Post by ipwgreg on Sept 6, 2010 17:23:20 GMT -5
You don’t understand how often I get asked this question. Let me first say this. I am not a wrestler. I have had some training yes, but the fact I am not an athlete and my tendency to do front bumps on the back of my neck instead of flat on my back made me realize that physically I am not cut out to be an in ring performer. I could take acceptable Hip Tosses and armdrags, give rather good bodyslams and side Russian legsweeps, and dropped the absolute WORST elbow in the history of wrestling . Sadly, I have more actual training than some people who go out and call themselves “ Wrestlers” !
Secondly let me say this. If your asking me how you can make a living and support your family as a wrestler this is the answer. You Can’t !! Be prepared to have a fulltime job that pays the bills, and preferably has Health Insurance. I capitalize those two words because they are that important. Unless you’re a high profile athlete who has already made a name for yourself , be prepared to toil in the independents for a number of years and never get past that point.
Mike Williams and I were sitting in the offices of the old HWA while American Kickboxer and Les Thatcher were talking. Les looked at Mike who at the time stood 6’5” and weighed 300 lb. and said “ 30 years ago you would look at this guy and say he should be a wrestler, now I just say he needs to hit the gym and diet” He proceeded to tear Mike apart into little pieces. When Kickboxer told Les that Mike had no aspirations to wrestle, Les said that didn’t matter.
My point here is this. Be in shape before even thinking about training. Look like a wrestler. I can’t tell you how much it pisses me off to go to an independent show and see that 80% of the guys on the card wear a t-shirt into the ring. They don’t respect the business enough to try and do something about their appearance and their physical health, they should not wrestle. Yes there are exceptions to the rule. But they are few and far between.
Wrestling schools. This is a tough one for me. Most of these schools are going to be a good way to get you started, but don’t think that when your done that your ready. Right now, I only endorse Billy Rocs school of Roc. If you live in Indiana and want to train that is where I would point you. Billy will teach you sound fundamentals and offers chances to train with a great selection of guests. If I were a young athlete this is where I would go to start. Then I would make my way to Calgary and train at Lance Storms academy. In Michigan I know Truth Martini has a good school as well. In Philadelphia Delirious runs an excellent school for ROH. Team 3-D has a wonderful school in Florida, as well as Booker T’s school in Houston. But BEWARE. For all of these wonderful establishments there are many more that are complete shat. If your excited because your about to train with Pyro in his backyard, think again. Anyone can go on the internet and read plans on how to build a ring, or buy one from Highspots. That doesn’t make them a qualified trainer. What you really have to ask yourself is this. Who are they and what did they ever accomplish in the wrestling business? I wouldn’t vouch for Billy if I didn’t believe in his ability and hadn’t heard from many qualified people ( Chad Collyer, Flash Flanagan, Tracey Smothers, Mike Quackenbush etc.) that he has the goods in that ring. Billy is intelligent enough to teach. Great performers don’t always make great trainers. Yet a lousy performer is always going to be a lousy trainer. So another thing, actually watch your trainer work before you decide to let him teach you to wrestle.
Go to any and all seminars run by established performers. These people have a lot to teach you. Soak everything up like a sponge.
At this point in the business, if a “ Trainer” tries to hurt you to see if you have what it takes, HE doesn’t have what it takes. On the other hand, if your trainer wants to run you till you puke, he is pushing your limits and I respect that. They want you to be in the best physical shape you can be and squats and laps are part of it.
Never stop learning. That’s the best advice I can give you.
Secondly let me say this. If your asking me how you can make a living and support your family as a wrestler this is the answer. You Can’t !! Be prepared to have a fulltime job that pays the bills, and preferably has Health Insurance. I capitalize those two words because they are that important. Unless you’re a high profile athlete who has already made a name for yourself , be prepared to toil in the independents for a number of years and never get past that point.
Mike Williams and I were sitting in the offices of the old HWA while American Kickboxer and Les Thatcher were talking. Les looked at Mike who at the time stood 6’5” and weighed 300 lb. and said “ 30 years ago you would look at this guy and say he should be a wrestler, now I just say he needs to hit the gym and diet” He proceeded to tear Mike apart into little pieces. When Kickboxer told Les that Mike had no aspirations to wrestle, Les said that didn’t matter.
My point here is this. Be in shape before even thinking about training. Look like a wrestler. I can’t tell you how much it pisses me off to go to an independent show and see that 80% of the guys on the card wear a t-shirt into the ring. They don’t respect the business enough to try and do something about their appearance and their physical health, they should not wrestle. Yes there are exceptions to the rule. But they are few and far between.
Wrestling schools. This is a tough one for me. Most of these schools are going to be a good way to get you started, but don’t think that when your done that your ready. Right now, I only endorse Billy Rocs school of Roc. If you live in Indiana and want to train that is where I would point you. Billy will teach you sound fundamentals and offers chances to train with a great selection of guests. If I were a young athlete this is where I would go to start. Then I would make my way to Calgary and train at Lance Storms academy. In Michigan I know Truth Martini has a good school as well. In Philadelphia Delirious runs an excellent school for ROH. Team 3-D has a wonderful school in Florida, as well as Booker T’s school in Houston. But BEWARE. For all of these wonderful establishments there are many more that are complete shat. If your excited because your about to train with Pyro in his backyard, think again. Anyone can go on the internet and read plans on how to build a ring, or buy one from Highspots. That doesn’t make them a qualified trainer. What you really have to ask yourself is this. Who are they and what did they ever accomplish in the wrestling business? I wouldn’t vouch for Billy if I didn’t believe in his ability and hadn’t heard from many qualified people ( Chad Collyer, Flash Flanagan, Tracey Smothers, Mike Quackenbush etc.) that he has the goods in that ring. Billy is intelligent enough to teach. Great performers don’t always make great trainers. Yet a lousy performer is always going to be a lousy trainer. So another thing, actually watch your trainer work before you decide to let him teach you to wrestle.
Go to any and all seminars run by established performers. These people have a lot to teach you. Soak everything up like a sponge.
At this point in the business, if a “ Trainer” tries to hurt you to see if you have what it takes, HE doesn’t have what it takes. On the other hand, if your trainer wants to run you till you puke, he is pushing your limits and I respect that. They want you to be in the best physical shape you can be and squats and laps are part of it.
Never stop learning. That’s the best advice I can give you.
