Near-Side Cradle

Variety

手前揺り籠(Temae Yurikago)

Traditional

Translation: Near-Side Cradle

Overview

The near-side cradle from top half guard hooks the opponent's near leg — the leg on the same side as the attacker's head — and connects it to the head through a clasped grip, folding the opponent laterally. ^[1] From top half guard, the attacker uses the crossface hand to control the head while reaching around the near thigh with the other arm, linking the hands to complete the cradle. ^[1],[2] The near-side variant creates a tighter fold because the head and leg are on the same side, minimising the distance between them and intensifying the cervical compression. ^[2] The half-guard position provides an ideal entry because the bottom player's near leg is already partially trapped by the attacker's legs. ^[2],[3]

Also known as

Near-Side Wrestling CradleWrestling^[1]Close-Side CradleWrestling^[2]

Used in

BJJ Judo Submission Grappling MMA Sambo

History & Origin

Near-side cradles are a staple of American folkstyle wrestling, where they serve as both a pinning combination and a control technique. ^[1] The half-guard application as a neck crank was developed by wrestlers transitioning to BJJ and MMA who recognised the submission potential of their existing cradle skills. ^[2],[3]

Effectiveness

The near-side cradle pins the opponent by connecting the head to the knee, and can be used as a crank submission when applied aggressively. ^[1]

Lineage

Near-side cradles are fundamental wrestling pinning techniques used across all wrestling styles. ^[1]

Competition Record

Near-side cradles are one of the most common pinning combinations in folkstyle and freestyle wrestling competition. ^[1]

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Biomechanical Mechanism

Primary Action — Compression of the neck structures — restricts blood flow or airway depending on technique application

Joints Involved — Cervical spine, surrounding musculature, and vascular structures of the neck

Force Vector — Directed compression against the neck from the choking limb or body position

Finishing Mechanic — Sustained pressure causes either vascular occlusion (unconsciousness) or tracheal restriction (breathing difficulty)

Position & Entry

From controlling position — Establish the dominant position, clear defensive grips, thread the choking limb into position

From guard (bottom) — Break the opponent's posture, isolate the neck and configure the choke from underneath

From transition — During a scramble or position change, secure the neck control and lock the choke before the opponent re-establishes defence

Variants

Standard grip variation — primary hand configuration for maximum choking pressure

Gi variation — uses the lapel or collar as an anchor for additional friction and control

No-gi variation — adapted grip and positioning for submission grappling without the gi

Transition finish — applied during a positional change to catch the opponent off-guard

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Ratings

Danger Rating

Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to

Very High8/10

Cervical flexion cranks force the chin toward the chest, compressing the anterior cervical spine

Difficulty

Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably

Advanced

Competition Legality

Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets

Illegal

— FIAS Sport Sambo — All chokes prohibited in Sport Sambo

FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDF

Legal

— IBJJF — Legal at all belt levels, gi and no-gi — chokes a...

IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF

— shime-waza

IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF

— ADCC — Legal

ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF

— Unified MMA — Legal — choke submissions are among the mos...

Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF

— FIAS Combat Sambo — Legal

FIAS Combat Sambo RulesPDF

Training Notes

✓The near-side cradle locks the hands behind the opponent's head and under their near-side knee — folding the head and near knee together from side control (Paulson, Shoot Wrestling, 2007)

✓From side control: the crossface arm threads behind the head, the other arm hooks under the near knee — the hands connect (gable grip, S-grip, or interlocked fingers) to close the cradle

✓The near-side cradle is the more accessible version: the near knee is closer and easier to reach than the far knee, making the hand connection more achievable

✓Once locked: squeeze the hands together while driving weight into the opponent — the head is forced toward the knee and the cervical spine hyperflexes

✓The near-side cradle in wrestling is used for the pin: folding the opponent puts both shoulders on the mat — in submission grappling, the same fold stresses the cervical spine

✓The near-side cradle from half guard: when the opponent has half guard, their near leg is already bent — reaching under the knee is natural from this position

✓The near-side cradle is a positional control tool as well as a submission: even without a tap, the cradled opponent is immobilised and exposed to strikes (in MMA) or further submissions

Common Mistakes

!Not driving the shoulder into the opponent during the lock — chest and shoulder pressure reinforce the cradle; arms alone are insufficient

!Reaching for the knee without head control — the head must be secured first; losing head control while reaching for the leg allows the opponent to posture

