The Philosophy of D
Defense is where to begin – each year, every year, no exception.
Whether a brand new wrestler at home in the basement or the beginning of your new wrestling season “defense” is the always the best place to start.
Let me explain…
First of all, “defense” is incredibly simple.
It’s by far the easiest aspect of the entire sport of wrestling if you have the map. Believe it or not, if done properly, you can have your entire team performing like
Division 1 All-Americans inside one week no matter their age or skill level.
The way to achieve this is by choosing, learning and finally coaching the perfect blend of information, concepts and techniques right from the start.
You can do this on your own accord, or can simply use the the forthcoming System that’s been specifically designed for that specific purpose.
The key to achieving what you want here is to teach all and only the best concepts in the proper manner and order.
In order to do this, you need an intelligent, thoughtful, and strategic System that is technically sound, works harmoniously and makes good wrestling sense. Do you have one?
The Mind-Set
Defense is a momentary lapse of reason; it’s a phase, a short spell.
Defense means “to defend” however, the secret and the point of emphasis to your kids is to only be in a defensive mode for a short while.
The main objective is to effectively improve your status as quickly as possible from a situation of defense to a point where you can effectively launch our incredibly potent System of counter-attacks.
Transitioning
When discussing your philosophy at first day of “Defense” I suggest you use and explain to them the concept of “transition”.
Truth be told, knowing and understanding key terms, will go amazingly far in his progress and “transition” is one of those key terms to put in your coaching vocabulary, hence your athlete(s).
“Transitioning” is a crucial term in all of wrestling but especially in the “defensive” realm.
Transition is the exact point-in-time when your athlete upgrades from “defense” to “offense”.
This concept should reiterated to your team often along with the point they want to make this moment of transition as quickly as possible each and every time.
Tell your crew it’s essential to have an impenetrable “defense” but somewhat ironically, you want them to use it as little as possible.
The contrast of thought will help the point stick.
Defense vs. Counter-Attacks
Although is sometimes the case, “defense” should not be disrespected.
Because “Defense” wins matches, or perhaps more accurately, it doesn’t lose them.
And for certain, some wrestlers are simply built for a more defensive style of wrestling.
A defensive minded wrestler should not be dodged, averted or suppressed.
A wrestler’s “style” very often is a mirror image of his/her personality i.e. basic, non-stop, physical, unorthodox, conservative, flashy, aggressive, risk-taking, etc.
Although exceptions exist, the degree of correlation is too high to deny.
Given this valuable insight, it might be both foolish and perhaps even counter- productive to try and tamper with something so deep and natural. On this matters and those similar, I suggest you simply go with the flow.
If you have a wrestler on your team who is drawn to the defensive side of things, so be it; as matter of fact, celebrate it.
It might be wise to work with their strengths rather than against them and if you do the chances are good he will become one of the most successful wrestlers on your team.
The key here is to instill in their mind that (in all actuality) he is truly NOT a defensive wrestler.
Do your best with words and actions to make it crystal-clear that he/she is a “counter-attack wrestler”. To help seal the deal, you might even from time to time refer to your wretler as a counter-attack “master” or “expert”.
The Best Wrestling Requires Patience
“Defense” is what you have your wrestlers employ to win matches while you are working on installing the far more complicated part of wrestling called “Offense”.
A properly applied “defense”, hinged to the forthcoming Counter-Attack System will enable your wrestlers to soundly defeat wrestlers who are currently far better.
This will positviely excite and delight your athletes, build confidence, and keep them coming back for more.
In addition, semi temporarily tying one-hand around your wrestlers’ back and making them compete somewhat “short-handed” will automatically and effortlessly bring out their absolute best and exponentially speed up the entire developmental process.
Ever notice how good your hearing becomes if blindfolded for a while? Or hear the phrase “Necessity is the mother of skill”?
By the time you untie their hands and remove the blindfold allowing full sight, his defense will be so amazingly effective, they’ll hardly ever need it.