Nutrition is a weapon. It doesn’t matter if you are driving a Ferrari or a moped if they aren’t fueled, and what’s more, a properly fueled moped will outrun an empty Ferrari every time. But even that metaphor is insufficient, because nutrition is much more intricate than the fuel that powers an engine. Want to gain muscle? Lose fat? Maintain muscle and lose weight? There are recipes for all these ends, the only thing that stands between you and your ideal machine is the knowledge to do so. Sadly a lot of this knowledge is still a mystery to many. … Read More

In my competitive career I know I lost some matches due to nerves. Everyone has their own mental space they need to be before a match to perform at there best. Finding that space can be difficult. When preparing for big matches less can be more. This can be especially true in tough duals. Maybe even more so in the semi-finals or finals of a big tournament. I have seen many wrestlers tire themselves out. They wear themselves out emotionally and physically. They often do this with too much preparation before big matches. All wrestlers have had this happened to them. Feeling anxious or nerves … Read More

The weight room. Coaches and athletes everywhere appreciate the increasing importance of building physical strength, but most lack understanding of the nuanced benefits that strength training offers. Lifting isn’t just a blunt tool for developing explosiveness and strength, it’s a scalpel with the potential to develop the mind, body, style, and even potential, of any wrestler. Zach Even-Esh, is a strength and conditioning expert with a background specific to wrestling. Below are some of his insights into the flexibility and importance of strength training.    Training the Personality Imagine if you had to train two groups of animals, one domesticated, the … Read More

If you struggle to get your wrestlers to react appropriately to moves in practice… Or if the monotony of drilling is starting to bore you and your athletes…. Then it’s time to listen to this episode of the podcast. On Episode 5 of the Attack Style Wrestling podcast, we take a deep-dive into drilling in practice. Drilling is where wrestlers forge the little habits that make the difference between a college and middle school wrestler. Are your elbows loose? Do you reach?  Do you lay soft hands? Are your feet heavy? Are your ankles exposed after takedowns? Do you hit … Read More

Nothing is quite as annoying a person who is constantly trying to prove themselves. Obviously there are worse things, but having to nod your way through the repetitive, self-centered stories of someone who you’re not very impressed with is its own special kind of torture. Similarly, it can be awful and intimidating to be around an impressive person , and having them barely utter a word…The silver lining is that there is meaning behind the behavior of the boring blabber mouth and the understated success. Research shows a deep seeded pattern in the way people think. Some people view their talent … Read More

The second part of this two part series focuses on educating people on and short, medium, and long term goals. Like superficial, personal, and habitual goals, these goals are tools that are used in different ways but are all aimed at the same result. Once you understand all of them, and how to combine them, you should have something akin to a road map for your idea of success. Short Term This type of goal should be invented daily. It represents the little steps which add up to your medium and long term goals. “Drill one hundred single legs”, “Win … Read More

Everyone thinks they understand goal setting. They say, “I want to win states,” occasionally milk a little motivation out of that thought, but otherwise go about their business. What’s the matter with this? The benefit of goal setting isn’t that it helps fill trophy cases, it’s that it is the best way to promote personal growth and change. From this perspective, goal setting goes from a superficial zero-sum game, to a powerful, life-altering tool. What’s the difference between winning something and earning it? It’s the difference between being Michael Jordan and renting his trophies. Types of Goals Superficial: Winning the … Read More