How to Perform Amateur Wrestling Moves

Amateur wrestling has a variety of styles: collegiate or folk style, used by youth through college wrestlers in the United States; freestyle or International style, used in the Olympics and other international events; Greco-Roman; and Sumo, which are also used internationally. These amateur competitions are very intense, contact combat according to very precise rules. Professional wrestling, by contrast, is purely entertainment, with the “combats” carefully scripted. Keep the following tips in mind as you learn to perform amateur wrestling moves.

Instructions

1. Choose a style of wrestling. For most youth in the United States, the primary style available to them is folk style. Freestyle instruction and competitions are available, on a more limited basis in the off-season (after the October to March folk style season).

2. Concentrate on developing a good wrestling stance. Posture and position is crucial for being able to score and for preventing your opponent scoring on you. Knees bent, weight on balls of the toes. This makes you ready to move quickly and reduces the area on which your opponent can shoot. Practice lowering your level and taking a penetration step forward, with your hands in front of you. Keep you elbows in. When you tie-up with an opponent, always maintain inside control -- your arms to the inside of his.

3. Practice a good take-down. A single leg take down is a good move for a beginner. Take a deep penetration step, reach and grasp one of your opponent’s legs behind the knee and lift. With a young or inexperienced opponent, this is often enough to knock him to the mat. Tripping your opponents the other leg by sweeping your foot against his ankle from behind, or using your calf to sweep backwards against your opponent’s leg at knee level, will also bring him to the mat.

4. Practice a hip-heist. This move is useful as an escape because you can do it from just about any position. Practice from the referee’s position, bring your body up and lift your hips off the mat in front of you. You need to get out from under your opponent. Kick one leg forward and quickly turn over so that your hips (and face) are facing down instead of up. If you push your body out and away from your opponent at the same time, you will have escaped.

5. Do conditioning exercises, such as running, push-ups and squats. Perform flexibility exercises, such as stretches and toe touching on your own, but find a good team and coach to prepare for competition.

Tips & Warnings

• Find a good wrestling partner to practice your moves. Look for someone who will work hard and make you work hard.