WHY MMA FIGHTERS NEED TO START WRESTLING ALOT WHEN THEY ARE YOUNG!

Wrestling Tips for Young Fighters: Why You Need to Start Early

What's up, guys? Today, I want to talk to you all about wrestling and offer some advice to young fighters. This advice comes from my own experience and observations in the field, and I believe it's crucial for anyone looking to succeed in mixed martial arts (MMA). Let's dive into why young fighters need to wrestle as much as they can, and how this can set you up for a successful career.

The Importance of Wrestling When You're Young

When you're young, you often don't think about how your body will change as you get older. Trust me, the grind you can handle at 18, 19, 20, even 22 years old is vastly different from what you'll be able to handle as you age. The reality is, as you get older, your body can't take the same level of physical stress. Developing high-level wrestling skills early on is essential.

The grind that you put in when you are 18, 19, 20 years old, 22 years old, your body cannot handle that same grind as you get older.

Why You Need to Grapple Intensely in Your Youth

Grappling and wrestling will inevitably lead to injuries and possibly surgeries. But that's part of the game. The level of intensity and frequency you can maintain in your youth will not be sustainable as you get older. Watching older wrestlers, you'll notice they tend to avoid wrestling altogether. Take a look at fighters like Yoel Romero and Daniel Cormier, both Olympians, who hardly wrestled in the later stages of their careers.

Older Wrestlers: Adapting to Physical Limits

If you've ever noticed, many older wrestlers switch to striking instead of wrestling. This isn't by choice but by necessity. Offensive wrestling is one of the most cardio-intensive aspects of MMA. Attempting to take down opponents, especially those with good takedown defense, can be exhausting.

Here's a simple piece of advice: wrestle as much as you possibly can when you are young. The skills you develop early on in your career will serve you well as you age, assuming you still want to fight when you're 30 or 35.

Experience with Iranian Wrestlers and Naval Academy Training

From my personal experience, I didn't wrestle in high school, but I spent about five years wrestling with Iranian wrestlers—some of the best trainers out there. Also, I trained with my team in Maryland, where one of our wrestling coaches was the coach of the Naval Academy. As I got older, I focused more on drilling technique rather than live wrestling.

We drilled a lot more technique as I got older versus doing as much live wrestling.

This approach emphasizes the importance of reps and perfecting techniques, which can be maintained even as your body ages. Incorporating wrestling and jiu-jitsu combined training a few days a week is also effective as you get older.

Why Elder Wrestlers Transition to Striking

It's incredibly challenging to maintain the cardio required to take down an opponent multiple times in a round as you age. Therefore, many older wrestlers transition to striking. Their wrestling base developed at a young age becomes a defensive tool, allowing them to avoid being taken down.

Look at Daniel Cormier, a world champion in his older years, or Randy Couture, who didn't focus on taking people down but rather used his Greco-Roman style to pin them against the fence and dirty box them.

Conclusion: Young Fighters, Wrestle While You Can

In conclusion, young fighters should wrestle as much as they can while they are young. There will come a time when your body won't be able to handle the same level of grind, especially if you've had surgeries and injuries. To ensure a long and successful career, grind hard early on.

If you’re new to martial arts and looking for a gym, get my book, "The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Your Martial Arts School and Instructor." The link is in the description below. Feel free to comment on any techniques or videos you'd like me to make. Thank you, guys!

I hope this blog post provides valuable insights for young fighters and offers guidance on the importance of wrestling early in your career. Remember, the grind you put in now will pay off in the long run.