Do you know how to build mental toughness?

Any coach can teach technique, but the thing that separates good coaches from great coaches is the ability to develop mental toughness. In this video, Gable talks about the steps to developing mental toughness in a specific athlete, how he evaluated the athlete, and the end result. Transcript Dan Gable: He had always had this problem of holding up. I tested him under tough conditions and I used the same conditions. When I figured out he could go this long, this hard, I mark it down and I asked him to do one thing. “Can you go one more second … Read More

Window High Crotch Takedown

The high crotch takedown is a core technique in the neutral position. The inside tie set up is one of the best to get you to the leg, while the double leg finish is ideal in securing the takedown. This takedown offers the unique combination of the effectiveness of getting to one leg and the ability to secure both legs. Having the wrestlers finish with a Shelf and Claw reinforces controlling the hips and countering any attempts to Funk Rolls. How do you do a high crotch in wrestling? Step 1: Inside tie with v-block set-up For the inside tie … Read More

Arm Drag Takedown

The arm drag takedown is one of the best and most basic in wrestling. Mastering this technique teaches wrestlers the fundamental skill of keeping their arms short, and shows them how to punish those who don’t! Key elements to the arm drag series are controlling wrists, establishing head position, and forcing your opponent to pressure into you. Once these elements are in place, you are in position to score a takedown with essentially no risk! How do you do an arm drag? Step 1 Footwork – Outside Step and Pivot Your footwork will start by stepping toe to toe with … Read More

My Take on “Iowa Style” Wrestling

Do you really know what Iowa Style Wrestling is?  It’s a style that can work for anyone, will lead to more fans and can maximize each wrestler’s potential.  Oh, and if you get two wrestlers that wrestle in this fashion, watch out and hold on to your popcorn, because it is going to be an entertaining match! Read on to learn from a Gable Trained NCAA Champ that toiled in the trenches of the Iowa Wrestling room alongside greats like the Brands Brothers, Lincoln McIlravy, Mark Ironside, Randy Lewis, Royce Alger and many more. What is the Iowa Style? A style … Read More

Chain Wrestling from the Top Position

We’ve all heard the expression “chain wrestling,” and there is a good reason for this. The key to defense in wrestling is position, the key to offense is chaining moves together. This video focuses on a drill for chaining series moves together in the top position. Knowing how to chain moves together within a series (such as a half nelson, crossface, arm bar etc.) is the key to pinning, but knowing how to choose which series to pursue is equally important. Don’t ignore the advantages your opponent’s reactions give you! One move can be stopped by anyone, but this drill … Read More

Dan Gable’s “45 Minute” Practice Matches?

When Coach Gable walked into the practice room, he always had a goal he wanted to accomplish. But the plan to accomplish that goal almost always changed over the course of practice. Gable always kept his finger on the pulse of the practice room and constantly made adjustments based on factors like injury, energy, attitude and the constant goal of maximizing and extending the most productive moments in practice. Transcript Dan Gable: You figure out the process that you need, and you follow that process.  That doesn’t mean you don’t change it.  It’s like I go into practice, everyday I went … Read More

Pressure Drill – Improve your Stance and Positioning

The core of a wrestler’s strength is their stance and positioning. Once a wrestler understands these tools, they can put themselves in position to attack without risk. The pressure drill is a crucial element of the neutral position that must be implemented more or less constantly in neutral drilling. It is a drill within the drill that has the power to turn the neutral position into a no-win scenario for your opponent. Keys to this drill include understanding “spiral pressure,” establishing head position, and making a connection between head position and hustling with your feet. Once these elements come into … Read More

Revealing the Secrets of Gable Trained Athletes… Two Years in the Making!

Ever since I started making my Gable Inspired Training Secrets available online, over 2 years ago, It has been my goal to provide motivated wrestlers and coaches with the most straightforward and useful training strategies in the world! Bringing driven wrestlers and coaches together with the most successful and proven training strategies and watching them reach heights they never thought possible is the sole purpose of this website and gives me extreme satisfaction. I have worked with over 30,000 coaches, parents and wrestlers both online and offline in the past two years and it never seizes to amaze me at … Read More

Top Position Crossface Series: 4 Steps To Break A Determined Wrestler

In bottom wrestling, “head up” is a core concept, unless your opponent can throw a crossface. The crossface series is a crucial element to any wrestler’s top work. If not because it is a very reliable source of back points and pins, then because the combination of a crossface butcher and a crossface cradle is one of the best ways to break a wrestler determined to establish position and escape. Master the Technique of the Crossface Series Step 1: Know how to throw the crossface Perform an ankle down breakdown from the same side as you’re throwing the crossface. Objective … Read More

Sparring Drill – Develop Feel

What is “feel”? Everyone knows this word separates the sheep from the goats of the wrestling world. It speaks to skill, experience and timing, and a host of other characteristics under the umbrella of “intangibles”. But as abstract as “intangibles” sound, they can be developed if you understand proper sparring. Sparring is an unstructured drill where athletes have the opportunity to execute technique against an opponent who is “passive tough.” Under these conditions athletes learn technique, but more importantly, they develop the feel and timing that leads to quick, clean takedowns and dominating performances. In addition to growing the so-called … Read More