Wrestling><=Grappeling??

Last night's class was great, lots of energy, total output by the guys, and lots of good technique. We went through two sets of tabata, three five minute matches, three two minute takedown matches plus technique and drilling.  Everybody should be proud of what they accomplished last night. I did however notice something about all the guys tonight. You can definitely tell which people had previous wrestling training and who didn't.Yes contrary to popular belief there maybe more to this wrestling thing than two guys in colorful unitards canoodeling. (Look at the longing eyes of the one in the red, his advances spurned by the blue.The love that dare not speak its name.)

One of our in house wrestlers was flying around looking for takedowns while most of the bjj competitors were content to tie up and look for trips or as soon as they were uncomfortable trying to pull guard. The problem seems to be that when faced with an aggressive wrestler that is using good posture and body position, career jiu-jitsu competitors get forced into playing the wrestlers game. The question becomes how do you take a grappler with little wrestling experience and turn them into someone capable of the "insane flying squirrel takedown"?

I think one issue is commitment to the takedown. In bjj and no gi you always have the ability to bail out of standing by pulling guard. Wrestlers don't pull guard, they commit to the takedown or nothing at all. In order for the takedown to be successful bjj players need to initiate and commit to the technique not shoot from outside and bail as soon as the meet resistance. Second, I've noticed that wrestlers are not afraid to lower their body position and get below their opponent's mid line.Since pulling guard isn't an option in wrestling they don't stand tall enough to worry about it while jiu-jitsu players are all to happy to work from their back as soon as they get pushed backwards. Finally, I think this is especially true of newer grapplers, since we start so many matches from the knees guys get used to letting the physically strong grappler get them to the ground and then actually starting to combat. The takedown game is violent and aggressive, if your content with just holding on until you hit the ground your going to give up points and position every time.So my three keys to the takedown are..

1. Commitment-Most guys have practiced enough takedowns to have a technique or a couple techniques they like. They just need to commit to applying these techniques and not worry so much about the back up plan of pulling guard. Remember even if you get sprawled on you can create space for guard.
2. Body position/posture-Standing tall works if your strategy is to pull guard but if you are looking to get your two points for the takedown your going to have to get used to getting low. All your power and explosiveness comes from coiling like a spring, if you stay tall and stretched out your leaving your opponent room to get under and inside.
3. Explosivity-This is the start of the match you should set the tone now for how a match will go. Show you have speed, strength, and a game plan. This will force your opponent to play your game and not the other way around. 

I would love to get more wrestlers involved in the sport so we can see what types of wacky takedowns can be cooked up that go straight into a submission. Perhaps I could finally perfect my rolling double leg into a combination straight ankle/knee bar? Hope to see you on the mats as always leave comments or questions below or contact me directly.