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You are here: Home / All The Lingo / Sports Terms That Begin With ‘N’ / Nelson Hold

Nelson Hold

nel*son hold

What Is The Definition Of A Nelson Hold?What Is A Nelson Hold? Definition & Meaning

1. A Nelson hold is a maneuver used in wrestling and mixed martial arts where a person grabs their opponent from behind, usually when both are facedown on the mat, and places them in a hold. The person on top or behind is usually the aggressor and will then wrap their arms under one or both of their opponent’s arm pits and then secure their arms around the opponent’s neck.

The Nelson hold is commonly used to control an opponent, in order to place them on their back for a pin or a submission.

Why Is It Called A Nelson Hold?

It is said that the Nelson hold is derived from the term “full nelson”, which is named after Horatio Nelson, the British naval officer. It was said that Nelson’s common battle strategy was to entirely surround his opponent’s in battle in order to control them into surrendering, which is something he had done at the Battle of the Nile and the Battle of Trafalgar.

Examples Of How Nelson Hold Is Used In Commentary

1. Jones falls to the mat, but leaves himself exposed allowing Williams to wrap him up with a Nelson hold.

Sports The Term Is Used

1. Wrestling
2. MMA

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