Meet The Greats

Being Extraordinary In the Sport Of Wrestling

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 17:17:34 +0000

What a great word… ‘Extraordinary’. Being extraordinary means being exceptional, amazing and remarkable. What a wonderful way to be. Who doesn’t want to be extraordinary in life? Who doesn’t want to ‘have’ an extraordinary existence? And for wrestlers and coaches, who doesn’t want to have an extraordinary wrestling career? So what does it take to be extraordinary in the sport of wrestling? Let’s start with integrity. Having integrity in one’s wrestling career means we honor our word. We do what we say we will do. And we finish what we start. Having integrity with the way we train and how we interact with our coaches or wrestlers is the foundation of creating a strong bond between coach and athlete. It leads to great trust which is essential in moving in a positive direction. Athletes must trust that their coaches have their very best interests in mind. And coaches have to trust that their athletes are fully committed to be the best that they can be. This mutual trust is the foundation for great skill development and progress in achieving success. Be complaint-free! Eliminating (or limiting) gossip and negativity will lead toward positive actions and attitudes. Focusing on what we can control in regards to our athletic training and progress is the only way to be. Complaining about things only sets up a negative environment that will lead us down a dark path. The grueling training and all the hard work that is involved with becoming a successful wrestler makes it difficult enough without being surrounded by negative feelings and thoughts. If we don’t like something and it is a real issue then we must change it! We can’t just complain about it. We must do something to get in a positive environment, which is crucial for one to flourish. On the mat, we should never complain to the referee, our opponent or coach, even if our opponent does something illegal. We should ignore our opponent’s illegal action like it never happened. This will make our opponents think we are too tough to complain. Be powerful! Ask for results and help with straight communication. No beating around the bush. Honesty along with a professional, forthright communicative approach will help one to solve issues and focus everyone involved on the tasks at hand. On the mat, we should never show any sign of weakness. We should always be powerful and confident in our actions. Be courageous! Have your fear and act anyway. We all experience fear at times. To achieve something extraordinary we have to be courageous in our attack and our approach. Whether it is on the mat with an opponent, or facing a conflict within our training situation. Be bold and confident that you will do your best to win or overcome the obstacle. This courageous mindset will help us to climb the highest mountain. Be peaceful! Give up the fear that anything is wrong. We need to be at peace with how we are training and what we are doing. This will give us the total confidence that we are on the right road. Our personal lives come into play here. We need to be living the life that – deep down inside – we know is the right way to live, according to our own personal moral compass. Having inner guilt or doubt about ourselves will keep us from being at peace. Now, our moral compasses may differ. I am not saying everyone has to have the same moral standards. However, the key is our inner conflict. Do we have inner conflict or not? On the mat, we need to be confident that we are paying the price to win. Off the mat, we need to be confident that we are living the right lifestyle; a lifestyle that meets our personal belief that shows our true character as a human being. Kevin Jackson, an Olympic Champion and head coach of Iowa State University, said it this way, “To be the best one has to have his/her whole life in order to be at peace, which is essential in achieving great success.” Be charismatic! Fully powerful and available in such a way that whoever we are with feels that we are truly present with them in that moment. This includes teammates, coaches, administrators and all supporters. As an athlete showing our coaches that we are present with them and coachable will inspire them to help us even more. Same for a coach, being present and charismatic with athletes will evoke an open-mindedness and excitement among those athletes. Be enrolling! Get people involved with our career, enroll people into our life and be willing to create from all the possibilities. Creating a strong support group and surrounding ourselves with great people will help us to build our career. Learning from this team of supporters will guide us forward in a very positive way. As I continue to search my own heart for ‘my part’ in our future Greco-Roman national program I am forced to look at all of these principles of extraordinary living and see where I fall short. My work starts there. Expect To Win!

Do You Want To Be Tough!

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 12:41:45 +0000

Do you want to be tough? Do you want to be able to out battle your opponents? Do you have a dream of becoming an NCAA or Olympic champion some day? Or maybe you want to excel as a MMA fighter after your wrestling career? Then get your tail involved with Greco-Roman wrestling! Yes, of course you can – and should – wrestle folkstyle. That is the style preferred by our nation. However, please don’t stop there. If you want to become an Olympic or World champion some day, you have got to wrestle all three styles of wrestling. Folkstyle, freestyle and Greco-Roman are the three styles I am talking about. In fact, if you want to become an NCAA champion or even a state champion you should be wrestling all three styles. Just ask the many superstars of our sport like Kendall Cross (Olympic Champion), Kevin Jackson (Olympic Champion), Sammie Henson (World champion), Kyle Dake (3xNCAA Champ) or David Taylor (NCAA Champ) to name just a few. All are experienced in Greco-Roman Wrestling. Yes, Greco teaches you upper body wrestling techniques, obviously. However, Greco-Roman wrestling teaches and trains you in so many more areas of the sport. Besides becoming a dangerous wrestler with throws and such, Greco teaches great pummeling skills and great hand fighting skills. Greco develops super core strength and outstanding cardiovascular conditioning. It allows for you to shut down your opponent’s attacks and neutralizes many lower body attacks. Not to mention all of the mental strength that it helps to develop. Why do you think so many former Greco wrestlers have done so well in the MMA world? Dan Henderson, for example, who is still fighting at 42 years old, would be the first to tell you how beneficial Greco was to his MMA success. Dan has competed in the MMA for 15 years. He has won numerous titles and belts in multiple organizations such as the UFC, Strikeforce, and PRIDE. At 42, he is still considered one of the toughest, most dangerous fighters in the game. Before his outstanding 40 fight career in the cage began, Henderson was a two-time U.S. Olympian (1992, 1996) in Greco-Roman wrestling. As written and quoted by Jordan Newmark July 26, 2012: http://www.ufc.com/news/Greco-Roman-Wrestling-Building-Toughness-Daily “You definitely have to be dedicated,” said Henderson of being an Olympian. “You have to be able to learn and to get into shape and be able to do all the cross-training that is involved. I think that's why I'm so mentally tough, because I competed like that. Wrestlers in general are fairly mentally tough. The biggest thing is the dedication involved - the commitment. It was obviously one of my goals. It was something that I wouldn't trade for anything. It definitely made me much more of a patriotic person. There are all the countries there, and to represent the United States was awesome. Barcelona was my first time and I was 21 years old. I was really excited about it, but it didn't compare to wrestling for my country in my home country in Atlanta. I think I was the first American to compete, so the crowd was really waiting for an American to come out and it happened to be me.” What Henderson has been able to accomplish in MMA should be reason enough to sway the uninformed of a Greco-Roman wrestling mat’s ability to forge hardened fighters. But “Hendo” is far from alone, as UFC veteran Matt Lindland won a silver medal at 76 kg at the 2000 Olympics, former UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight champion Randy Couture was a three-time Olympic alternate, “The People’s Champ” Chael P. Sonnen won high honors in several international tournaments and was an Olympic alternate, and the original depiction of Greco-Roman wrestling in the Octagon was multiple Olympic alternate and UFC Hall of Famer Dan “The Beast” Severn. The facts of the matter are clear, Greco-Roman wrestling can make a man out of you. “I believe that Olympic caliber Greco-Roman wrestlers have an advantage in a lot of particular positions, but more importantly, at the highest levels everything is a fight,” affirms Lindland. “You fight for points that don't come easy, you fight to make it on teams, you are fighting to medal at the tournaments. You absolutely have to fight for every inch and the word used is literally ‘pummel’. These are some of the most mentally tough men I know.” So, wrestle your hardest this fall and winter in your folkstyle program. But when the weather starts to warm in the spring and summer, don’t wait! Get involved with Greco-Roman wrestling! It will change your wrestling/fighting career forever!

