When you come to train with us at the IRON EMPIRE you will hear and see in action my philosophy on strength training.  When I coach various athletes, in many different sports, I will also talk about the things that I feel you must develop to reach your full potential.  One of these things I have always talked about with wrestlers is the ability to execute a "BIG" move.  Most often this is associated with a throw of some type, but there are other match changing moves too.

When I bring up this philosophy to most coaches it is met with great resistance.  I will also hear the same old excuses for why they don't practice them.  Things like, It will not work against the good guys, or at a high level.  I even had a coach who I worked with telling me about the basics, and how "that is what wins matches." No freaking kidding I replied! Please let me give you an example of a situation though, and tell me what you are going to do to win the match.

What if you are in a match, it is a pretty good battle and you find yourself down by 3 or 4 with 30 seconds left, what are you going to hit to win the match? Forget for a moment that you have absolutely no hope if you are getting blown out. Lets say it is 6-3 and you have one takedown and an escape in 5 minutes and 30 seconds. Am I to expect you to take your opponent  down 2 times just to tie the match. Or are you going to take him down and now turn him? The answer is you're going to lose. You have nothing in your arsenal that can give you the chance to win!

It is a shame but also a fact. Most coaches do not have their teams drill any big moves, especially throws with any consistency or intensity.  It is also usually due to there lack of understanding of the sport, the holds, and poor layout of the practices which does not leave time to work them.  Whatever the case may be,  Having some knowledge and ability to execute  and scoring out of all positions will greatly enhance your wrestling.  It may also just win you a huge match!

Above I have posted a link of the NCAA D1 #1 ranked 125lbs vs. #2 ranked and defending NATIONAL CHAMP. The champ from IOWA was down 4-0 with approximately 1 minute left in the match- SEE WHAT HAPPENS!!!

P.S. To answer some Questions. The match score is 3-0 on the scoreboard but riding time was "locked" in favor of NW.  In college wrestling you receive 1 point for a minute advantage in time spent on top over your opponent. The point is award at the end of the match. In this case for example, had the Iowa Wrestler took his opponent down then let him up and took him down again. He still would have lost 5-4. As the announcer states at the end of the video, "He had to go for something big!" I could not have said it better myself.

One other note: McDonough(Iowa) received the Big 10 Wrestler of the week in BIG part because of this match!

Another link to watch

http://www.flowrestling.org/videos/coverage/view_video/237506-defense-soap-dirty-flo-takedown-of-the-week/389026-dirty-flo-cement-job

LEARN TO WRESTLE BIG!!!

As always, any questions or comments please contact me at ironwill@optonline.net. Till next time, GOOD LUCK; Coach Ellinger