Wrestlers' Corner: Your Time is Now

Do you think you're going to wait until the first day of practice to start wrestling? If you do, you're going to be woefully behind the kids training at my Academy, as well as the athletes training at all the other excellent clubs around the area. If you are one of those athletes - and I'm seeing you on a regular basis - you are on the fast track to success in wrestling. As I've mentioned before, top athletes never get completely out of shape. For them, there is no "off-season".

So, what should be your workout routine in the Fall? I always believe this is a good time to sharpen up your fundamentals. Things such as positioning, motion and level changes, hip drills, pressure and control drills. The first thing we will do in our Fall Academy is set our positioning routine, get sharp on the most important aspects of wrestling. That way, when we get to November, we can hit the ground running.

Remember also, that Fundamentals to me, are a lot different than fundamentals to many folks. To me, Head countering drills (what you do when a guy tries to control your head), front headlock countering drills, things like that, are fundamentals. Quite simply, this is what the truly great wrestlers do: they win because they stress the fundamentals, and are rarely out of position. That comes from doing the essential things - over and over again.

I know that everyone likes to wrestle live - and for good reason. One of the best ways to improve your wrestling is to buckle up and go live. However - make sure you working on your positioning, handfighting, and movement as well. Athletes that only go live, only get so far. Do both.