More self image......

Sat, 20 Oct 2012 10:42:07 +0000

You can limit yourself by the story you have created about you. Here are some simple examples of how the story we have created about ourselves can limit us. I am no good at math. I have never been able to dance. I am not a very good writer. I am very stubborn. I don't sleep well. My English is not good. I am always late. I am not a very good driver. I can't see without my glasses. It is hard for me to make friends. Money seems to slip through my fingers. The moment you become AWARE of what you are saying, you can delete these things and rewrite your story!

Self Image/Performance

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 21:22:53 +0000

I will be writing in the next few blogs information regarding self-image and performance and the link they have with each other. To truly understand self-image and goals and the role it plays in performance, I feel it is necessary to go back to the beginning, when a child is first born. A newborn does not have a self image. All the child knows is that it is hot, cold, hungry, tired or in need of changing. It quickly learns that if it cries when it feels uncomfortable, someone will come and take care of its needs. Did you know that a baby is born with only two fears? They are the fear of falling and the fear of loud noises. All the other fears are learned. Think of all the things in life that people have learned to be afraid of, including perhaps the two most powerful and destructive...fear of failure and fear of success. Self-image really begins to develop when a child starts to acquire language. The most powerful people in a child's life are his or her parents. When these powerful people begin to correct the child by saying things like "bad boy", "bad girl", "stop that", "you can't do that", and "your not good enough", what is the child learning about itself? The child learns that he or she is fundamentally bad and destined for failure. We, as loving parents, are only trying to protect the child. However, unless we are very careful, the child will already be taking the first steps toward lifelong personal negative belief systems. It is no wonder that most people's self talk (the voice inside each of us) are among the reasons we do not succeed. Research shows that when we are place under stress and we are outside our "comfort zones," 87% of our self-talk is negative, just full of reasons we will fail. When that is combined with learned negative thought patterns, it is no wonder that so many people, including athletes, do not live up to their potential. Your thoughts or self talk controls your self image. Your self image controls your performance. This is true for all areas of life, including wrestling. If you want to change your performance, change the way that you talk to yourself. Put yourself up, not down. Combine that with affirmations, visualization and a great change will take place. Larry Gibson Gold Coach USA Wrestling, National Wrestling Hall of Fame

Greco-Roman program message from National Greco-Roman Coach Steve Fraser

Wed, 05 Sep 2012 12:44:29 +0000

By Steve Fraser USA Wrestling
08/29/2012

Our entire Greco family, including our athletes, coaches, medical staff, administrators and general supporters are all at a loss. I am sure you “the reader” are frustrated as well. Our goal was to win numerous medals in London and make our country proud. It did not happen. I apologize for that.

As National Coach for our Greco-Roman program, I take full responsibility for this lack of result. I realize the buck stops with me. I can assure you that there are many of us who are working to figure out why we are struggling in Greco. We are very confident that our country has the great potential to be the best in the world, just like we proved in 2007 in Baku, Azerbaijan when we won the World championship team title. But that old news is just that, ‘Old news.’

We do have our unique challenges in this country being that our youth age group system is entrenched in our country’s favorite style of wrestling… folkstyle. We need to figure out the ways and means that will help us to overcome our sparse focus on Greco (and freestyle for that matter). The good news is we are used to the challenges that face our Greco-Roman program. And the Greco family is a strong family of dedicated people that want to win more than anything.

Moving forward: I strongly feel that we cannot go back to doing business as usual. We need to stop… take a hard look at the issues…. and then do everything in our power to change what we are doing. We have to reinvent our Greco-Roman program. We cannot expect to be successful doing the same thing.

I am committed to identifying the problems and finding a way and means to overcome the obstacles, act on the changes needed, and execute a better plan of attack.

I must become a stronger leader, communicating the Greco-Roman vision. Athletes, coaches, volunteers and supporters need to be very clear on our international Olympic and World quest, including how we will conduct ourselves in the process. We must stand firm to our principles, standards and ideology. This is the only way we will get back on top in Greco.

Vision: Re-establishing our United States Greco-Roman wrestling team as the most successful program in the world.

Mission: Lead our world competitors in winning Olympic and World medals on a consistent basis.

