Collar Tie Control Drill
Hand Fighting
Legend
- player
- movement path
How it works
Teach wrestlers to establish, maintain, and snap from a dominant collar tie position.
What you need
- wrestling mat
Your focus
The collar tie is one of the most common and effective hand fighting positions in wrestling, creating control of the opponent's head and setting up attacks. Learning to grip firmly at the back of the neck while staying mobile develops essential neutral-position dominance. A strong collar tie makes setups like the snap-down and high crotch significantly more effective.
Partners square up in neutral stance; Wrestler A establishes a collar tie by placing their right hand at the back of Wrestler B's neck.
Wrestler A practices pulling down (snapping) and redirecting Wrestler B's head left, right, and forward for 30 seconds.
Wrestler B focuses on breaking the collar tie by posting, shrugging, or underhooking, passive resistance only.
Switch roles after each 30-second set; complete 4 sets each.
Goal
It's clicking when you hold the collar tie and your partner can't easily snap your head down, your control is firm without being tense.
Helpful cues
- Grip the back of the neck, not the collar or hair
- Snap with your elbow, not just your wrist
- Keep your elbow tight, flared elbows lose control
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Strip it back
Practice the collar tie grip and snapping motion on a stationary partner with zero resistance.
UpLVL it
Add the next challenge
Add a second tie-up position, defender also holds a collar tie, creating true hand fighting competition.No account needed
Build a practice plan
Add drills, keep the plan in this browser, then share a link with your staff or parents.This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.
This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.After every practice, UpLVL automatically surfaces the drills each player needs to work on most. See it for yourself.