Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Wrestling...Cerebrally Speaking

Long have I thought wrestling could break into the bigger stage with some unique kind of message that would help put us in a better context and light.

I believe if we could show the general public that wrestling is not all brawn and has some brains about it as well, we'd have a much better image - and as things get tight, perhaps we would be well served to try and tweak our collective brand a bit.

This is first stab (below) and only the beginning so perhaps go easy but will give you an idea of where we could go with some simple stories about wrestling that send, and more imporantly plant and nurture some highly positive and beneficial messages.

I think if we relay to the masses that we aren't all about doing insanely difficult things that could "make a billy goat puke" and point out some of the other more cerebral, just as truthful and Universally beneficial habits like "reading" perhaps we can win-over a few more kids, mothers and fathers and help us stay strong and plentiful.

Still in the cooker but this conceptual idea might be way to help promote our awesome sport positivity from within.

The author certainly welcomes any thoughts and/or ideas that come to mind and please feel free to copy this material and use for your kids, teams, parents at your convenience.

And as usual...thanks for reading!

Reading while Wrestling
A Short Wrestling Message

Evan rushed into his house for dinner, slammed the door shut and said, "I got two hours of reading done already mom"!

"What?...That's great!...um, but where"?? asked him mom very inquisitively.

"At wrestling practice mom! Don't you know you have to be a great reader in order to be be a great wrestler?! Coach even said so!!!"

"I didn't realize that Evan," said his mom obviously very impressed. "Boy, the sport of wrestling sure has changed since I was a child; and I sure do like it"!

Bump.

Sounds a little strange, doesn't it?

But believe it or not, reading is a very big part of wrestling. Only in wrestling, we don't read words, we read feet.

Knowing how to read feet and other 'tells' wrestler's show is not only a uniquely valuable and secret skill, but is one of the very few concepts that can take you to wrestling nirvana, now.

Believe it or not, yes, you can instantaneously become an incredibly improved takedown wrestler by simply learning...The Art of Reading Feet.

Think about it for a second.

If you learn to read your opponents feet, you can figure where his next step is going to be.

Nice.

Now, that's highly valuable information!

And if you speak the language of motion and know how to interpret this uniquely potent information you can weave this extraordinarily powerful skill into your current wrestling game and use it to your ultimate advantage!

At the heart of the matter, when you learn to read your opponent's feet, you effectively become ten-times faster, ten-times smarter, and ten-times better, now!

That's the power of a well-timed shot and the value of reading while wrestling!

Ask John Smith or Cael Sanderson - they'll tell you.

They were two of the very best in the world at this skill! How did they do?

Take a break from the uze and allow us to come in and teach you how to ready your opponents feet so you can become much better, right now.

Do this and I guarantee you'll become dramatically closer to wrestling with the efficiency, effectiveness and success of John Smith and Cael Sanderson.

Read feet and score big.

Monday, April 4, 2011

The Mind of a Wrestling Champion

Wrestling is not what I do, it's what I am.

Although my life goes round and round as I would hope and expect, I've notice wrestling's pretty much on my mind 24/7/365 - sometimes center stage, but always at least...in the background.

I am the first to say however I am not simply and only a wrestler...there is much more to me - but indeed wrestling is me and I am wrestling, that's goes now and forever.

Furthermore, I believe (OWAW) "Once a Wrestler Always a Wrestler".

From wrestling I've taken a wealth of knowledge, much more than the symbolic medals and trophy's but much deeper, more real and valuable things like desire, discipline and determination, things that I can and will successfully apply in all my future endeavors whichever direction I choose to go.

For in my invested time in this special sport I've discovered that no other sport I know mirrors life quite like the unique sport of wrestling.

Wrestling, in my opinion is the perfect teacher for life and perhaps the best kept secret in all of American athletics.

I remember reading a few years ago that the legendary Dan Gable said "American needs wrestling" and even though I was young I totally understood him...he was right on; I mean look around you, in this country who couldn't use some more desire, discipline and determination in their lives?

And which American kid doesn't want to be strong and athletic, you know?

And how many sets of parents don't want these types of things for their kids? All my friends' parents' certainly do.

Although I'm still young I've been around the block a few times and imho the sport of wrestling has value far beyond that which meets the eye.

Wrestling has taught me many great things but perhaps the most important is the ability to focus on something (that was good for me) for an extended duration of time.

Sure, I could focus on video games and computer all day and night, but that's not necessarily good for me.

Through the power of focus, which came as result of falling in love with the awesome sport of wrestling,I discovered that if I truly focus my energy on something, and become a student of it, many amazing almost miraculous things automagically happen.

Totally true and perhaps simplistic but surprisingly one of the first things I discovered on my journey to wrestling success was this: I learned that I could learn.