!Locking too loosely — the cradle must be tight; a loose connection allows the opponent to extend the leg and break the hold

!Not using the near knee strategically — from half guard, the near leg is already bent and close; recognise this opportunity

!Attempting the cradle from too far away — the hands must connect; if the head and knee are too far apart, improve position before attempting the lock

!Ignoring the opponent's inside arm — the near arm can frame against your chest; clear the frame before locking the cradle

!Forcing the cradle against a tightly curled opponent — if they're already in a tight ball, the fold creates less additional stress; reposition them first

Related Techniques

Nelson — shares head-and-body control mechanics from wrestling Side Control — common controlling position for cradle entry Neck Crank — the cradle can function as a cervical compression tool Folkstyle Wrestling Pin — the cradle's traditional use in wrestling competition

Counter Techniques

Early Recognition — identify the submission attempt early and begin defence immediately Posture and Base — maintain strong posture and base to prevent submission setups Grip Fight — deny the attacker their preferred gripping configuration

Setup Chain

1Establish Position — achieve the controlling position needed for this submission

2Create the Threat — begin the submission setup to force a defensive reaction

3Secure the Hold — lock the submission grip with proper body mechanics

4Finish — apply increasing pressure until the opponent taps or the joint/choke takes effect

Sources & References

Primary Source

Japanese amateur wrestling terminology

1OtherJapanese Martial Arts Community Terminology

Japanese amateur wrestling terminology

2SyllabusKodokan Judo Institute — Official Waza Names

Standard Japanese martial arts terminology (kanji/hiragana)

3OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)

Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)

4CitationJapanese amateur wrestling terminology

Japanese terminology sourced from Japanese amateur wrestling terminology

Community

Athletics

Requires

grip or squeeze strength, positional control

Favours

strong upper body for sustained compression

Key muscles

forearms, biceps, pectorals, core stabilisers

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Near-Side Cradle work?

Where does the Near-Side Cradle come from?

Near-side cradles are a staple of American folkstyle wrestling, where they serve as both a pinning combination and a control technique. The half-guard application as a neck crank was developed by wrestlers transitioning to BJJ and MMA who recognised the submission potential of their existing cradle skills.

Is the Near-Side Cradle legal in competition?

IBJJF: legal — Legal at all belt levels, gi and no-gi — chokes are the safest submission cat…; IJF: legal — Legal (shime-waza) — strangulation techniques are one of three permitted subm…; ADCC: legal — Legal; Unified MMA: legal — Legal — choke submissions are among the most common finishes in MMA; FIAS Sport Sambo: banned — All chokes prohibited in Sport Sambo; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal — Legal

How dangerous is the Near-Side Cradle?

Danger rating 8/10. Cervical flexion cranks force the chin toward the chest, compressing the anterior cervical spine

How do I set up the Near-Side Cradle?

The standard setup chain: Establish Position → Create the Threat → Secure the Hold → Finish.

How do I defend against the Near-Side Cradle?

Standard counters include: Early Recognition — identify the submission attempt early and begin defence immediately / Posture and Base — maintain strong posture and base to prevent submission setups / Grip Fight — deny the attacker their preferred gripping configuration.

What are the variants of the Near-Side Cradle?

Common variants: Standard grip variation (primary hand configuration for maximum choking pressure); Gi variation (uses the lapel or collar as an anchor for additional fric…); No-gi variation (adapted grip and positioning for submission grappling wit…); Transition finish (applied during a positional change to catch the opponent …).

How effective is the Near-Side Cradle in competition?

Near-side cradles are one of the most common pinning combinations in folkstyle and freestyle wrestling competition.

What are common mistakes when doing the Near-Side Cradle?

Top errors to watch for: Not driving the shoulder into the opponent during the lock — chest and shoulder pressure reinforce the cradle; arms a… / Reaching for the knee without head control — the head must be secured first; losing head control while reaching for t… / Locking too loosely — the cradle must be tight; a loose connection allows the opponent to extend the leg and break th… / Not using the near knee strategically — from half guard, the near leg is already bent and close; recognise this oppor….

What are other names for the Near-Side Cradle?

The Near-Side Cradle is also known as Temae Yurikago, Near-Side Wrestling Cradle, Close-Side Cradle.

near side cradle temae yurikago submission choke and strangle lock neck crank choke cervical flexion crank cradle neck crank cradle from top half guard near side wrestling cradle close side cradle