Core Values: Give 100% of our effort, each and every day, to become world class by using the utmost integrity in our actions.

Core Objectives:

1. Physical Conditioning: Develop the most physically conditioned wrestlers in the world.

2. Technical Wrestlers: Develop the most technical wrestlers in the world.

3. Strength and Power: Develop the most powerful wrestlers in the world.

4. Mental Toughness: Develop the most mentally strong athletes in the world.

5. Weight management: Develop a system to teach wrestlers proper and effective weight management.

6. Coachable Athletes: Establish strong integrity and mutual trust between athletes and coaches, one that promotes an open, honest exchange of giving and accepting education and expertise.

Our daily theme needs to address the most important question, “how did we support the mission today?” This will be the focus of our existence.

We plan on executing a strong action plan to address the many needs of our program.

An example of this is follows. In an effort to strengthen our gene pool and youth development, we want to create a network of volunteer coaches and team leaders across the country that will help better identify Greco talent, coach & train kids, and promote Greco-Roman wrestling as a whole. This team we create will be a powerful unit and work closely together with myself and our national staff. This network of volunteer coaches and team leaders would help to expand our reach throughout the USA.

These VIP volunteers will work in the trenches in their perspective geographical areas, thus establishing a strong Greco-Roman presence and a strong pipeline of young talented Greco-Roman wrestlers.

Anyone interested in joining our team can contact me at sfraser@usawrestling.org. I would love to hear from you.

And of course, I am very open to gain feedback and suggestions from all whom have advice or input (especially from our grassroots people). Our move back to the top in Greco will take a team effort, for sure.

Just like from day one when I began at USA Wrestling, I totally believe we can accomplish the mission. I think I can speak for USA Wrestling and all of our wrestling family when I say “we are totally up for the challenge, totally committed and confident that we can reach the top of the world in Greco–Roman wrestling again.”

Coach Mac

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 11:34:25 +0000

Our society has placed a huge importance on achieving success in athletics and rightly so for every athlete. Unfortunately, success is often measured soley by becoming the literal best. Winning the State, National or World Title. If we run the numbers of those who actually achieve those titles, the percentage is very small in relation to the total number of athletes competing. So as a coach, how do I relay a message that resonates with every kid in the room, when many of them will become nothing more than a 2nd teamer or workout partner for those with more talent? Achieving success as many Gold medalists will tell you is found more in the road traveled to get there. The lessons of hard work, sacrifice, long weary workouts when you sometimes don't score a point, and many other life lessons and charactor building situations where our inner being is affected in such a distinct and positive way, that we become simply a better person, an encourager, a positive role model, a friend that one's teammates know they can count on to point them in the right direction. One great example I and my teammates had when competing in college was a man named Vic Janowic. When he arrived in the room as a freshman, he was w/o a doubt the worst wrestler in the room. When he left 4 years later he was still the worst wrestler in the room. But his work ethic, his willingness to stay after if someone needed a drill partner, his effort in his studies and his caring manner with which he helped anyone who asked, spoke volumes about the man we all learned to love. A few years after his graduation, he suffered a brain anorism (sp)that ended his life. He certainly wasn't a champion or successful as the world would measure success, but the completely packed church service as we honored this special man at his funeral, said it all. He was a man of special character, a true champion who always gave more than he took. As coaches and athletes, we have a unique opportunity to influence many lives by who we become and how we live our lives, regardless of the medal count and awards won. Building young athletes of character and integrity will reap far more valuable benefits than the trophies, medals and awards that will someday end up in a box in the basement. That's where all my stuff is! I'm so thankful for the many examples like Vic Janowic who've impacted my life and helped me to learn and also teach, true life lessons of a Champion!

A Competitive Attitude

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:39:35 +0000

I had the opportunity and pleasure at one time to coach with someone I would consider a close friend. His name was Darrell Keller and he was during his wrestling career a two-time NCAA Champion and Outstanding Wrestler for Oklahoma State. One of the things I admired about him was the simplistic way he would express things. We were sitting together a few years back at the NCAA Championships, he had not been back to them in over 20 years and I asked him, “What do you think?” His answer was “ Not much has changed, two or three of these guys came to win it and the rest are just kind of participating.” If you think about it this, it speaks volumes regards the attitude you must have as you enter tournament competition at any level. You not only need to be physically and mentally prepared to win, you must be determined and in absolute belief that you will be victorious. There can be no doubt or self-recrimination, no excuse to fall back on, no other choice or option open. There can only be a firm conviction of your own personal ability to wrestle your match, to control the action, to stay focused on the task at hand and to avoid distractions from the crowd, the referee or any previous injuries or illness you may have or have had going in and find a way to win. I witnessed this same kind of attitude and conviction in both Terry Brands and JohnSmith during their international careers. In 1989 in Martigny, Switzerland prior to his finals match and going for his third gold Medal, I heard John say, it's over, I've won it, they just haven't raised my hand yet. Never under estimate the power of positive self talk. I was fortunate enough to coach with Terry for a number of years and his ability to stay on task, to be self disciplined and to be relentless in his pursuit of excellence, not just on the mat but in life itself, is part and parcel of the very fabric of the Champion he is. To win on the mat and in life an athlete needs to assimilate these same attributes.

Your Choice 2nd period

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:59:57 +0000

As the rules have changed over the years with the myriad of choices offered to the wrestlers as they begin the second period, I regularly watch both wrestlers and coaches make choices that really don't make any sense. If I've taken you down say a couple of times and riddin the garbage out of you in the first period, why would I give you the choice to take your favorite position and maybe begin catching up. If I've proven myself superior in two of the three positions, (takedowns and top position) why wouldn't I continue to expand my lead in the proven rather than take a chance in the unproven position,(down position) and find out that you're a cradle maniac and suffer a humiliating loss after having been in control of the match. I've seen it happen waaaay too often. My philosophy is: If I'm ahead and it's my choice 2nd period, I want to choose the position that has the BEST chance of increasing that lead, if I'm behind on the scoreboard, I want to choose the position that BEST enables me to catch up on the scoreboard. Why would I give my opponent his best opportunity to score when he has more energy in the 2nd period and then expect to do whatever I want in the 3rd when I may be considerably more tired. Contact me at mac@goldbucklewrestling.com if you'd like to discuss these strategies!