Ha, perhaps that sounds absurd to you but somehow I think I went my whole young-life not knowing I could actually learn a new trick.

I remember vividly that wrestling was the first 'anything' in my life that I thought, 'hey if I spent my time and attention on this, I'd get better'. Isn't that something?

I know that's kind of weird to hear and certainly doesn't speak highly of my intellect but I'm simply saying, that's the way it was.

Secondly, I got totally inspired.

Something about the sport engaged me and soon it was something I was doing on my own, by myself...perhaps much the same as riding my bike for the very first time. It gave me a sense of adventure, pride, and personal achievement.

When totally engaged, there was no work involved, it's a challenge I look forward to the time to work at my chosen craft.

Thirdly, wrestling taught me that (and I know this goes against the grain) but ultimately this business about there being a price for success is imho a total myth.

You see, in my way of thinking, the entire process of success is a priceless gift.

If you tell me that working with desire, discipline and determination toward a meaningful and lofty goal is a price - then what would you call the opposite?

I'm no rocket scientist, only a wrestler but I would say that those who never try those traits are the ones paying the real price.

Wrestle...for life.

Just my .02

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

In Between the Moves

By Chris Lembeck

After a seven year study of the best coaches and athletes on the planet including the top Russians of all time I’d like to offer that the most important factor in wrestling is what takes place “In-between the moves”.

Surprising as it may sound, the moves themselves are actually one of the least important aspects of making a championship wrestler.

Let me explain...

Contrary to popular belief, if wanting to develop a true wrestling Champion all the things that don’t get you any points are actually where you want to focus the bulk of your time and energy.

If you do this, I believe your kids will make extraordinary leaps and bounds on their level of performance in the time it takes to go to an outside ankle.

Consider this…

Almost every coach (and kid) in the country knows how to teach and/or execute a high crotch takedown, right?

Well then, why are some kids, a very small percentage of them mind you, able to do it in a real match when the heat is on, and against the top competition?

I believe that the difference here is what takes place immediately prior to the shot itself.

In my opinion, all the action that takes place “In-between the moves” is the difference that makes the difference, and those who coach this aspect of the sport will come out on top each and every time.

In 1987, one of the greatest wrestlers of all time Dave Schultz trained us at the University of Northern Iowa.

If you’ve ever had the pleasure to read or perhaps meet Dave Schultz you can imagine this was a very enjoyable, entertaining and enlightening experience and changed the way I approached the sport of wrestling…and life for that matter.

Fast forwarding to that next summer, without any planning on either of our parts, Dave and I ended up on the same airplane (and same weight class) heading out to the National Open in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Knowing I was again in the presence of wrestling royalty, I seized the moment and asked Dave a question.

I said, “Dave, what is the most important thing I need to know in order to become a great wrestler?”

I had no idea what he would say and figured it would be something like ‘always keep your head up on your shots’ or ‘know every move in the book’ or ‘learn how to wrestle with the Russian Tie’.

But nothing like that came.

What he said not only absolutely floored me, but has stuck with all this time and has had a major influence on my over-all coaching philosophy.

Moreover I think it clearly demonstrates Dave Schultz’s deep “In the seed” understanding of the sport and shows why he was who he was, and why his indelible influence is still with us today.

Know what he said?

“In order to be a great wrestler, all you need to do is follow this simple strategy"...

Control the:

1. Tie-Ups
2. Set-Ups
3. Pace

And there it was.

Potent and powerful “In the seed” wrestling information beyond compare and if you think about it falls in perfect alignment with the points in this article.

See, you don’t get any points for winning the tie-ups, performing a sweet set-up, or controlling the pace...BUT! those three aspects are the secret gateway to the vast majority of your wrestling points!

Yes, it's a beautiful thing!

What happened in Vegas...

As it turns out Dave (of course) and I (by the grace of God) were both unbeaten after 5 rounds at 163 lbs. of the National Open, and as destiny would have it, I drew Dave for the 6th.

Here’s how the match went…

I wanted to wrestle with inside-tie using high-hooks and posts - but we ended up in either a no-tie or Dave’s patented Russian-tie.

I wanted to change his angles, attack his stance and head position to open up “High C” or “Double-leg attack”- but I ended up following Dave's subtle lead and reacting to his every action.

I wanted to wrestle really fast and hard pace; but, we ended up wrestling Dave’s signature slow and fairly still pace.

He did to me exactly what he told me to do to others…he controlled the tie-ups, set-ups and the pace. Guess who won?

My advice to you is to take Dave’s potent and powerful information and "rethink everything" about takedown wrestling.

Whether you’re a Head Coach of Division 1 College, or simply a dad coaching your son in the basement, I suggest you consider moving your focus backward in time and work on what happens just before the shot.

