What is an inside tie in wrestling?
By the Smart Wrestler team · Written from hosting and scoring the events this software runs · Updated 2026-10-20
An inside tie works with the hands inside the opponent’s arms. See how USA Wrestling lists the inside or elbow tie and how it differs from other ties.
Quick answer
An inside tie is a standing grip in which a wrestler controls the opponent from inside their arms, often at the elbows. USA Wrestling’s Olympic Styles Level 1 outline lists “Inside tie/elbow tie” among set-ups and control ties. It is not a scoring action and no rules book defines it. Which wrestler wins the inside position matters because it limits the opponent’s shots, not because the rules award anything for it.
How does USA Wrestling list the inside tie?
The Olympic Styles Level 1 outline names “Inside tie/elbow tie” and “Wrist tie/baseball grip” under offense, set-ups and control ties. The same list includes the two-on-one and, in the Greco-Roman Level 2 outline, the single underhook. These are the early control ties a young athlete meets.
The outline names these ties without defining them, so the phrase “inside tie” can mean slightly different grips in different rooms.
What does the glossary vocabulary around ties look like?
| Tie | Where the grip goes | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Inside tie | Inside the opponent’s arms, often at the elbows | This page |
| Underhook | Under the opponent’s arm | Underhook |
| Collar tie | Neck or head | Collar tie |
| Wrist tie | Opponent’s wrist | Wrist tie |
| Two-on-one | Both hands on one arm | Two-on-one |
The table is a vocabulary map, not a ranking. Which tie is best depends on the wrestler, the style and the opponent.
Why does the inside position matter?
A wrestler with inside control is closer to the opponent’s hips and can block a shot or set one up. This is the practical idea behind most standing-tie vocabulary, and it explains why coaches drill the transitions between ties more than any single grip.
None of that is scored directly. The NCAA book awards a takedown only when control is gained from the neutral position in bounds and beyond reaction time.
Which rules apply to standing ties?
The NCAA book requires active wrestling and penalizes stalling by backing up and fleeing. UWW rules add the activity procedure and prohibit holding the head or neck with two hands. An inside tie on the arms is not those holds, but a tie that stays without an attack can draw an official’s attention in the international styles.
The activity procedure is explained under passivity. Read passivity.
How should parents use the term?
Use the word to describe where the hands were. Then describe what the official awarded, since the tie itself is not recorded.
Smart Wrestler records scored actions and penalties; inside ties belong to coaching notes.
A simple review habit is to name the first tie, the tie the opponent answered with, and the action that ended the exchange, for example inside tie, answered with an underhook, ended in a reset. That sentence records who held position at each moment without claiming a score. Coaches can compare clips across matches to see which ties an athlete wins and loses most often, and parents can follow the discussion without needing the full vocabulary.
Frequently asked questions
What is an elbow tie?
The Olympic Styles outline pairs it with the inside tie; the outline does not define it separately.
Is an inside tie a scoring move?
No. It is a standing control tie.
How is it different from an underhook?
An underhook goes under the opponent’s arm; an inside tie works inside the arms.
Where is it listed?
In USA Wrestling’s Olympic Styles Level 1 outline under set-ups and control ties.
Sources
- USA Wrestling Olympic Styles Level 1 curriculum
- USA Wrestling Greco-Roman Level 2 curriculum
- NCAA men’s wrestling 2025–26 and 2026–27 rules book
- UWW International Wrestling Rules, January 2026
Sources checked 2026-10-20.
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