Practice makes Perfect

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 15:02:44 +0000

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.

Belief is Part of Winning

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 10:38:37 +0000

To win you have to believe you can win. A lot of people say “I will believe it when I see it”, but in wrestling you have to believe first. You have to have self-confidence in yourself and your technique. It isn’t how much technique you know, it is being able to execute the techniques you do know better than your opponent. You have to control the action and pace of the match to fit your game plan. I believe “a champion has the ability to impose his will upon his opponent at his discretion”. Saying all of this is fine but how do we implement it? The best place to start is in the practice room. Learn to stay focused on the tasks at hand. Fully concentrate on skills and drills of the day. Pay attention to detail as you execute technique. If you drill imperfectly you will then execute with the same flaws. Be a good partner so that your partner will understand you need the same from him, always giving an honest reaction to bring realism into the interaction. Be a leader in the room, don’t be outworked. Always look to the next action and don’t let a mistake or losing a given situation such as a takedown cause you to lose concentration on the task of the day, which is to leave the room better than you entered it. When you are committed and accountable to doing things right, doing all the extra’s, putting a 100% into each day, you gain confidence and believe you deserve to win and expect to win.

A New Plan

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 14:50:17 +0000

1- The National coaches put together a staff, a pool of work out partners and support personnel i.e. establish good communication with the staff, wrestler and administration; training plan to fit the Olympic schedule, researching, evaluating the athlete and the plan. Media as a tool to promote and motivate the wrestler, staff; Seek advice from resource people, study the logistics, environment, opponents etc. Create a positive working relationship that would carry over to the athletes and coaches. Study the rules with FILA. Officials have some training sessions with an official present to evaluate special situations. I would tape some of our training sessions, edge of the mat tactics, special holds, etc. Assist with coaches meetings to evaluate the work outs and individuals. Weight control weigh ins, pulse checks; educate the athlete about protocol how to interview and handle the media and prepare the athlete for the unexpected. Condition him physically and mentally to be the best that he can be. This can only be done by being organized during the camp creating a positive environment, making sure the staff is totally committed. 2- Establish communication with the wrestler on a personal basis finding out as much as possible about his training and personal life. Create a positive working relationship to help him stay focused on his goal. I would collect as much information to help him stay focused on his goal. I would collect information on any special needs or concerns they might have. I would design some special holds and a training program based on video analysis. Provide the athlete with as much information as possible about the training plan, the environment, rule changes, tactics and competitors. 3- Find the people closest to the athlete to try to get additional information and support that might assist in working relationship. I would educate myself about the site of competition, the transportation, the food and weight cutting facilities, equipment and the competition schedule, etc. 4- The athlete needs to be briefed on the processing schedule and security. Wrestlers can not get distracted by the gamour of the games (he has to be kept Focused i.e. he can't be worried about shopping, wives, parents, girlfriends, etc.) This s going to be a big part of winning- keeping the wrestler focused on the mission! 5- I would do everything in my power to see the mission through. Most important I believe we can get the job done!

Consider This

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 21:50:41 +0000

I was just at the NCAA Championships and had a chance to visit with Dave Bennett. He had just returned from India and I had just recently returned from an international event held in Cuba. We couldn’t help but begin to compare our collegiate wrestling rules with the current international rules for freestyle wrestling. Because of the differences, it is a huge task for our athletes to make the adjustment between the styles after four to five years of competing in the collegiate arena. We believe there are a few changes we could make that would not only make competition more exciting at the college level, but would also make the transition easier and make us more competitive internationally than we currently are. The first is to institute an out of bounds rule. College wrestlers today spend more time at the edge of the mat than any other area of it. They have learned to use the edge of the mat to avoid having to wrestle their way out of trouble. They back out of bounds continually and seem to get away with it numerous times before stalling is called, and then it is usually a token call during the last few seconds. If there were a penalty for going off the mat as there is in freestyle, they would quickly learn to find the center of the mat and to continue to wrestle through the situation. Second, if there were a point for any back exposure as there is in freestyle wrestling we would see less of just hanging on to a leg while on ones back to avoid a takedown and to stalemate the situation. We currently have a two-point and a three-point nearfall for a two second and three second count respectively, why not just add a one-point exposure. These two changes alone would have a huge impact on how long it takes our college athletes, who decide to go on to an international career, to become competitive. In addition, these changes are simple enough that even those high school and college coaches who have never been involves with freestyle wrestling would be able to adjust their coaching to them. Bobby Douglas

New Book To Be Released

Sat, 01 Jan 2011 12:05:52 +0000

Craig Sesker of USA Wrestling through use of my notes, papers and interviews with myself and many of my friends and associates in wrestling has authored a biography of my life and career.It is also a history of the last fifty years of wrestling. The book titled "Bobby Douglas, Life and Legacy of an American Wrestling Legend" will be available spring of this year. Check out the website. http://www.bobbydouglasbook.com/links/

Evaluation

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 16:48:28 +0000

Evaluation of Results Wrestling is in transition. We need to adjust a technical and tactical plan to suit the new rules. The fact still remains that our takedowns are way down. Our set-ups are non existent. In the last five Worlds we have less than a dozen set-ups. You can't win matches with out takedowns and you can't get takedowns with out set-ups.

