Foundation: Athletic Stance and Threatening Posture

Effective faking begins with proper stance and intentional facial positioning. The wrestler must maintain an athletic position while projecting threat through facial expression and body language. Timing is critical—the fake must occur at the precise speed of an actual shot, neither rushed nor delayed.

Core Principle: Mirror the Shot Setup

Every fake must replicate the initial mechanics of the actual takedown attempt. The head position, hand placement, and footwork should be identical to a genuine shot up to the point of commitment. This deception forces the opponent to react defensively, providing valuable information about their movement patterns.

Double Leg Fake Execution

From athletic stance, the wrestler places hands in attack position and initiates knee-over-toe penetration as if executing a full double leg. Getting underneath the opponent's chest creates maximum threat and positioning advantage. The wrestler then retracts smoothly back to stance without bouncing, maintaining readiness for follow-up attacks.

The Retract and Read Strategy

After executing a fake, the wrestler must immediately return to athletic stance rather than dancing away. This positioning allows the wrestler to capitalize on the opponent's reactive movements and mistakes. Remaining grounded during the retract preserves opportunities that typically arise within one second of the fake.

Speed Control and Threat Recognition

Speed does not equal effectiveness in faking—forcing the opponent to process the threat is paramount. Young wrestlers commonly execute fakes too quickly, preventing their opponent from reacting. The wrestler should allow sufficient time for the opponent to feel and respond to the fake before retracting.

High Crotch Fake Mechanics

The high crotch fake mirrors the actual shot setup: inside step positioning, squared stance, and lowered hips with tricep clearance. Getting under the opponent's chest maintains the threatening position essential for shot credibility. The wrestler retracts to stance without breaking posture or balance.

Single Leg Fake and Cross-Shot Setup

The wrestler can establish credibility by faking their best shot on one side before attacking with a single leg on the opposite side. The single leg fake requires the same outside step and knee-over-toe mechanics as the actual technique. Retracting while maintaining low, athletic posture preserves reaction opportunities.

Position Maintenance and Defensive Readiness

Compromising stance or posture after a fake negates its offensive advantage and creates defensive vulnerabilities. The wrestler must remain prepared to defend against counters or capitalize on opponent mistakes. Staying low and athletic throughout the fake-retract cycle ensures immediate transition capability.

Combining Multiple Fakes and Chain Reactions

Wrestlers can sequence double leg, high crotch, and single leg fakes to create cumulative pressure and fatigue. Each fake in the sequence should originate from proper stance and conclude with controlled retraction. The opponent's mounting discomfort and reactive errors create openings for genuine shot execution.

Application and Match Strategy

Effective faking requires discipline to maintain position and posture even as fakes begin generating positive results. The wrestler must avoid becoming undisciplined or lazy as fakes prove effective, as this invites counters. Remaining athletic, ready, and prepared ensures the wrestler can attack or defend decisively based on opponent response.

Do you use this WRESTLING SETUP? IMPORTANT Wrestling Takedown Technique 🥇

Athletes Ocean

Standard Rear Lift

3 min read·10 key moments·PT7M28S video

Key Takeaways

•Foundation: Athletic Stance and Threatening Posture
•Core Principle: Mirror the Shot Setup
•Double Leg Fake Execution
•The Retract and Read Strategy

Wrestling setups for shots and takedowns can be one of the most useful and efficient techniques you can incorporate into your wrestling system. There are thousands of wrestling setups that you can use to get to a takedown - but fake shots are one of the most effective and draining for your opponent. You can use shot fakes for a follow up takedown, to start reading your opponent's reactions, and to simply exhaust your opponent and keep them out of position! Reece Humphrey understands concepts about wrestling that few people do. His instructional on Athletes Ocean covers some of the most important and fundamental concepts that you need to understand to be successful on with your wrestling takedowns. Reece is a 3x US Open Men's Freestyle Champion, 3x World Team Member, and 2x NCAA All-American. He is the head coach of the New Jersey Regional Training Center and has won USA Wrestling's Coach of the Year award. 🔗 Buy the Full Instructional Here: https://app.athletesocean.com/courses/the-wave-principle-reece-humphrey/ #wrestling #ncaawrestling #collegewrestling #grappling #takedown #nogi LEARN FROM YOUR FAVORITE ATHLETES 👇 Create your FREE PROFILE 👉 https://app.athletesocean.com/registration 📲 Socials: IG: @athletes.ocean | https://www.instagram.com/athletes.ocean/ Facebook: @athletesoceanfb | https://www.facebook.com/athletesoceanfb/

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this video teach about standard rear lift?

This video covers foundation: athletic stance and threatening posture, core principle: mirror the shot setup, double leg fake execution. It provides detailed instruction from Athletes Ocean.

How long does it take to learn standard rear lift?

The basic mechanics can be understood in a single session, but developing reliable execution requires consistent drilling over weeks of practice. This 10-part breakdown helps structure your training by isolating each phase of the technique.