spladle.MP4
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Spladle·One fightgirl
jeff spladles a kid for the pin
Spladle
FamilyTranslation
Not yet documented
Overview
The Spladle is a unique submission hold that originates from wrestling and functions as a compression lock/stretch submission — the attacker traps the opponent's head and one leg together, then forces the other leg apart, creating a painful split that attacks the groin, hip, and lower back. [1] In wrestling, the spladle is primarily used as a pinning combination (trapping the head and leg together while driving the opponent's shoulders to the mat), but in submission grappling and MMA, it has been adapted as a submission hold where the forced split creates enough pain and joint stress to force a tap. [1],[2] The spladle is entered from front headlock position or when the opponent attempts a single-leg takedown — the attacker threads their arm between the opponent's legs to capture the far leg while maintaining head control, creating the head-and-leg trap. [2],[3] While not a common submission in modern competition, the spladle has a dedicated following and has been used successfully in MMA by fighters like Ben Askren. [3]
Spladle PinBanana SplitLeg Split Submission
History & Origin
The spladle originated in American folkstyle wrestling as a pinning combination, particularly popular in high school and college wrestling. [1] The technique was adapted for submission grappling and MMA as fighters recognised the submission potential of the forced split. [1],[2] Ben Askren (former Bellator and ONE Championship welterweight champion, Olympic alternate in wrestling) is the most notable MMA fighter to use the spladle, bringing attention to the technique through his MMA career. [2],[3]
Country of origin· shown in random order
- GreeceWrestling
- USAWrestling, MMA
- BrazilBJJ, MMA
- JapanBJJ
Effectiveness
The spladle is a niche but effective submission when applied correctly — the forced split creates intense pain that most opponents cannot withstand. [1] In wrestling, the spladle is a legitimate pinning technique used at the high school and college level. [2] In MMA, Ben Askren has demonstrated the spladle's effectiveness against opponents with limited flexibility. [3]
Lineage
Competition Record
Images
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Trapping the opponent's head and one leg together while forcing their other leg in the opposite direction, creating a painful split/stretch that attacks the adductors, hip joint, and lower back
Joints Involved — Hips (the forced split stresses the hip abductors and adductors beyond their normal range), groin (the adductor muscles are stretched to their limit), lower back (the combination of head control and leg split creates spinal stress)
Force Vector — Bilateral separation — one leg is trapped with the head while the other is pushed away, creating opposing forces that stretch the groin and hip, Downward — the head-and-leg trap is driven toward the mat for the pin component
Lock Mechanic — The spladle creates a position where the opponent's head and one leg are locked together (preventing them from adjusting), while the attacker uses their body to force the other leg in the opposite direction — the victim cannot relieve the stretch because their head and leg are trapped, creating a submission-worthy stretch/compression
Position & Entry
From front headlock vs single leg — When the opponent shoots a single leg, sprawl and establish front headlock control, then thread the near arm between their legs to capture the far leg while maintaining the headlock — pulling the captured leg toward the trapped head while spreading the free leg apart [1]
From turtle (wrestling) — When the opponent is in turtle position, reach through between their legs to capture the far leg while controlling the head, then roll them to their back for the spladle pin/submission
From sprawl — After sprawling on a takedown attempt, reach between the opponent's legs from the front headlock and capture the far thigh, then roll to establish the spladle [2]
Videos
Squid Spladle
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Spladle·mahalodotcom
If you're a wrestler or if you just want to improve your mixed martial arts game, pay attention. Because today MMA Surge…
2 videos
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
6
High6/10
High — the forced split can cause groin tears (adductor strains), hip injuries, and lower back injuries; the submission should be applied gradually to allow the opponent time to tap; some people have naturally limited flexibility and are more vulnerable to this technique
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Illegal
— IJF — Only elbow joint locks permitted in judo — compress...
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDFRestricted
— IBJJF — Brown and black belt only
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDFLegal
— ADCC — Legal
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— Unified MMA — Legal
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDF— FIAS Combat Sambo — Legal
FIAS Combat Sambo RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓The spladle is primarily a wrestling technique adapted for submission grappling — wrestlers have the best instincts for the entry because it comes from front headlock and sprawl positions [1]
✓The entry requires threading the arm between the opponent's legs — this is the most technically challenging part; practice the arm thread from front headlock until it is smooth
✓Apply the split gradually — the groin stretch can cause injury if applied explosively; always give the opponent time to tap
✓The spladle works best against opponents with limited flexibility — fighters with good hip flexibility can withstand more stretch; against flexible opponents, the spladle may not produce a tap
✓Combine with the Banana Split (10th Planet) — the concepts are related; studying both expands the understanding of leg-splitting submissions
✓In wrestling, focus on the pin aspect — the spladle is a high-school and college wrestling pinning combination before it is a submission [2]
✓Ben Askren has used the spladle in MMA — study his entries for practical application
Common Mistakes
!Failing to secure the head control — the spladle requires the head to be trapped with the leg; without head control, the opponent can posture out
!Not threading the arm deep enough — the arm must pass fully between the legs to capture the far thigh; a shallow thread allows the opponent to escape
!Applying the split too fast — explosive splitting can cause groin tears; apply gradually
!Attempting the spladle without a front headlock — the entry point is the front headlock; without it, the position is very difficult to achieve
!Ignoring the pin in wrestling — in wrestling contexts, the spladle's primary value is the pin; focusing only on the submission misses the wrestling application
!Neglecting to control the free leg — the leg that is being split must be actively controlled; if the opponent pulls it back, the stretch is neutralised