Thats What the Caged Bird Sings

Sat, 29 May 2010 16:46:28 +0000

I want to say this to the AD's that drop wrestling programs or de-emphasize their programs. You cheated a lot of kids like me out of an education and for that you should be ashamed. Dave Adams dropped the program at San Jose resulting in a spike in gang recruitment. The same thing happened in LA at UCLA, dropped, gang spike! Washington and UCSB, gang and crime spike. Drop out rates increased, kids health suffered. Discipline waned and we let the bullies run amuck. "Thats What the Caged Bird Sings" That's why I cry everytime a program is dropped. I am at the end of my fight, I am in no position to tell you what wrestling needs. You my fellow teammates, coaches, parents and families have to stand up for wrestling or we'll lose it at the university level. What can we do? We can do what Gymnastics did, they changed their rules and caught up with the rest of the world. So what? Fo me as a black coach I had to dispel the racist rumors about me; wanting to win the NCAA title with an all black team. I was asked that question by a parent of an Ohio State Champion that I was recruiting in the early 90's. I had to fight that rumor all my coaching career. I did win the NCAA's and I have recruited the most minorities and assistants in the country. I am proud of that, diversity is the trade mark of wrestling.

A Letter

Mon, 24 May 2010 12:04:24 +0000

Dear Mr. Douglas: My older brother was a competitor at the '68 Olympic Trials, I believe he took tenth ( in your weight class). Almost every time I see him I ask him to recount the events that took place during that match. He told me that during weigh-ins he was standing in line and he turned around for a minute and saw a man that he described as having a body like a "Greek God." He said this man had arms twice the size of his and his hands were not only big but they seemed to hang down to his knees. The chest on this person he described as enormous. The only thing that ran through his mind was, Oh God please don't let me have to wrestle him. He told me that he actually wanted to wrestle Dan Gable, he thought he could beat him and still feels that way. You see my brother was the JC state champ from California, personally I think he was the greatest ever. Anyway, the man he saw behind him in line was of course you. He told me of the match between you and Mr. Gable, how you took him down at will and the only point he scored was when you let him go. My brother described the match as though you were wrestling against somebody in high school, as we all know, Dan Gable was the defending undeafeated division 1 NCAA champ. I have heard this story in detail so many times I swear I was there. He also told me how Sam Huff pinned Dan Gable. He said he took him down with a firemans and and took Gable to his back, the first time he had been there, to his credit Gable got away. My brother said he could almost read Huff's mind, it if he said , "well that worked pretty good, lets try it again." so he did. He took him down with another fireman's, put him on his back, pinned him and that was it. Then everyone was waiting for the match of the tournament, or for that matter the match of of all time, you and Huff. But that didn't materialize, you blew through Huff, I believe he said 9-1. I could be wrong about the score of course, but in any event he said you made it look easy. I'm not try8ing to discredit Dan Gable in any way. He came back in 72 and did not give up a point in the Olympics, plus he is one of the all time great coaches. I just get so tired when I hear someone talking about Dan Gable being the greatest of all time. When I do hear people talk about Dan Gable being the greatest wrestler of all time and how he only lost once in his career, I tell them of the time when Mr. Gable not only lost once in his career, I tell them of the time when Mr. Gable not only lost twice in one day, he got spanked. I just want you to know that just as it's impossible to come up with a consensus all time greatest quarterback or pitcher, there is no greatest wrestler, however, if they ever do vote for one, you will most certainly get my vote. Sincerely, Robert Dean In the last 15 seconds of the match, Gable tried to go upper body. I threw him with a headlock which would have been a five point move or a touch fall.

Colorado Springs Summit

Sat, 22 May 2010 14:26:57 +0000

After spending three days in Colorad Springs exploring the best way forward for the American wrestling program, I find myself looking back at how we got to this point. At the same time I've been trying to figure out what is the best road map. I'm totally convinced that the Boris plan used by the Russians and the other top republics is the best model. The question is will it work for America? My answer is yes, it will work for America but it needs to be modified to compensate for American folk style wrestling. If we changed some of our folk style and collgiate rules we would have a much better chance of giving our wrestlers and equal chance for their Olympic dreams. I'm sorry that I am helpless to do more and I apologize for not being able to convince the rules committee that a change needed to be made to help our Olympic efforts. Art Martori and the Sunkist organization has played a major role in the American wrestling program. Sunkist was able to keep our best wrestlers wrestling through multiple Olympics. Our current wrestlers are now wrestling one cycle and their gone. We need to make wrestling more attractive to keep our best wrestlers around.

Regional Training Sites

Sat, 15 May 2010 12:41:39 +0000

The new regional Training Centers are a step in the right direction for USA Wrestling. The National Hall of Fames Ohio chapter addition brings much needed publicity to Ohio and wrestling. The USOC and USA Wrestlings aggressive pursuit of diversity paved the way in Ohio for one of the first women to receive the Toccara Montgomery Women of the Year award. With the induction of Harry Houska, Jim Humphries, Jim Jordan, Dustin Carter, Richard Bonacci, Doc Loffler, Chris Ford and George Kovalick, my coach, makes Ohio the most prestigious Hall of Fame in America. Congratulations LeeRoy Smith, Rich Bender, the Diversity committee and the inductees.

Correction of Date for Ohio Hall of Fame

Thu, 13 May 2010 23:08:42 +0000

The new date is September 19, 20010 in Columbus, Ohio. Location to be announced at a later date.