Sure, practice the move itself, but the real key in World-Class Wrestling is knowing that the most valuable wrestling instruction rests not in the move itself, but what lies In between the Moves.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

John Wooden - An Innovator of Men

“Develop the person first, the athlete second”.

John Wooden was the basketball coach at U.C.L.A. from 1948-1975.

He was perhaps the greatest basketball coach ever.

He may be the greatest coach of any sport, of all time.

His teams won 10 NCAA Basketball Titles in 12 years.

From 1967 – 1973 his teams won seven titles in a row.

This seven year streak is considered one of the greatest feats in sporting history.

He is a masterful Coach - a true genius.

His nickname was “Wizard of Westwood”.

Think of him as the Gable of Basketball.

­­­­­John Wooden was a miraculous man and certainly deserves the respect and admiration of the American people.

His priceless philosophy transcends all sports and his wisdom serves as a guiding light for all coaches and people no matter the sport or affilitation. I find his philosophy Universal and among the best in the world.

I’ve been doing some reading. Being somewhat of a sports-mined person, I’ve taken some time to study and analyze some of the greatest coaches of all time with the express interest to learn how they accomplished such previously unimagined feats.

I chose to focus on “how” these coaches were able to do what they did and the “reason” they could consistently end up on top and able to achieve the unachievable and impose the impossible.

I studied their philosophy and belief systems that are at the “seed” of their coaching genius for that is where you will discover the heart and soul of their methods.

Coach Wooden’s Universal Teaching Philosophy: Develop the person first; the athlete second.

When I first heard, “Develop the Person first, the athlete second”, I thought this kind of philosophy was great for someone of his prominence, respect and power but what about the rest of us coaches?

Certainly, that kind of coaching was made for only a small number and a very special kind of coach - and not me.

Furthermore, one might have thought “hey, this Wooden character is 98 years old – he’s an old gent who doesn’t know a thing about the real world or kids today” and conclude his game plan works only in basketball - or in the forgotten past.

And, if we really get down to it, one might think that he’s perhaps just trying to say something nice in the twilight of his career that has nothing to do with coaching basketball or any other sport for that matter.

As it turns out, John Wooden – as usual, was right on the money. And his miraculous way of coaching is not the unattainable, unrealistic out-dated, bogus advice some might think. Quite the opposite, it is, and will always be the best path for any and all coaches.

Coach Wooden is a master – a true genius.

He perfected something. He found a way to take something considered very difficult and make it look simple. He was truly a master of the game and master of communication.

Wooden considered himself not necessarily a coach but rather a “teacher”. He said we are all teachers to someone whether we realize it or not.

Many coaches have found success by way of inventing a new way to coach a sport and made some creative innovations. Coach Wooden was not one of them.

He was much better and more valuable. Innovators of the sport hail from a group of many. John Wooden was an innovator of men - and from a group of very few.

He didn’t merely develop his atheltes’ athletic skills and give them National titles; he developed the inner man and gave them a life.

Coach Wooden was a man who knew he was doing things the right way and pursued it with great passion and perseverance.

Through faith in his purpose, method and direction - and following his natural instinct that his major responsibility was to develop the person, he was rightfully granted the power of inspiration.

The power of inspiration is the Holy Grail of coaching; and also the Holy Grail of life.

If you stick to your inner feelings and choose to go the path you KNOW to be right, despite it being the path less traveled and perhaps full of staunch resistance, you will come into your own.

The right path, the path to the light is always the one less traveled…that’s the reason you need “the light”.

For simply following his natural instinct, and doing the right thing, John Wooden was granted the ability to champion one of the greatest sporting feats of all time.

The secret to Coach Wooden’s success is right in the Title: “Develop the person first, the athlete second”.

All coaches of all sports ranging from youth league volunteers to the professional coach ought to post this potent piece of wisdom on their bulletin board and share it with all those involved.

For this man who invented and lived it is a great man indeed.

I would imagine that coach Wooden learned a lot through his career and mostly because of his courageous decision to blaze a new trail laced in morality, integrity and some good old fashioned truth, albeit sometimes unpleasant, hard to swallow and inconvenient.

I bet his athletes heard a lot of truth from him - truth's that perhaps no one else had the nerve to tell them.

And I bet his former athletes and current friends love him for that and realize he gave them more, way more than trophies, titles and wins. He gave them life.

If everyone followed Coach Wooden's philosophy, our modern day sports world would be much better in all arenas.

His philosphy is universal and ought to be the game plan for each and every coach or teacher who ever hangs a whistle around his or her neck.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Nature vs. Nurture...In Wrestling Terms

Wrestling is the world’s oldest and greatest sport. Let's keep it that way.

