Bear hug

One wrestler has a bear hug on the other, and uses it for a takedown attempt, if the person being hugged is taken down from behind in an attempt to escape from the referee position, the move is known as a 'mat return'.

The bear hug (also known as a bodylock) is a grappling term for a clinch hold and stand-up grappling position where the arms are wrapped around the opponent, either around the opponent's chest, midsection, or thighs; sometimes with one or both of the opponents arms pinned to the opponent's body. The hands are locked around the opponent and the opponent is held tightly to the chest. The bear hug is a dominant position, with great control over the opponent, and is often a precursor to a takedown.

A variation of the 'bear hug' is the 'inverted bear hug'; where one wrestler has his hands locked behind his opponent's mid or lower back and presses his forehead into their sternum, while pulling his locked hands inwards towards himself; forcing his opponent to bend backwards and fall. It is a painful move as much pressure is being exerted onto the opponents sternum, often hurting the back bones and muscles as well as forcing air out of the lungs.

BearHug-Boston/Providence design group. See website [1]

See also

• Collar-and-elbow position
• Double collar tie
• Double underhooks
• Pinch grip tie
• Over-under position