Coaches Corner Article: Down Position

Coaches: Training Methods to Teach Hand Control

I mentioned in the Wrestlers' section about getting "knuckle control". This method refers to getting hand control by grabbing the opponent right at the hand, or knuckles. A good activity to help your athletes fight hands is to play the "Locking Hands" game. One guy is standing behind the other, just as wrestlers would be during a standup attempt. On the whistle, the guy standing behind has 5 seconds to lock his hands around the front guy. Front wrestler has to stay in position and fight hands, no fair dropping down or running away! When you first start out, the guy standing behind will probably win more often. Once you show them "knuckle control", you will see the front man start to win more often. I will have mini-tournaments with the Locking Hands game at a lot of my camps - it helps break up the practice while also serving as an excellent hand-control drill. This is a game that athletes can play, and not really have to be the same size. If I have a big size mismatch, I will put the smaller athlete behind, to give him more of a shot.

Down Position Hand Fighting Drills
Here's another down position drill to help your athletes fight the opponent who gets underneath the arms. One athlete is in front, on the knees and sitting on his ankles, back fairly straight, while the opponent starts from behind. Wrestler in front lets back wrestler hook under the arms and up on the shoulders. Wrestler in front has to fight opposite hands from here: First step, fight the opposite hand by grabbing it, second step, work the same side elbow inside. Then fight the other side. Tell the wrestler in front to let the back wrestler inside for a number of reps so he can work the technique. Then, eventually, he will block out a side, secure it by keeping his elbow in, and then fight the other side. A good combo drill from here: Step one, fight the hands, block him out; step two, back pressure, come up and cut; step three, level change and double, and then the other guy gets in that starting position.