Kayla Miracle | Fireman's Carry to a Dump | Wrestling Technique | Part 1
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Fireman's Carry to Ground·RUDIS
Get your freestyle season started right with 2020 Olympian and 2021 & 2022 World Medalist Kayla Miracle teaching her sig…
Fireman's Carry to Ground
SubFamilyファイヤーマンズキャリー(Faiyāmanzu Kyarī)
Translation: Fireman's carry
Overview
History & Origin
Cross-style technique adapted for modern combat sports. [1]
Effectiveness
Effective in modern MMA and cross-style competition. [1]
Lineage
Cross-style martial arts. [1]
Competition Record
Used in modern MMA and combat sports
Images
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Fireman's Carry to Ground-specific mechanics
Position & Entry
From appropriate range — Execute fireman's carry to ground
Variants
Not yet documented
Videos
Fireman’s Carry Wrestling Technique by Dan Vallimont
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Fireman's Carry to Ground·FANATIC WRESTLING
FIREMAN'S CARRY https://fanaticwrestling.com/ Dan Vallimont teaches how to do the fireman's carry wrestling move in th…
Spencer Lee | Fireman's Carry
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Fireman's Carry to Ground·RUDIS
Spencer Lee has used his fireman's carry to dominate college competition for years. Learn his technique step-by-step tod…
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3 videosWhat Instructors Say
The fireman's carry to ground is a wrestling takedown that transitions from a high crotch or single-leg attack when the opponent defends by pulling the leg back or thumb-blocking. FANATIC WRESTLING emphasizes that the technique emerges naturally from forward momentum: after failing to secure the initial leg, the attacker's arm slips to trap the opponent's arm while continuing forward aggressively, then steps through with the leg while rotating the hips to throw the opponent. This forward-momentum variant differs from traditional fireman's carries that reverse direction. RUDIS instructors (Kayla Maracle and Spencer Lee) emphasize setup and execution details: Maracle stresses faking a single leg to create defensive movement, then shooting through with both knees on the ground and keeping the finishing arm tight behind the opponent's back to generate the fall. Spencer Lee's "Lazy Man Fireman" variant uses a double-knee drop with the attacker's knees positioned between the opponent's legs, maintaining a perpendicular arm position and explosive head dip to complete the takedown. All three instructors agree the technique requires tight arm control, explosive hip rotation, and relentless pressure to secure the fall rather than settling for a two-point takedown. Both RUDIS instructors emphasize continuous motion—no stopping or resetting—to maintain the opponent's reactive momentum.
Synthesized from 3 instructors
- FANATIC WRESTLING — Fireman's Carry Wrestling Technique by Dan Vallimont: Detailed how the fireman's carry emerges from a failed high crotch or single-leg attempt, focusing on the momentum-preserving variant where the attacker continues forward (rather than reversing direction) by stepping through with the leg while keeping aggressive forward pressure and hip rotation.
- RUDIS — Kayla Miracle | Fireman's Carry to a Dump | Part 1: Emphasized setup mechanics using fakes to create opponent reactions, the double-knee drop, and the critical role of the finishing arm staying tight behind the opponent's back. Highlighted the common mistake of wrapping the arm incorrectly, which causes sprawl rather than a clean fall.
- RUDIS — Spencer Lee | Fireman's Carry: Introduced the 'Lazy Man Fireman' variant with knees positioned between the opponent's legs, perpendicular arm positioning for maximum tightness, and aggressive head dipping. Addressed counters to tight squeezes by shooting the elbow to escape head control and transitioning to back control if the fall is unavailable.
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
4
Moderate4/10
Technique varies by application
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Illegal
— IJF — Banned since 2010 leg grab prohibition — direct han...
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDFRestricted
Legal
— 2 points
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— Unified MMA — Legal takedown technique
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— ADCC — Legal, scored 2-4 points in second half of match
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal — all takedowns permitted
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDF— FIAS Combat Sambo — Legal
FIAS Combat Sambo RulesPDF— 2 points
NCAA Wrestling Rules 2025-26PDFTraining Notes
✓Drill with progressive resistance
Common Mistakes
!Poor timing
!Over-committing
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Engagement → Fireman's Carry to Ground → Follow-up
Sources & References
Primary Source
The Evolution of Martial Arts in Combat Sports: A Complete Guide.
1Book[1] The Evolution of Martial Arts in Combat Sports: A Complete Guide.
description, historyOrigin: sourced from The Evolution of Martial Arts in Combat Sports: A Complete Guide
2Citation[1] The Evolution of Martial Arts in Combat Sports: A Complete Guide.
description, historyOrigin: sourced from The Evolution of Martial Arts in Combat Sports: A Complete Guide
Community
Athletics
Good timing
Explosive movement
Notes
The fireman's carry to ground (kata-guruma variant) loads the opponent across the shoulders and dumps them — without the full overhead throw. A safer, more controlled variant used in MMA and BJJ where the thrower maintains top position after landing. (Wrestling and MMA training manuals)
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the most common mistake when executing the fireman's carry?
A common mistake is wrapping your arm around the opponent's back and then falling forward, which allows them to sprawl. Instead, you want to position your arm to drive them over you rather than forward.
How should I finish a fireman's carry once I have the opponent on their back?
According to Dan Vallimont, it's important to throw the leg off at the end and pop your hips while turning to maintain momentum going forward, rather than stopping and changing direction. Keep your momentum going through the finish to end up on top.
What's the key to controlling your opponent during the fireman's carry?
Spencer Lee emphasizes that you need to keep everything tight—position your knees between the opponent's legs, keep their hips down, and maintain pressure. Square your hips up and keep the opponent tight with your toes in the mat as you transition to finish the back.
Should I fake the fireman's carry before executing it?
Kayla Miracle stresses that fakes should always have a purpose—don't fake just for the sake of faking. She uses fakes with the intention of moving the opponent off balance, such as trying to get them off bounds or setting up the front headlock position.
How does the Fireman's Carry to Ground work?
The Fireman's Carry to Ground executes the classic fireman's carry lift and dumps the opponent directly to the ground rather than carrying, optimised for MMA where extended lifting is risky.
Where does the Fireman's Carry to Ground come from?
Cross-style technique adapted for modern combat sports.
Is the Fireman's Carry to Ground legal in competition?
IJF: banned — Banned since 2010 leg grab prohibition — direct hansoku-make for touching opp…; IBJJF: legal — Legal at all belt levels, scored as takedown (2 points); UWW: restricted — Legal in freestyle (2-4 points), banned in Greco-Roman (no attacks below waist); Unified MMA: legal — Legal takedown technique; ADCC: legal — Legal, scored 2-4 points in second half of match; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal — all takedowns permitted; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal — Legal; NCAA Folkstyle: legal — Legal, scored as takedown (2 points)
How dangerous is the Fireman's Carry to Ground?
Danger rating 4/10. Technique varies by application
How do I set up the Fireman's Carry to Ground?
The standard setup chain: Engagement → Fireman's Carry to Ground → Follow-up.
How do I defend against the Fireman's Carry to Ground?
Standard counters include: Sprawl / Block / Counter-attack.
How effective is the Fireman's Carry to Ground in competition?
Used in modern MMA and combat sports
What are common mistakes when doing the Fireman's Carry to Ground?
Top errors to watch for: Poor timing / Over-committing.
What are other names for the Fireman's Carry to Ground?
The Fireman's Carry to Ground is also known as Faiyāmanzu Kyarī, Fireman Carry Takedown, Kata Guruma Variant.