New USAW Diversity Committee

Fri, 09 Apr 2010 14:30:37 +0000

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.- USA Wrestling’s newly formed Diversity Committee hosted a historic in-person meeting at the Hilton Garden Inn – Airport on Thursday. The committee, chaired by Olympic athlete and coach Bobby Douglas, worked on a number of projects concerning diversity initiatives within USA Wrestling and the sport of wrestling. It was the first in-person meeting of this committee, which has had previous conference calls in February and March. “I am very excited to be part of this important committee. I am more excited about the work we will be doing,” said Douglas. “USA Wrestling, one of America’s best secrets, will lead the way to a more diverse wrestling community.” Among the committee’s actions on Thursday was the creation of a USA Wrestling Diversity Mission Statement, a mission statement for the Diversity Committee and a set of target objectives for the committee. These statements will be presented to the appropriate USA Wrestling constituent groups for review and comment, after which they will be presented to the USA Wrestling Executive Committee for approval. The committee heard a presentation by Eric Parthen, the Director of NGB Organizational Development for the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC). Parthen presented materials from an extensive report entitled New Models of Diversity Value: Leveraging Diversity for NGB Competitive Advantage, which was prepared for the USOC by Virtcom Consulting. Parthen also provided information on diversity projects from other National Governing Bodies from the Olympic family, and actively participated in the committee’s work sessions. “I want to thank USA Wrestling and its Diversity Committee for the leadership it has taken,” said Parthen. “I am impressed by the accomplishments already made and am encouraged about the future achievements of the committee’s work.” The committee conducted an extensive SWOT analysis of diversity within USA Wrestling and the sport of wrestling, documenting its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. This work will be used to help prioritize the committee’s efforts and develop specific programs and initiatives to achieve its mission. The committee itself is very diverse in its makeup, and includes athletes, coaches and leaders who have been trailblazers in eliminating barriers within wrestling and providing opportunities for all Americans to participate in the sport. “I am incredibly proud of our organization and its commitment to affect change in diversity,” said USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender. “We are very fortunate to have leaders involved on this committee that will insure success in our objective to increase our diversity at all levels.” The Diversity Committee will provide the wrestling community with updates on its work, and encourages everybody within wrestling who has information and ideas concerning diversity to share it with the group. USA WRESTLING DIVERSITY COMMITTEE Bobby Douglas, Ames, Iowa (Chairperson) Clarissa Chun, Colorado Springs, Colo. Terry Fike, Lock Haven, Pa. William Grant, Inverness, Fla. Leigh Jaynes, Colorado Springs, Colo. Lloyd Keaser, Ashburn, Va. Kim Martori-Wickey, Phoenix, Ariz. Sara McMann, Limestone, S.C. William Rosado, Las Vegas, Nev. Staff liaison - Rich Bender, USA Wrestling Executive Director Staff support- Gary Abbott and Haley Scherr

Ohio to start Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:07:42 +0000

I would like to congratulate the state of Ohio on creating the Ohio chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. The initial induction will be July 11, 2010 in Columbus, Ohio. Bill Lamb, former head coach of North Carolina University will organize the event. This is a big step toward further promotion and recognition for the sport of wrestling within Ohio which a rich tradition that all should take pride in. Nominations include, Lifetime Service to Wrestling, Outstanding American and Medal of Courage. It is great to see Ohio step up and become an active chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

“I only recruited athletes whose number one goal was to get an education.”

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 17:21:20 +0000

Question: Why were you so successful as a coach? I started recruiting kids when they were in grade school. The number one reason for my success was the type of wrestlers I recruited and the drilling system I used. The technical component came from Oklahoma State; the mat technique came from George Kovalick, my high school coach, and Harold Nichols. The key component was the drill routine. I was taught to drill against pressure in order to get the real feel for the holds and to drill the hold until you could execute full speed with resistance. This meant repetitions and your coach has to make you correct mistakes as they happen. This type of drilling is tedious and requires many many reps. I used the edge of the mat to increase the pressure and to help develop scrambling ability. One main problem was to make the wrestler keep a good stance and good head position. I see a lot of basic technical mistakes at the collegiate and high school level because coaches allow their wrestlers to make mistakes while they are drilling and don’t correct them on the spot... Most wrestlers do half. i.e. drilling a leg attack and not finishing the drill with a pin hold. Another mistake is the hand position. Most wrestlers start their takedown drill by reaching for their partners head or shoulders. Wrestlers remember, in order to finish right you have to start right. Coaches don’t force their wrestlers to follow the basic rules on the tie up. 1) Head position before hand position 2) 3) 4) (If you drill it wrong you’ll do it wrong and it won’t work against a good wrestler.) Answers for 2, 3, and 4, will be in the next lesson. The drilling will develop the process known as flow or muscle memory. This is the action that is developed by repetition. What happens is you automatically react or attack without thought because you have rehearsed the step so many times that you don’t have to think, your body moves instinctively.

Iowa's Lead

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:54:18 +0000

More schools have to follow Iowa’s lead. They use Gable as a lightning rod for promotion, recruiting and club activities. The fact that he’s one of the announcers for Iowa Public TV wrestling show helps the Iowa wrestling program The NWCA helps the Iowa program by using Gable as a spokesperson. All these things help the Iowa program. The rest of the nation needs to follow suit. The Iowa wrestling system helps also because it’s exciting. Their style of wrestling keeps their opponent in retreat making it difficult to attack when you’re being pushed backwards. Good system; its simple and easy to teach. It’s not hard to defeat if you’re in shape and have the right athletes. Congratulations to the Brands brothers and their staff. WIN magazine is a great tool for recruiting also it helps them corner the in state market.

Leadership and Respect:

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 06:59:23 +0000

Leadership is the quality that is responsible for people following an individual, having faith in his judgment and abilities and being willing to work under his direction. A leader is someone who can accomplish something others would not attempt. Not everyone can hold an office such as President or Vice President, yet all can develop the qualities of good leadership. Command the respect of others wherever you are, whatever you do. Study yourself. Discover your strong points and your weak points. Study the personal qualities of effective coaching. Endeavor to develop the qualities that will win the confidence of others, such as sound judgment, open-mindedness, freedom from prejudice, coolness in trying situations, sincerity, and honesty. When a wrestler deserves credit for achievement-compliment him. Admit mistakes and avoid excuses. Be firm when ideals, principles or goals are at stake, but try not to give offense. Refrain from hurting others' feelings unnecessarily. Have facts before you reach a conclusion. Develop good judgment. Plan to accomplish goals. Keep out of the limelight. The more difficult the obstacle, the stronger one becomes after hurdling it.

