The offensive wrestler must destroy the defensive wrestler’s base and eliminate his motion. To accomplish this goal, the wrestlers must be exposed to a variety of breakdown techniques. The following drills will assist the wrestlers in becoming…
Stand-up Escape
Setup: W1 is in the defensive starting position with W2 mounting W1 on the left side. Action: On the referee’s whistle, W1 steps up on his left foot while driving his left elbow toward W2’s chest and his right hand grabbing W2’s right…
High Bridge with Joe LeBlanc
Watch as Coach Joe LeBlanc explains and demonstrates the High Bridge.
Hip Heist Drills – Matt Azevedo – Drexel Univ.
Watch as Coach Matt Azevedo explains and demonstrates these Hip Heist Drills.
Heavyweights – 2 on 1 – Scot Davis – Eden Prairie High School (MN)
Watch as An Eden Prairie Assistant Coach explains and demonstrates a 2 on 1 drill for Heavyweights.
Underhook – Inside Trip – Keith Gavin – Univ. of VA
Watch as Coach Keith Gavin explains and demonstrates the Inside Trip.
Hand Fighting – Slide By – Russ Cozart – Brandon High School (FL)
Watch as Coach Russ Cozart explains and wrestlers demonstrate this Hand Fighting – Slide By Drill.
Defending the Funk – High Single Position – Jordan Leen – UVA
Watch as Coach Jordan Leen explains and demonstrates Defending the Funk – High Single Position Drill.
Wrist Ride 2 on 1 – Zack Esposito – OK ST Univ.
Watch as Coach Zack Esposito explains and demonstrates this 2 on 1 wrist ride.
Over-Under Defense with Duane Goldman (Retired)
Watch as Coach Duane Goldman explains and demos Over-Under Defense.
Hand Fighting – Heavy Hands – Mark Ironside
Watch as Coach Mark Ironside explains and demonstrates Hand Fighting – Heavy Hands.
Leg-Attack Defense – Repetition- Alex Clemsen
Watch as Coach Alex Clemsen discusses repetition and how practice does not make perfect but perfect practice does.
How Nutrition Can Help You Make Weight During the Pre-Season
Compared to other sports, wrestling arguably requires the ultimate combination of power, strength and endurance. Even though matches last only six minutes or less, wrestlers burn a ton of energy during long practices, multiple workouts per day…
Stab and Reach Drill – Russ Cozart – Brandon High School (FL)
Watch as Coach Russ Cozart explains and wrestlers demonstrate this Stab and Reach Drill.
Cool Down with Joe LeBlanc
Watch as Coach Joe LeBlanc explains and a wrestler demonstrates these Cool Down stretches.
Snap Downs – Scot Davis – Eden Prairie HS (MN)
Watch as an Eden Prairie Assistant Coach explains and demonstrates this Snap Downs Drill.
Domination Drill – Nick Mitchell – Grand View Univ.
Watch as Coach Nick Mitchell explains and wrestlers demonstrate this Domination Drill.
Lower-Body Workout For Wrestlers
Based on my experience as a college athlete and as a strength coach, I am certain that lower-body lifts are the most important for any athlete. If you have ever wrestled a full match, you know how important it is to have a strong and explosive…
Slide-By – Scot Davis – Eden Prairie HS (MN)
Watch as Coach Scot Davis explains and demonstrates this Slide-By Drill.
Leg Riding – Tim Flynn – Edinboro Univ
Watch as Coach Tim Flynn explains and demonstrates Leg Riding.
Hand Fighting – Posting Off The Head – Russ Cozart
Watch as Coach Russ Cozart explains and wrestlers demonstrate Posting Off The Head.
Dynamic Warmup Drills with Joe LeBlanc
Watch as Coach Joe LeBlanc explains and a wrestler demonstrates these Dynamic Warm Up Drills.
Defensive Cradle Off the Low Single – Steve Garland – Univ. of VA
Watch as Coach Steve Garland explains and demonstrates this Defensive Cradle Off the Low Single.
Kettlebell Drills
Kettlebells offer another form of lifting that has received a lot of attention recently. You can acquire kettlebells in various weights ranging from 5 pounds to 100 pounds. (Some brands of kettlebells are also available in metric units.) Man…
Bottom Position – Push Back with Cliff Moore – Edinboro Univ.
Watch as Coach Cliff Moore explains and demonstrates Bottom Position – Push Back.
Underhook Shrug – Keith Gavin – Univ. of VA
Watch as Coach Keith Gavin explains and demonstrates an Underhook Shrug.
Crab Ride – Transitioning to a Turk – Troy Letters
Watch as Coach Troy Letters explains and demonstrates this Crab Ride – Transitioning to a Turk.
Hand Fighting – 2 on 1 Drill – Mark Ironside
Watch as Coach Mark Ironside explains and demonstrates this Hand Fighting – 2 on 1 drill.
The Peterson with Joe LeBlanc
Watch as Coach Joe LeBlanc explains and demonstrates the Peterson.
Single Leg Back Trip – Matt Azevedo – Drexel Univ.
Watch as Coach Matt Azevedo explains and demonstrates the technique of this Single Leg Back Trip.