Beginners Wrestling Stance

Directly face your opponent, both feet facing forward, lead foot's heal in line with back foot's toe.

Hips low, head up, hands up, elbows in and lead elbow protecting lead knee.

Wrestler's Stance Review

Hand Fighting To Snapdown

Begin with both partners in a stance where they are facing each other, hips down and elbows in.

Partner A will grab partner B's forearms and then Partner B will wind their hands INSIDE Partner A's forearms to get the advantage.

Repeat slowly and gently at first, then getting a little faster and firmer each time.  ALWAYS WORK UNDER AND IN.

You can do this with partners in a circle and switch partners on the outside one to the right to keep it fresh.

Stretching MUST be done before any Snapdowns and when first doing Snapdowns it should be very gentle - 10% intensity to start with defender allowing their head to be moved.

Whenever possible, have an experienced wrestler demonstrate the proper details of the Snapdown.

Wrestling From On Top (From a sprawl)

When you first begin wrestling, you will usually not be the one doing leg attacks, so you will need to know how to defend against them.

This will involve a sprawl against a leg attack.  Use this series of progressions to train yourself how to do something that won't feel natural at first.

It is CRITICAL that the partner who is the table/base is strong in their position.

Scoring From On Top

Most first points in novice matches are scored from this series of moves - getting 2 points by getting behind their opponent.

There are a number of variations shown here, some more technically correct than others.

Under pressure in your first season you will often go the wrong way around or leave out steps.  That's probably going to be ok if you're wrestling against an opponent just as new.

Scoring your first points in an actual match is pretty rewarding, so you'll want to know how to do it right.

Attack & Defend From Flat On Mat

Once the wrestling is on the mat, it is important to know how to attack and defend.

This is a series of exercises that will help the attacking wrestler learn how to apply their weight "heavy" and the defending wrestler to position themselves to avoid being pinned.

Half Nelsen

The Half Nelsen is NOT about rolling your opponent over sideways.

The Half Nelsen turns your opponent onto their back using LEVERAGE.

Leg Attack ("High Crotch")

You will require someone who knows how to do this move properly to help teach it.

The key is that you SET UP YOUR ATTACK before you PULL YOURSELF INTO THEM. 

You are NOT grabbing at them without setting up with a snapdown or pulling their leg to you.

Snap - Let them react by pulling their head up - Drop your right knee between their feet - Drive your arm between their legs, you shoulder into their pelvis - wrap their leg up with both arms and push them over with your EAR against their ribs

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING AN AFTER SCHOOL CLUB:

1.  A location that's convenient.

2.  Wrestling partners the same size and experience level.

3.  Coaches who inspire and motivate you

CALGARY WRESTLING CLUBS:

Workout With Just A Chair

Weights and a gym are handy, but you don't need them to get stronger or into better shape.

Get Creative For Conditioning

Make up something that is fun that represents the kinds of muscles you'll be using and then push yourself to 100% for 2-3 minutes.

Wrestling Can Take You As Far As you Want To Go

Everyone starts as a novice, but in wrestling, as big as your heart is, that's where you can go!

These videos show one athletes journey all the way from a Novice Grade 7 to representing Team Canada at the Pan Am Games, World Finals and one of only 2 girls to ever represent Canada at the Youth Olympics.