Now available

Sun, 17 Jan 2010 17:05:51 +0000

I would like to welcome you to The Wrestling Greats!! I am honored to be on this incredibly valuable and exciting site. This site provides an outstanding venue for the true student of the sport to immediately access great wrestling instruction as well as competitive action. I grew up in a small town in South Dakota, while there were a lot of benefits to living there, access to vast quantities of great wrestling instruction was not one of them. Anyone looking to improve their knowledge base and level of skill can now accomplish their goals with ease by using Thewrestlinggreats.com. The downloads are easy and the quality is outstanding. Let's use this learning platform to continue to take wrestling to new heights. The best way I know to build your legacy. Thanks, Lincoln

Forgotten on the Gridiron

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 07:47:51 +0000

Article on John Havlicek and Bobby Douglas By Dave Bloomquist. Although they lived only a half-mile from each other, they lived their lives at different ends of the spectrum. Once grew up in a modest home and the other one grew up in a shanty with no modern conveniences. They were as different as night and day except for one common bond, a grass field with white lines and numbers. When you think of Havlicek or “Hondo” basketball immediately come to m mind. He was all-state at Bridgeport High School. All-American at Ohio State, a 13 time all-star with the Boston Celtics and a member of the NBA Hall of Fame. What you may not know is how many colleges recruited him for skills on the football field, Pitt, WVU, Miami, Florida, Florida State, Purdue, all the major football powers of the time wanted “Hondo”, but none as passionately as the Ohio State Buckeyes and legendary coach, Woody Hayes. Hayes fell in love with the 6-5, 210 pounder’s quick feet and dynamic arm, one so rare that most quarterbacks in the NFL today would be hard pressed to match in terms of velocity and distance. “I was working our with the basketball team one time and we were walking through Ohio Stadium when I noticed a football lying on the ground,” says Havlicek in an interview from his home on Martha’s Vineyard. “So I picked it up and threw it to a teammate 80 yards away.” And to think he was an end his first two years at Bridgeport. That changed the day former coach Gene Remenar saw Havlicek throw. The coach made the prodigal son a quarterback his junior year of 1956 and “Big John” didn’t disappoint. With a mediocre supporting cast competing against larger powerhouses like Martins Ferry and St. Clairsville, Havlicek led the Bulldogs to a 9-8-1 record over two s4asons. “He was just an awesome athlete,” says Art Hehr, a 150 pound guard “we had the utmost confidence in him. “Belmont County Commissioner Gordie Longshaw recalls the image of “Hondo” in the pocket. “He would stay in the pocket and take hit after hit but wouldn’t go down. John had huge hands and would use them like a lineman to just push defenders off him. Havlicek says he never reached his full potential as a football player, but to anyone who saw him in the Bulldogs 19-14 upset win of Martins Ferry in 1956, that assessment is debatable. It was Bridgeport’s first win over the Purple Riders in the game’s 37 year history and Havlicek scored all 19 points. “We put in the single wing for that game and they were unprepared for it,” says Havlicek. “And I would run and pass out of it. That was the first time the game was ever played at Bridgeport and the crowd was so big they had to import stands to Perkins Field. After the win old men were crying and the fans even tore down the goalposts. It was just incredible. Beating Martins Ferry was the first big highlight of my athletic career and one of the top sports memories of my life.” Many of his friends, 50 years later, remember the scene vividly. “The town went crazy when we beat Martins Ferry,” says Joe Niekro, a childhood friend who went on to win 221 games in the Major Leagues. “John was the toast of the town. He was such a smart quarterback and good passer. What a lot of people don’t read remember is he played both ways back then also.” Art Hehr says, “The next day they gave us the day off from school. We had a parade with fire trucks and everything. We even got free haircuts at Bob Coyne’s Barbershop.” Havlicek passed 13 times for 200 yards that day to the likes of Dave Ledinvka, Buckey Shidell, Bill Laipple and Bob Nowakowski. The day the Bulldogs beat the Riders in 1956 elevated John Havlicek to cult status in Bridgeport, and it burned an indelible image in the mind of a freshman standing on the sidelines. That name –Bobby Douglas. When you think Bobby Douglas wrestling immediately comes to mind. The 1961 Bridgeport graduate was the first black state champion in Ohio and NAIA National Champion at West Liberty State College, a two-time Olympic Wrestler, eight-time Olympic Wrestling coach, first black Division 1 wrestling coach and former coach at Iowa State University. What you might not realize is Douglas was also an all-state football player who displayed blazing speed at tailback and 140 pounds of sheer dynamite as a hitter in the secondary. “He was all out buddy,” says Ken Janiszewski, a former teammate of Douglas’ on the baseball team. “He would whack you with everything he had and this got him knocked out a couple times. I saw one game where Bobby got knocked out cold twice on punt returns because he would never signal for a fair catch and people would just nail him.” Weighing in at 140 pounds his senior year of 1961, Douglas was named captain of George Kovalick’s Bulldogs. Offensively, “Fluke” as he was known by everyone, would use his speed to crank out long runs and his tenacity to try and put you in the cemetery, not the hospital. “He would try to break you in half,” says Denny Bowman, a star in his own right on that 61 team. “He was a hitter who never backed down from a helmet on helmet collision.” The Bulldogs went 8-1-1 in Douglas’ senior year, the biggest win coming against a much larger St. Clairsville team. In an interview from his home in Iowa, Douglas talks about the game as if it’s 1961 all over again, the intensity of his voice deepening when talking of the first play from scrimmage. “That first play was Belly 28. I cut it inside and then went right up the middle. I juked Tommy Starks and I was gone!” “Fluke” would finish the game with over 200 all purpose yards. On the season, the 5-6 stick of dynamite would rush for over 1,000 yards and intercept 6 passes from his safety position, earning All-State honors along the way. Teammates say his speed, which was just as lethal left or right as it was straight ahead and his toughness were unequaled around the valley. “High school football for me was a great experience,” says Douglas. “We worked hard, suffered and cried together. We developed a camaraderie that’s indescribable. In wrestling you’re more centered on yourself, but football was about trust and teamwork, and that’s something to be admired.” Douglas’ and Havlicek’s gridiron careers didn’t end at the high school level. Douglas followed George Kovalick to West Liberty State College where Bobby was a jack-of-all-trades offensively for two seasons before concentrating solely on wrestling. Havlicek meanwhile never played at Ohio State much to the chagrin of Woody Hayes who once told reporters the best quarter back in the Big Ten is playing basketball. Obviously the Cleveland Browns believed Hayes, because they drafted Havlicek and gave him a Chevy convertible as a signing bonus. He would end up making it all the way to the final cut with the Browns, even though he hadn’t played organized football for nearly five years. So while their accomplishments in other sports may have overshadowed their gridiron careers, they did not diminish the memories. Memories of two athletes so different yet so alike once they stepped on green grass with the white stripes at Perkins Field. They were men amongst boys on that field and both agree the lessons learned playing high school football helped each attain a level of success in their chosen professions rarely seen in the history of sport.

