Fireman's Carry
Wrestling throw that loads the opponent across the shoulders and rolls them to the mat — a high-percentage answer to overhooks and high collar ties.
From StandingTo Side Control / Top
Overview
The fireman's carry drops under an arm, loads their weight across your shoulders, and rolls them to the mat into top control. In BJJ it often comes from arm drags, duck-under attempts, or when they whizzer a shot and leave the near arm high.
#Create the High Arm
You need an arm to load over.
- Engage arm drag, collar tie, or shot that draws a whizzer
- Control the near elbow
- Change levels under the armpit
- Spot the far ankle/knee
#Load and Roll
- Fit your shoulder under their chest/armpit
- Capture the far leg
- Load their weight across your shoulders
- Roll them to the mat
#Settle Top
Pins beat scrambles.
- Follow to side control or mount
- Clear immediate frames and turtle turns
- Establish cross-face/underhook
- Only then hunt submissions
Key Grips & Control Points
- Control of the near arm/elbow you will load over
- Far ankle, knee, or pants capture as you drop
- Shoulder fit under their armpit/chest line
- Hands that pull them across as you roll through
Timing & Movement Cues
- Enter when their near elbow is high from a whizzer or collar tie
- Drop as they overcommit weight onto the near side
- Roll through once their hips leave the mat-ready base
Pressure & Weight Distribution
- Fit the shoulder deep — shallow carries get sprawled
- Capture the far leg/ankle to stop them hopping free
- Follow to a pin; unfinished carries become their front headlock
Typical Counters to Expect
- Sprawling hips back and circling the free leg
- Heavy whizzer that stalls the load
- Front headlock if your head stays trapped in front
Follow-Up Options
- Side control after a clean roll
- Mount if they land flat
- High crotch or single-leg if they stuff the carry early
Setups & Entries
- Arm-drag entries that expose the near arm
- Duck-under attempts that get whizzed
- Shot defenses where they overhook and stand tall
Training Drills
- Fireman load and roll to controlled pins
- Arm-drag to fireman chains
- Stuffed fireman to single-leg recoveries
Coaching Notes
- Shoulder deep, far leg captured
- Roll through — do not stall under their chest
- Abandon early into a cleaner shot if the load fails
Related Study
Connect this movement with complementary positions and attacks.
Summary
Fireman's carry loads a high near arm across your shoulders, captures the far leg, and rolls to top control. Fit deep, finish through the roll, and switch to single-leg or high crotch when they sprawl the carry.