While there are so many control techniques in wrestling, sometimes it is control from stand up that seems to be the most difficult. When both people are standing, they are able to make maximum use out of all of their limbs. If...

Having a strong core is an important in any sport and wrestling is certainly no exception. A strong core will help you in so many aspects of wrestling from maintaining balance to increasing the power in your shots. Those and the many other...

Having strong and mobile shoulders is important for any athlete but especially for athletes in such high intensity contact and combat sports like wrestling. Having strong shoulders will help you in your techniques helping you land takedowns and defend against your opponents. That’s...

  The pancake is one of the most controlling positions in wrestling. With your opponent on their back and having control of their arm, it is very difficult to escape and often results in a pin. One of the most common ways to...

Brandon Wright is a two time NAIA Champion for Grand View (Iowa) who took 4th place at the Last chance Olympic Qualifiers in 2016. Not to be one who gives up, Brandon took Silver at the 2017 US Open and 3rd at the...

The ability to quickly adapt to your opponent’s moves is one of the best that a fighter can have in combat sports. If you are able to build off your opponent’s moves, this can make them feel like they’re fighting against quicksand and...

To win in wrestling the goal is to Pin your opponent to the floor. In order to do that you have to be able to turn an unwilling person from their stomach to their back. This is often easier said than done.  In...

The ankle pick is one of the most effective takedowns a wrestler can have in their arsenal. Men Like Cael Sanderson made careers out of the ankle pick from the scholastic to international level.  What makes it so versatile is that with the...

  In almost all forms of martial arts as well as wrestling, the headlock is one of the most controlling positions. It is also one of those positions that people will do almost anything to get out of. In wrestling obviously you cannot...

Defense is said by main coaches to be the most important aspects of all fighting styles and that includes wrestling. Being able to stop anything that your opponent throws at you and reset the match, or even counter off of it, is the...

Chris Perry is a back to back NCAA National Champion at 174lbs out of OSU. He is also a four time Big 12 Champion. When all was said and done he stood a three time All American  with an impressive 122-11 record.  After...

Daniel DeShazer is a two time D2 National Champion and 3 time National Finalist wrestling out of the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Deshazer had a great D2 Career highlighted with a record of 87-16 (61-3 vs. D2 competition) ... 23 falls ......

While it is not as fun to train as offense, defense is something that must be trained constantly. The ability to defend against your opponent shots is a great way to stay in control of the match and demoralize your opponent. If you're...

  After you have been wrestling for a while, you start to understand the importance of being creative. There are definitely fundamentals in wrestling that have a high success rate, but as you climb up the ranks you have to keep progressing your...

  With Fanatic Wrestling holding a 35% off sale when you use code HALLOWEEN2020 at checkout for all instructionals, I messaged Coach of the Year, three time US Open Champion, and multiple time world team member Reece “Highlight” Humphrey to see if I...

The Duck Under is one of the most important attacks in grappling. The reason the duck under is so valuable is because of what it achieves if done correctly. In wrestling, when two athletes square off, they are in an equal position to...

  John Smith really needs no introduction. At the moment, the best American freestyle wrestler to ever live, he has innovated and contributed decades of technique and excellence to the sport. He did this with three takedowns: the low single, the high crotch,...

Feints and fakes are a great way to get your opponent guessing and get information of your opponent in any combat sport. However, in all grappling arts, feinting is nowhere near used as much as in the striking based combat sports.  Feints are...

The ability to move your opponent in any combat sport is the root of all control in combat sports. If you are able to move your opponent, you are able to make them stand still. The ability to do this stems from the...

  Wrestling is a very precise and reactive sport. Particularly when you get to higher and higher levels, you need to be practicing drills with the mindset of being a few steps ahead of your opponent. Intensively training fakes and feints gives you...