The Brotherhood of Wrestlling

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 18:42:48 +0000

Here is an exert from my autobiography that I think we can all relate to as wrestlers. Excerpts from THE STRUGGLE IS THE GLORY the autobiography of Bobby Douglas "The Brotherhood of Wrestling". First, let me begin by relating what, for many wrestlers, is a common experience. You enter a public place – say a mall, or a seven-eleven wearing something that identifies you as a wrestling partisan. Maybe it’s your letterman’s jacket or perhaps a souvenir t-shirt from some wrestling tourney. Soon, a complete stranger come up to you and asks the questions, “Hey did you wrestle?” When you reply, “Why yes,” this (up to now) stranger begins relating his own wrestling experiences. This man may have wrestled 30 or more years earlier, but the memories are still so fresh in his mind that he relates to them as if they were yesterday. Like old Marines reliving boot camp, wrestlers connect in a secret brotherhood – in a way that outsiders cannot understand. Wrestlers and former wrestlers of all ages share a bond. The shared sacrifice of the most demanding of all sports has left an indelible imprint on their person that time cannot erase. The bond that wrestling and wrestlers share transcends not only age, but race, creed and social status. Sports have always served to break down social barriers. Naturally, wrestling, because of its personal nature, hastens that process. In an increasingly fragmented society when people are divided up by age and race, it is both refreshing and enlightening to visit the local wrestling programs. At the local club level, kids from the country, inner city, and suburbs all strive to reach a common goal. The members from these teams represent a true cross-section of present day America across race across barriers, a true microcosm of a rainbow society. The wrestlers also bring their parents, loved ones and supportive fans together across these lines. As these wrestling boosters cheer their kids on and work collectively to support their wrestlers efforts, ancient lies and invisible barriers are quietly crushed under the weight of wrestling’s brutal truth and honesty. The wrestling code is simple; Discipline and hard work vs. regret. In wrestling a young man soon recognizes the direct correlation between hard work and success. Wrestling is a sport stripped of pretenses. At the end of the match (win or lose), you stand there and receive your reward or disappointment. Those would be deceivers are revealed by the harsh light of competition. Imposters soon blanch. Only the truly faithful, the hearty, the ones with true grit survive. For many youths wrestling represents the first tentative step towards achievement of manhood. For the first time in their lives they begin to understand the meaning of fidelity to an organization or team committed to ones self and others. Wrestling demands much from its participants. Our sport is uncompromising in that respect. Perhaps that is why so many fathers continue to be active and stay involved in wrestling. They are, maybe, trying to install in their sons the first lessons of manhood. As a man ages, he enters the complex world we live in. The line between right and wrong can at times be blurred. The sharp colors and hues of boyhood can turn gray. The idealist issues of youth begin to fade. A man can never recapture his youth, but the skills and lessons learned by our wrestlers last a lifetime, about being an understanding citizen, about life. It is true you cannot recapture your youth but a man can perhaps recapture who he once was. Physical skills will diminish, that is a given, as no man can stop the relentless surge of time. Lessons, however, need not fade. Strip away the baggage of adulthood from any wrestler, or former wrestler, and you will still find the passionate soul of a leader, a warrior, a person with honor. By Mark Munson

Coach Mac's Advice!

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 10:45:38 +0000

Happy New Year everyone! This new website should revolutionize the opportunities people in our sport have to access vital information in most every area of wrestling. Our desire is to not only provide top level techniques but also to provide guidance in nutrition, strategy, mentoring and a variety of areas that help comprise the total athlete. We're excited to be here to help meet your needs. Upcoming technique videos will cover (notso cheap)tilts and turns that help put a close match in your control! Looking forward to serving you in the new year! Mike McArthur

Welcome to The Wrestling Greats

Thu, 24 Dec 2009 12:44:14 +0000

I want to welcome you all to our new website and hope that in time you will find that it is a useful resource in your development as either a coach or athlete or maybe even as an avid fan who wants to learn what skills different athletes possessed that made them great. Wrestling has been my life since 1957 when I was first introduced to it and next to God and family has been the biggest passion of it. I have had the opportunity to coach at most levels from the grassroots clubs and High School to my final position as National Developmental Freestyle Coach for USA Wrestling and I believe that two of the biggest contributors to my understanding of the sport was my being able to watch world class athletes compete at their highest level and then analyzing their actions on the mat by use of film and video. Via this website you have the opportunity to gain access to a good quality copy of many of the pasts great wrestlers in action, thanks in part to both USA Wrestling and FILA. In addition you have the opportunity to get first hand instruction from many of those athletes. As the weeks, months and years go by we will continue to add instruction content of not only great athletes of the past but also of the up and coming stars of the future. This is more than an e-commerce store in that there will be many features that are yours at not cost. For example we have developed a technique search engine for the various styles of wrestling that will be continually populated with actual examples from live competitions. There is also an interactive module to help educate and train officials. Both of these are free and available for use via links on USA Wrestling's new social network "thewrestlingnation.com". There are blogs like this one that will be posted as time allows by other coaches and athletes. It is, however, an e-commerce site and we do appreciate any purchases made by you. The majority of any funds raised is going back into the sport, not only to help fund USA Wrestling and FILA, but directly to the athletes themselves. Best wishes. I look forward to one day meeting many of you in the world of wrestling.