Related Techniques
Front Headlock — the primary entry position for the spladleBanana Split — a related leg-splitting technique from the 10th Planet Truck positionCompression Lock — the broader submission categoryWrestling Pin — the spladle's wrestling applicationSprawl — the defensive position from which the spladle is often entered
Counter Techniques
Posture Up — driving upward from the front headlock prevents the spladle entryKeep Legs Together — clamping the legs together prevents the arm threadingRoll — rolling away from the spladle can relieve the split pressureGrip Fight — stripping the headlock grip prevents the techniqueStand Up — driving to standing from the front headlock position avoids the ground spladle
Setup Chain
1Establish Front Headlock — from a sprawl or snap-down, secure head-and-arm control
2Thread the Arm — reach between the opponent's legs and capture the far thigh
3Trap Head and Leg — connect the head control with the leg capture, pulling them together
4Roll to Position — roll the opponent to their back or side for the spladle
5Apply Split — force the free leg away from the trapped leg/head
6Finish — maintain the split until the opponent taps from the groin stretch or pins (wrestling)
Sources & References
Primary Source
Coaching Wrestling Successfully (Dan Gable, 1999)
1BookWrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (Jesse, 1974)
Description sources — [1] Wrestling pinning traditions [2] Ben Askren's MMA career analysis [3] Submission grappling adaptation
2BookCoaching Wrestling Successfully (Gable, 1999)
3BookBen Askren fight analysis
4OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
5CitationWrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (Jesse, 1974)
Description sources — [1] Wrestling pinning traditions [2] Ben Askren's MMA career analysis [3] Submission grappling adaptation
6CitationCoaching Wrestling Successfully (Gable, 1999)
7CitationBen Askren fight analysis
Community
Athletics
Requires
front headlock control, arm-threading dexterity, upper body strength for maintaining the position
Favours
wrestling background (front headlock familiarity), upper body strength, long arms (easier to thread between the legs)
Key muscles
shoulders (maintaining the headlock), biceps (arm threading and pulling), core (driving the pin), hip flexors (controlling the split)
Sub-techniques
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I set up the spladle without telegraphing it?
According to mahalodotcom, you should fight the single leg first and apply pressure with an overhook to make your opponent settle before transitioning to the spladle. Don't let the opponent know you're going for the move right away, because he will hold onto his leg tighter, making it harder to execute.
What's the most common mistake people make when applying the spladle?
Many people execute the spladle too fast, which allows the opponent to pop out. According to mahalodotcom, you need to perform the move slowly, settle your opponent back, and keep the lock tight—'when you lock a lock you know you need a key'—to secure the pin or submission.
How should I protect my head when defending against a spladle?
Keep your head up and don't allow your opponent to grab it. One fightgirl emphasizes actively wiping off or clearing head control attempts during the setup.
What should I do if I can't shoot takedowns due to injury?
According to mahalodotcom, you can bait your opponent into grabbing your leg by offering it or even kicking toward the groin, then transition into the spladle once they commit to holding the leg. This was the modified approach mahalodotcom developed after spraining his ankle in high school.
How does the Spladle work?
The Spladle is a unique submission hold that originates from wrestling and functions as a compression lock/stretch submission — the attacker traps the opponent's head and one leg together, then forces the other leg apart, creating a painful split that attacks the groin, hip, and lower back. In wrestling, the spladle is primarily used as a pinning combination (trapping the head and leg together while driving the opponent's shoulders to the mat), but in submission grappling and MMA, it has been adapted as a submission hold where the forced split creates enough pain and joint stress to force a tap.
Where does the Spladle come from?
The spladle originated in American folkstyle wrestling as a pinning combination, particularly popular in high school and college wrestling. The technique was adapted for submission grappling and MMA as fighters recognised the submission potential of the forced split.
Is the Spladle legal in competition?
IBJJF: restricted — Brown and black belt only; IJF: banned — Only elbow joint locks permitted in judo — compression locks prohibited; ADCC: legal — Legal; Unified MMA: legal — Legal; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Spladle?
Danger rating 6/10. Moderate-high — the forced split can cause groin tears (adductor strains), hip injuries, and lower back injuries; the submission should be applied gradually to allow the opponent time to tap; some people have naturally limited flexibility and are more vulnerable to this technique
How do I set up the Spladle?
The standard setup chain: Establish Front Headlock → Thread the Arm → Trap Head and Leg → Roll to Position → Apply Split → Finish.
How do I defend against the Spladle?
Standard counters include: Posture Up — driving upward from the front headlock prevents the spladle entry / Keep Legs Together — clamping the legs together prevents the arm threading / Roll — rolling away from the spladle can relieve the split pressure / Grip Fight — stripping the headlock grip prevents the technique.
What are the variants of the Spladle?
Common variants: Standard spladle (wrestling pin) (trapping head and leg together, driving the shoulders to …); Submission spladle (applying the split stretch as a submission hold (tapping …); Standing spladle entry (entering the spladle from a standing front headlock when …); Rolling spladle (rolling from the front headlock to establish the spladle …); Banana split from Truck (a related technique from the 10th Planet system where bot…).
How effective is the Spladle in competition?
The spladle is used as a pinning technique in folkstyle wrestling and has been used as a submission in MMA. Ben Askren is the most notable MMA practitioner of the technique.
What are common mistakes when doing the Spladle?
Top errors to watch for: Failing to secure the head control — the spladle requires the head to be trapped with the leg; without head control, … / Not threading the arm deep enough — the arm must pass fully between the legs to capture the far thigh; a shallow thre… / Applying the split too fast — explosive splitting can cause groin tears; apply gradually / Attempting the spladle without a front headlock — the entry point is the front headlock; without it, the position is ….
What are other names for the Spladle?
The Spladle is also known as Spladle Pin, Banana Split, Leg Split Submission.