Wrestling Technique: Drilling and Shadow Wrestling

"Repetition, or drilling, is one of the keys to athletic success.  An athlete must work a technique repeatedly, for hours on end, week after week, year after year.  The goal is for the technique to become second nature, a pure reflex action that will kick in when the need arises during a match.  Time spent drilling was the key to many gold medals for top wrestlers around the world and the key to success for the world's greatest basketball players." - from Wrestling Tough by Mike Chapman

Basketball legend Michael Jordan stressed fundamentals like proper technique. 

Drilling isn't always that much fun.  It's not exciting.  Live wrestling is usually more enjoyable.  I know I liked live wrestling when I was in my high school wrestling room.  Most wrestlers enjoy sparring and competition most.

Nonetheless, four-time World and two-time Olympic Champion John Smith also stressed drilling. 

"But drilling has to take place for you to get better. I couldn’t do a better leg lace or gut wrench without breaking down the move, seeing how it works, studying it and drilling it, over and over and over. That’s when you improve your techniques. Someone who doesn’t spend time doing that and drilling isn’t going to improve," according to Smith.

So, before you consider figuring out the best high school wrestling moves to use in a match you may want to first focus on drilling the basics.

Smith also incorporated shadow wrestling into his training.

Olympian Ken Chertow also recommends shadow drilling or shadow wrestling. 

He states, "Shadow drilling is not just for beginners. It remained a significant part of my training regimen throughout my high school, college, and international career.  It can play an important role in the success of wrestlers at any skill level."

Two-time NCAA Champion and World Silver Medalist Cary Kolat shows some shadow wrestling.



Olympian Ken Chertow has two young wrestlers demonstrate some shadow drills.



The good thing about shadow wrestling is that you don't need a workout partner.

In conclusion, drilling alone or with a partner can help take your wrestling to an advanced level.

Wrestling Technique: Leg Riding

Learning to use your legs is a valuable skill when in the top position.  Most of you are familiar with the cross-body ride.  But, when you "put the legs in" are you doing it correctly?  Could you become a better leg rider?

"Beginning wrestlers, of any age, usually begin by trying to do too much with their arms.  That was true with me.  My arms got so tired they would ache with fatigue.  What I needed was to learn to use the power of my legs more," writes Olympic Champion Ben Peterson.*

Ben Peterson was having trouble with his cross-body leg ride in high school until a former student and wrestler from Ben's high school stopped by to observe practice one day.  This alumnus gave Ben some advice on how to improve his leg riding with an emphasis on positions of balance, control and power.

Ben states, "The emphasis on leg riding became an 'arched back'.  I learned I could protect myself while forcing my opponent out of position.  He taught me to sit up like a proud confident cowboy in the saddle instead of hanging over my opponent like a dead man on his horse.
 
Instead of hooking my foot through like a grapevine on my opponents leg, I started hooking just my heal on his thigh.  Instead of hugging and hooking with my arms I pushed his head and shoulders away as I turned him.  Instead of turning and looking at my opponent, I arched high and looked away."

I like the following video because you can see how she uses a "short boot" instead of a grapevine approach.  She uses her other leg to splay the bottom wrestler's far leg.



I like the following video because the top wrestler demonstrates a couple of sweet wrestling moves that can be done from the cross-body ride.



The cross-body ride is just one form of leg riding.  Leg riding can lead to some of the best wrestling moves for pinning if done correctly.  So, work on perfecting the cross-body ride and other leg rides.  It could help your wrestling a lot.

*How I Learned to Ride & Pin with Legs by Olympic Champion Ben Peterson

The Best Wrestling Moves

Hello wrestlers, parents, and others interested in the sport of high school wrestling.  Of course, the content of this blog can help youth wrestlers as well.  As the name of this blog implies, I want to focus mainly on the best wrestling moves.  I may discuss other topics as well just as I have in articles and other websites but this blog is mainly going to be used for the discussion of wrestling moves.

You may be interested in fancy wrestling moves.
You may interested in cool wrestling moves.
You may be interested in basic wrestling moves.
You may interested in advanced wrestling moves.
You may be interested in the best high school wrestling moves.
You may interested in youth wrestling moves.
You may be interested in wrestling takedowns.
You may be interested in wrestling pinning moves.
You may be interested in wrestling techniques.
You may be looking for something as specific as Greco Roman wrestling moves.
You may be looking for wrestling moves online.
You may simply be looking for wrestling tips.

You may want to check out some information about high school wrestling.

If you want to read a bit about college wrestling which is very similar in many respects to high school wrestling you can check out this college wrestling information.

You can also check out information regarding wrestling technique and news.

At any rate, I will be posting on the neutral, bottom, and top positions in wrestling as well as general wrestling technique and many other related topics.

I hope this blog can help you or someone close to you become a better wrestler and find success in high school wrestling.