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Can't tell you how many underhook instructionals I've seen where the coach/athlete insists proper head positioning means putting your head on the same side as the underhook. I don't think this is right. (1/7)
For one, putting your head to the same side as the underhook makes attacking the opp's far leg much harder since their head in now a barrier. This means no knee picks (as shown below), or far side doubles/ducks. I also think it makes attacking throw-by's harder. (2/7)
Athletes w/ good throw-by's contort their bodies in a particular way to generate maximal power. This contortion involves pointing their heads & torsos in a perpendicular angle away from the underhook side. Check out IMar's contortion (head a few inches off the mat) here. (3/7)
Here, Dake starts with his head on the same side as the underhook (the so called "proper side"). But to execute the throw-by he actually brings his head to the other side. Keeping same side head position restricts this head movement/contortion and the resulting power. (4/7)
Hassan Yazdani, who arguably has the best underhook game amongst current wrestlers, nearly always puts his head on the opposite side of the underhook. This sets up his knee pick, throw-by, and standing whip-over, among other options. (5/7)
One more Yazdani clip illustrating the contortion on his throw-by. The power on a good throw-by doesn't just come from the underhooking arm, but rather the movement of the entire body, including the pivoting of the hips. (6/7)
To be clear I'm not yet prepared to say that putting the head on the same side as the underhook is "wrong," but rather I'm pushing back on the conventional wisdom that it is the proper/ideal positioning from a technical standpoint. Would be curious to hear other's thoughts. (7/7)
One instructional I've seen that does go in-depth on opposite side head position was "International Tie Series" by @MarkPerry165 ( https://www.championshipproductions.com/cgi-bin/champ/p/Wrestling/International-Tie-Series-Iranian-and-Russian-Attacks_WRD-04894A.html). I thought this was really well done.
