By Zeke Jones, National Freestyle Coach
I just came off of a international training and competition schedule traveling to Russia, Cuba, Iran, and Belarus. Over the 49 days I was able to gather valuable intelligence on our American team is as well as most every international medal contender. With the world championships and Olympic Games just a short time away we now have a very clear picture of what the best in the world are doing. Its pretty simple, it comes down to lifestyle.
Before going through the lifestyle characteristics I should point out a few things. One, most often we wrestle like we like we act as people. Our wrestling often mirrors our personalities. Take a look at your personality off the mat. Do you make good decisions? Live a good, healthy, and disciplined lifestyle? If so, that translates on to the wrestling mat.
Two, there are exceptions to the rule. Every country has one guy that doesn’t listen or isn’t a team player but wins quite a bit. But I don’t know one wrestler who is world or Olympic Champion that doesn’t follow the national team plan.
If you want to know how the best wrestlers in the world are living. Here’s how:
Simple life almost bordering on boring
They live the right lifestyle. Most do not drink alcohol and eat right. A lot of them also have strong faith and spiritual lives. When it comes to being a world class wrestler they eat, sleep, and train and very little else. Get up eat breakfast go to practice. Come home eat lunch then rest/recover/nap. In the evening go to a second practice and then come home for dinner. In the evening watch tv, relax, social with their teammates in the dorm and then go to bed. Wake up the next morning and repeat. They keep life simple and minimize distractions. You don’t see them on their cell phones very often, don’t use the internet much. They play ping pong, billiards, sipping tea in between workouts or in the evening. Most of them live in poor conditions or close to it which gives them little options. The world or Olympic champions that are rich you can’t tell. They still live a humble, quiet life.
Disciplined, honorable, and respectful
Many of the world’s wrestlers and coaches believe American wrestlers are undisciplined and lazy. I don’t believe this fully but in some areas we must improve. Their team focuses on being on time, don’t miss practices, or meetings. They understand that the coach is the most respected person in the room. They stand in a straight line before practice and listen to the coach’s instruction without talking or any facial expressions.
Students of the sport
They are studying the latest techniques, tactics, and strategies the world is using, both in their weight class but also other weights.
Tough SOB in practice
In Russia and Cuba, they say if you’re not grabbing your opponents singlet your not trying hard enough. They will wrestle you dirty and will fight you literally and figuratively for every point.
Full time wrestling professionals
Have full time professional coaches with world class training partners. They are on the mat 6-8 times per week.
No travel unless its for training or competition
The only time they travel other than to go see family is to go and train and compete. Make no mistake when they travel to train its often for 14-28 days at a time. Virtually all of them have moved away to live in a location that gives them world class coaching and training partners.
Love to compete
In practice, they have fun by competing…whether they succeed or fail. One thing they don’t do very often in practice…cooperate with each other. Everything in practice they try to win. Since they’re so competitive they block their partners shots. Once they leave the mat they are friendly and kind.