The Roots of Wrestling

Wrestling is one of the world’s oldest sports, with its origins being traced back to the ancient Greeks and the first Olympiad. It is truly a sport built on brute strength and willpower, as it involves no equipment or protection for its players. The only way to win is to use one’s force and determination to either pin the opponent to the mat or push them from the boundaries of the ring.

In order to get the opponent to the ground, a wrestler must have a firm grasp of some of the basic wrestling moves. There are four general categories of basic wrestling moves: basic skills, take-downs, reversals or escapes, and rides, breakdowns or pinning combinations.

The Importance of a Solid Stance

A wrestler must fully understand the fundamental skills of the sport before mastering any of the basic wrestling moves. These seven basic skills include the stance, penetration step, getting to the base, the hip heist, lifting of the opponent, arching the back, and the back-step.

A good stance is crucial for skill building in the sport of wrestling. As many coaches are known to espouse, “Without a good stance, a wrestler doesn’t have a chance”. To begin, place the feet a little more than shoulder width apart. Read the rest of this entry »