From levels 2 and 3.

Once you decide to make the half-nelson your pin offense, you will have to make sure to develop the wrestler's confidence in using it at all three levels.

In my article last month, I described and illustrated the hold from Level One. To continue:

FROM LEVEL TWO:

Level Two is the position about which coaches used to say: "Never throw a half-nelson when the man is on his knees." I submit that this position gives us the most options in putting the opponent on his back with the half-nelson.

The critical factor in this area is to keep your outside foot up and forward on the side of the half-nelson.

The basic half-nelson at Level Two involves a 1:00 o'clock direction of drive if you are on the opponent's left and to keep driving at 1:00 o'clock until the opponent is trapped on his one-on-one shoulder.

Since he is on his knees, your one-on-one elbow - which should be kept tight on the opponent's back - should prevent the opponent's hips from rolling through.

Important: If, at Level Two, your opponent's hips roll through and puts your one-on-one elbow on the mat, immediately take off your half-nelson, place your hand on the mat, and push backward [ILLUSTRATION FOR PHOTO 14 OMITTED].

This will prevent the opponent from rolling through. If he turns toward you, reset the half-nelson and finish as has been explained.

Now for the most typical What if situation at Level Two:

What if you drive at 1:00 o'clock and your opponent brings his outside foot up to prevent you from driving him to his one-on-one shoulder [ILLUSTRATION FOR PHOTO 15 OMITTED]?

Immediately pull your opponent back toward your up leg and, as you do, rotate your up leg away. This will put your opponent on his one-on-one shoulder at 11:00 o'clock [ILLUSTRATION FOR PHOTO 16 OMITTED]. (The finish remains the same.)

What if your opponent steps over your near leg to prevent you from getting out to the side so that you cannot drive at 1:00 o'clock [ILLUSTRATION FOR PHOTO 17 OMITTED]?

Drive your up knee forward, raise the leg he stepped over, and drive your opponent at 12:00 o'clock [ILLUSTRATION FOR PHOTO 18 OMITTED].

What if your opponent, while in a half-nelson, sits out?

Remember, since this is a Level Two situation, your half-nelson foot must be up.

The first step is to hang your opponent by raising him with the half-nelson [ILLUSTRATION FOR PHOTO 19 OMITTED]. Next, scissor your down leg under your half-nelson leg [ILLUSTRATION FOR PHOTO 20 OMITTED] and follow with a high leg over your half-nelson leg [ILLUSTRATION FOR PHOTO 21 OMITTED] putting the opponent at "the point of no return."

What if your opponent cracks down on the half-nelson in an effort to step over?

As your opponent cracks down, drive your up knee forward, placing the opponent on his half-nelson shoulder [ILLUSTRATION FOR PHOTO 22 OMITTED], driving the opponent to "the point of no return" with you on the proper side to finish the half-nelson (The finish remains the same.)

Level Two offers many more options and a great deal of inventiveness on the part of your wrestlers.

FROM LEVEL THREE:

At Level Three, many wrestlers feel that they must relinquish the half-nelson in favor of a two-on-one or a body lock. I maintain that the half-nelson and the one-on-one may be maintained in this position. It gives you just as much control as a two-on-one or a body lock and affords you the opportunity to take your opponent to his back.

The basic half-nelson at Level Three involves driving your hips up and under your opponent's hips, thus lifting his feet off the mat [ILLUSTRATION FOR PHOTO 24 OMITTED].

As soon as his feet leave the mat, back off and pull the opponent's one-on-one shoulder to the mat [ILLUSTRATION FOR PHOTO 25 OMITTED]. Then immediately run to the half-nelson side to put the opponent at "the point of no return." (The finish remains the same.)

The most typical What if question at Level Three is: What if you cannot lift your opponent from the mat?

You should step in front of the opponent with your one-on-one leg and lower your hips [ILLUSTRATION FOR PHOTO 26 OMITTED] and then elevate the opponent across your hips by straightening your legs. As the opponent hits the mat, you should pull him toward his one-on-one shoulder [ILLUSTRATION FOR PHOTO 27 OMITTED].

Once the opponent hits the mat, he will be at "the point of no return." (The finish remains the same.) Note: This maneuver must be executed with control, as excessive force can produce a slam.

CONCLUSION

These variations of the basic half-nelson are by no means the only options available to the offensive wrestler. The half-nelson can be used in conjunction with other top techniques such as bars and legs.

Since being introduced to the half-nelson series, our wrestlers have become more inventive with their attack and this has added to their enjoyment. Some of the half-nelson variations have become identified as "their move."

We know that no matter what the score may be, many of our opponents live in constant fear of watching a K.O. wrestler produce a clean and devastating fall out of a half-nelson.