’s position and technique demonstration of spiral breakdown.)

Johnson, Dennis A. Wrestling Drill Book. Leisure Press, 1991. (Drills and coaching tips for the spiral ride, e.g. “run toward the head” coaching point and the bull-ride drill.)

Reilly, Owen. “The Spiral Ride.” CoachTube (wrestling blog), CoachTube.com, 2025. (Step-by-step technical guide and common mistakes for the spiral ridecoachtube.comcoachtube.com.)

Fanatic Wrestling. “How To Spiral Ride With Malik Amine.” Fanatic Wrestling (news post), fanaticwrestling.com, 2021. (Details on executing the spiral ride off the whistle and inserting legsfanaticwrestling.comfanaticwrestling.com.)

Attack Style Wrestling (Daryl Weber). “Spiral Ride Defense.” AttackStyleWrestling.com, 2022. (Discussion of common spiral ride counters from the bottom – knee slide, back pressure, hand controlattackstylewrestling.com.)