To be a complete wrestler you must be able to wrestle in all positions. This means on your feet as well as on the mat, both top and bottom positions. Defense and counter offense are a critical part of all positions. In addition you must know where you are strongest and where you are weakest. You have to spend enough time on the skills and techniques that you are good at to hone them to perfection, but you must also find the time to develop the essential skill and technique in your weak areas. Repetition is the key to all of this. You do not truly own a technique until it has become a part of your muscle memory. It must be instinctive. When you have been in a given position enough times you begin to recognize it as it develops rather than as it happens.

Wrestlers who are great with an underhook usually don’t have an issue with getting underhooked, wrestlers who have a great single leg usually have better single leg defense and those who are experts at leg rides rarely get leg ridden. Offense and defense go hand in hand. The stronger your defense the more confidence you have in your offense. These are critical points to keep in mind as you practice. If there is one truth in the sport it is that practice makes perfect.