Many nations have their unique approach to wrestling. While some use a mixture of refined wrestling styles, the differences in the training regimen, techniques, nutrition, and overall approach are what shape and separate a nation from its rivals. In this article, we will analyze the American style of wrestling, known as one of wrestling’s powerhouses.
Wrestling As A Sport
Wrestling is widely known as one of the toughest, if not the toughest, sport in the world. Each wrestling exercise and movement is done with a purpose, and every gruesome practice trains a wrestler to develop an analytical mind, sturdy body, and warrior spirit. Every match is a testament to a wrestler’s will and determination to win, as they are constantly trained not to yield a position and give the opponent an uncontested point.
While being tough physically and mentally is a typical wrestler’s introduction, it is interesting that each wrestler’s origin has its blueprint to follow as it dominates on the global stage. Countries like the United States, Russia, Iran, Japan, and Cuba (to name a few) have their unique styles of engaging in wrestling matches.
The American Style Of Wrestling
While each country is unique, American wrestlers’ physicality and conditioning distinguish them from the rest. The key points below fully explore America’s style, specifically freestyle wrestling.
1) Hand Fighting
Folkstyle is usually the wrestling style taught in youth, high school, and college in America. Generally, folkstyle allows wrestlers to lock their hands in any position and emphasizes more control compared to freestyle, which focuses more on takedowns and turning the opponent. As wrestlers transition from folkstyle to freestyle, they also bring along the aggressive hand-fighting from their folkstyle background.
In turn, this has allowed American wrestlers to develop the hand fighting skills that enable them to set up their takedowns and constantly distract the opponents by spamming and heavy clubbing the collar ties, leading to head control, face and shoulder pushes to keep the opponents away, and wrist controls to manage the shooting distance. Doing these constantly distracts the opponents, keeping them out of their game.
2) High Pace
American wrestlers are widely known for their physicality. They utilize high pacing to exert relentless pressure on their opponents, which wears them down and eventually overloads their CNS, opening them up for attacks.
American wrestlers set this up by forcing the opponent to keep up with the pace by hand-fighting to gauge the distance. Constantly with hand fighting, they mix their movements by moving laterally when the opponent may seem stronger and forward and backward movements followed by an explosive takedown when the opponent is out of the spot.
Being at the center of the mat reduces the space the opponent will need to set up their angles. This is why, most of the time, they attack and set their movements from the outside when they’re not forcing the opponent off-bounds.
3) Top-Tier Conditioning
To support their high-paced wrestling style, American wrestlers strive for top-tier conditioning. This gives them the strength, endurance, agility, and power to last the whole match, allowing them to outlast their opponents. Wrestling practices mostly consist of technique drills and intense conditioning with added weights training.
A typical American wrestling conditioning program consists of cardio workouts, which enhance the wrestler’s cardiovascular endurance to last for the whole match. Core workouts strengthen the core muscles for stability and when exerting power and keep the muscles around the rib cage tight when defending in par terre positions. Explosive wrestling-specific compound exercises and movements sharpen the ability to explode in executing techniques.
All in all, top-tier conditioning prepares the wrestlers to be at their peak during well-contested matches and to completely dominate their opponents with superior physicality backed up by skills, becoming a bridge that connects all the elements.
4) Relentless Attempt For Takedowns
Putting all the ingredients together — the hand-fighting skills, the high pace, and top-tier conditioning — allows American wrestlers to hunt and attempt takedowns relentlessly. Most American wrestlers attack with a single or low single leg or a blast double leg. Using the hand fight at a high pace allows them to distract the opponents as they set the angle before shooting for a takedown that runs through their opponents.
One of the greatest freestyle wrestlers, Jordan Burroughs, who represented the U.S., is famous for his blast double-leg takedown. He does this by measuring the distance and feinting before catching an ankle, working his grip to the top leg as he pushes with his head on the opponent’s chest, or swiftly lowering his level at a manageable distance before blasting a takedown through the opponent.
5) Low Wrestling Stance
Compared to wrestlers in the Caucasus region, who are more upright and prepared in a defensive stance, American wrestlers like to keep a low wrestling stance. This stance allows them to consolidate power to their back leg as they shoot or drive forward for a takedown. It also enables them to swiftly move backward, towards the opponent, or around the mat laterally.
Having a stance lower than the opponent or the ability to quickly change levels always welcomes a takedown, which is a perfect fit for the American wrestling element.
6) Scramble
American wrestlers are keen on battling in scrambles because of their folkstyle background, with a heavy emphasis on controls. Ben Askren is famous for this with his “funky” style of wrestling. It is critical in wrestling to know how to scramble in uncomfortable positions when you get tied up with the opponent. This prevents the opponent from scoring as you look to score against them.
Conclusion
The American style is a more athletic approach and has produced some of the most successful athletes in wrestling. Training this way will help you build an unlimited gas tank and unbeatable spirit that can be applied in every aspect of life. If you’re new to wrestling, look for a wrestler you want to follow and see how you can adapt to their training styles.
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