Youth Wrestling

This class is designed to introduce young athletes to the fundamentals of Folkstyle (Scholastic) Wrestling, the primary style used in schools and colleges across the United States. Our focus is on developing physical literacy, mental toughness, and a deep understanding of the “three phases” of a match: neutral, top, and bottom.

Through a mix of technical drilling, situational live wrestling, and agility games, students will learn how to control their opponents and themselves on the mat.

What We’ll Cover

We break down the complexity of wrestling into digestible, high-impact skills:

The Neutral Position: Mastering the staggered stance, motion, and level changes. Students will learn high-percentage takedowns like the double-leg, single-leg, and inside trip.
Control from the Top: Learning how to maintain a “heavy” base, break down an opponent to their belly, and work toward a pin using halves and cradles.
Escapes & Reversals: Teaching the “bottom” wrestler how to create space, stand up quickly, or hit a sit-out to regain the neutral position.
Mat Awareness: Understanding the scoring system (takedowns, escapes, reversals, and near-fall points) and staying within the bounds.

Class Structure

Segment	Focus	Activity
Warm-Up	Agility & Mobility	Bear crawls, tumbling, bridging, and “shadow wrestling.”
Technique	Skill Acquisition	Step-by-step instruction of the “Move of the Week.”
Drilling	Muscle Memory	Repeated, low-resistance reps to perfect the form.
Live Wrestling	Application	Controlled “situational” wrestling (e.g., “Start on the whistle from the bottom”).
Conditioning	Grit & Fun	Wrestling-specific games (like “Toe Tag”) and sprints.

Core Benefits

Total Body Fitness: Improves balance, core strength, and cardiovascular endurance.
Self-Discipline: Teaches athletes how to set goals and work through physical challenges.
Sportsmanship: Promotes respect for teammates, coaches, and opponents.