Become Fighter
Whizzer and snap-down: Wrestling guide
Two defensive tools against shots, practised slowly with a partner.
A whizzer is an overhook: you wrap your arm over their arm to stop them from finishing a shot. A snap-down is a quick pull on the back of their head or neck to bring their head down and break their posture.
Both involve the head, neck and shoulders, and both can hurt if done roughly. Practise only with a trusted partner or coach, on a mat, and at walking pace. A snap-down is a pull and a step back, never a yank or a crank.
Key points
- Agree on your plan, your pace and a stop signal before you start.
- Whizzer: hook over their arm at the elbow, squeeze, and push your hips forward.
- Snap-down: pull the head down and back with a hand on the back of the head, then step away.
- Never twist, crank or hold the neck. A snap-down is a quick pull and release.
- Follow either move with a sprawl or step back to reset.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Cranking the neck on a snap-down. Pull and release. If you hold the head, you are the one who gets hurt first when it goes wrong.
- Whizzering with a straight arm. Hook with a bent arm and squeeze it into your ribs.
- Snapping without stepping back. Step your feet back as you pull so you stay balanced and out of range.
- Going too fast. Practise at walking pace until the movement is smooth and your partner is relaxed.
Combinations that use it
- wr-sprawl-sd: Sprawl, Snap-down
- wr-whizzer-sprawl: Whizzer, Sprawl
- wr-hf-sd-sl: Hand fight, Snap-down, Single leg
- wr-sd-sprawl-circle: Snap-down, Sprawl, Circle out
Related techniques
The rest is in the app
The step-by-step breakdown, the timed drill with the coach calling the shots and the quiz are part of Become Fighter Pro, where this lesson sits in the Defence, getting up and chains module of Wrestling foundations.
Coming soon to the App Store and Google Play.
More from Defence, getting up and chains
- The sprawl: Wrestling guide
- Underhooks and ties: Wrestling guide
- Sit-out and stand-up: Wrestling guide
- Chain wrestling: Wrestling guide
Combat sports training is hard on the body. Warm up, stay within your limits and check with a doctor first if you have a health condition. Practise in a clear space and stop if you feel pain or dizziness. Learn partner work only under a qualified coach.