wrestling

[annie]

My son is small for his age, around 74 lbs and is 13, is trying the sport for the first time this year and HAS LOST EVERY MATCH--he is a bit discouraged, any advice on the sport---does it take a while to get the 'moves' right, or is he destined for something else?

[Janana8706]

I am only a stat girl, but like anything, it is going to take him time. Support him in whatever his choice is and i'm sure he'll become good soon enough. He's still young to the best in the town.

[Extra ecclesiam nulla salus]

Hi,

I wrestled last year. Did not do it this year, but i may be doing it again. Wrestling is probably the hardest sport out there. It takes a lot of work. It takes a lot of time to get the moves right. In fact i have talked to many experienced wrestlers who say it takes 2-3 years to be a decent wrestler. any kind of Wrestling Camp is also a very good idea (I went to one this summer it was pretty hellish). So i would see keep trying.

[Circle_Master]

I wrestled in 4th grade, and I lost like everything. Of course, looking back now, before I started I couldn't walk in a straight line. After I finished that year I had much much more balance. I actually could beat most of my friends wrestling in high school just because of what I learned in elementary school. There are lots of benefits to wrestling, they just take a while to see.

[Theoketos]

My advice is practice one move until he prefects it. Then use that move first thing in every match. It helped me win.

[Cow of Shame]

Keep in mind that wrestling can be a pretty dirty sport. I've known wrestlers, and they've told me about the gouging (& jambing of thumbs up butts) that happens in the ring.

If it's what he wants to do, though....like everyone has said...practice. A little weight lifting wouldn't be bad, either. Although, at such a young age, you really have to make sure not to overdo it.

[Cam42]

[quote name='annie' date='Jan 17 2006, 07:14 PM']My son is small for his age, around 74 lbs and is 13, is trying the sport for the first time this year and HAS LOST EVERY MATCH--he is a bit discouraged, any advice on the sport---does it take a while to get the 'moves' right, or is he destined for something else?
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I didn't wrestle when in high school, but I grew up in Iowa. Most of my friends wrestled and I have several who were state champions and many who were either all-state, all-conference, or all district.

[url="http://www.dangable.com/appearances.html"]Dan Gable[/url] is a great place to start.

What I do know is this.....commit to wrestling, stick with it and be patient. One of my closest friends was a horrible wrestler as a little kid, but once he got to high school, he won two state titles and was all-Big Ten at the University of Iowa, wrestling for Dan Gable.

Another of my friends was a national champion for the Univeristy of Iowa. I would strongly suggest offering as many opportunities to learn the sport. It isn't all about strength and power, it is more about techniques and pressure.

Support him and show him that wrestling is a good path to learning what it means to be a good sportsman.

Good Luck.

[homeschoolmom]

[quote name='Cam42' date='Jan 18 2006, 12:23 PM']I didn't wrestle when in high school, but I grew up in Iowa.  [right][snapback]859876[/snapback][/right]
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This is my favorite sentence so far today.

My son is small for his age, too (7) and so I wondered if wrestling might be in his future too. Gymnastics is more likely, though. I think he's part monkey.

[Sojourner]

[quote name='homeschoolmom' date='Jan 18 2006, 01:26 PM']I think he's part monkey.
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It's the poo-flinging that tipped you off, isn't it.

[homeschoolmom]

Yes. Yes it was.

[Theoketos]

And so the thread degrades into poo flinging.

[Sojourner]

Ahem. Sorry about that.

Back to wrestling.

[Cam42]

[quote name='homeschoolmom' date='Jan 18 2006, 01:26 PM']This is my favorite sentence so far today.

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Youbetcha. It's just like making the statement, "I didn't play duck, duck, grey duck, but I lived in Minnesota."

[homeschoolmom]

[Norseman82]

[quote name='Cam42' date='Jan 18 2006, 11:23 AM'] I grew up in Iowa.  [right][snapback]859876[/snapback][/right]
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You just caused me to flash back to that scene in Star Trek IV where Kirk tells Dr. Gillian "No, I told you I'm from Iowa; I just work in outer space".


Seriously, Annie, as with ANY sport, it takes practice.

And when I get home, I'm going to have to dig up that article from the Quigley alumni newsletter that talks about the era in which minor seminarians were required to learn wrestling.