But due to deep and sweeping budget cuts at virtually every College and University across the land, "wrestling" due to no fault of its own could soon find itself in a cross-face cradle of trouble and on the very top of the national sports "endangered list" (see UC Davis).

Some feel unless we do something totally dramatic to make our sport more attractive to the outside world, it's quite possible the oft invisible winds of change have begun a slow erosion process that could lead wrestling to the almost unimaginable state known as "extinction".

Allowing the erosion of wrestling in America is totally unnecessary, and due to wrestling's irrefutable and extraordinarily positive and far-reaching impact on America's collective youth, an unwanted and unwarranted and some say already in motion disregard from educational administrators needs to be firmly stamped on their minds as: not an option.

Not only would America lose one of its greatest sports, droves of people - young and old would be without their life-long passion; and hundreds of thousands of kids would be without their favorite, and perhaps the most beneficial, productive and impactful activity in their lives.

Moreover, legions of good men and women including thousands of outstanding coaches at every level including college, high school, junior high, youth and let’s not forget all the private clubs in the country, the vast network of wrestling reporters in all forms of media including writers, administrators and managing editors producing the countless magazines, websites and publications, and all the fine people who supply our equipment, merchandise and training needs would all be out of a job.

We would all lose.

Although this might paint a less than pretty picture and perhaps one we don't care to look at, we might need to collectively stand-up and exercise our legendary toughness, look the situation square in the eye and discern:

1. If indeed the threat is real
2. Its likelihood to attack us
3. Its inherent strengths and weaknesses
4. Our exact level of vulnerability

Then, and only then, will we be amply equipped with all the pertinent information allowing us the ability to properly create an thoughtful, intelligent and strategic "game plan" specifically designed to adapt, adjust and overcome the impending threat so we can do whatever it takes to win.

J Robinson the legendary Head Wrestling Coach at the University of Minnesota has found success in coaching that most can only dream. He's served the sport his entire adult life and is a leader and innovator of both the sport and men.

J's gotten to where he is today by often being ahead of his time, thinking unconventionally and is regarded by many to be the nation’s leading voice when it comes to wrestling promotion.

Regarding the future of wrestling, J had these potent and somewhat alarming words to say on the topic:

"Wrestling will not die because the coaches at all levels do not know how to do double legs, high crotches and single legs; it will die because the coaches do not market and promote it correctly".

Real talk.

And two-time NCAA finalist for the University of Northern Iowa, youth Coach and college wrestling aficionado Gary Steffensmmeier also weighed-in on the matter and offered this enlightening thought:

"People just assume sports are popular because people are interested - but people are interested because they are well marketed".

Interesting notion indeed and reminds one of Mr. Cart and Mrs. Horse...or was it Mrs. Horse and Mr. Cart?

At any rate, not only are these two men's thoughts quite similar, exceedingly insightful and a bit "outside the box", but both thought-patterns are also filled with something we can all welcome and subsequently sink our teeth into...hope.

If these two sharp wrestling minds are correct, what's popular in American sports has less to do with the actual merits of each sport, and more to do with how it's managed and marketed.

If indeed this be the case, we can all stand up and cheer because the solution to our collective problem is singular ergo surprisingly simple.

The Branding of Wrestling

Tom Brands, the truly amazing Head Wrestling Coach at the University of Iowa and the reigning NCAA Champions three years straight is without question the most colorful attraction the sport of wrestling has to offer the outside world.

He is has this uncanny ability to inspire, the intensity of a thousand suns and to the American people find his work-ethic completely insane. This insanity has become a good thing and serves the sport as a nice drawing card.

However, although his mode of operation indeed fascinating and draws a fair degree of national attention, we must collectively concede this mode of operation has been done before. His name was “Gable”.

And before that that there was Gotch. And before that, Hackenshmidt, and before that etc, etc., etc.

As a matter of fact, since the beginning of its time, wrestling has always been branded with the reputation of being a remarkably tough sport filled with exceptionally tough individuals who are willing to do things that as NCAA Champion Troy Steiner put it, "would make a Billy goat puke".

Perhaps...just perhaps it's time to rethink a few things. Perhaps the world has indeed taken notice of our insane work ethic, unparalleled intensity and unmatched discipline but, (gulp) just doesn’t find it all that interesting.

Indeed hard to swallow but perhaps we have it wrong. Perhaps the proverbial foot we are putting forward is not our best one?

Einstein said "doing the same thing and expecting different results is the definition of insanity".

Am I suggesting the sport of wrestling should stop working so hard, or that Coach Tom Brands should change his method of coaching for the good of the sport? Absolutely not. He is the reigning champion. That would ludicrous.

What I’m suggesting is something far simpler and very doable; and ground in good old common-sense. All I’m simply saying is perhaps it's time we think about the image we put out to the rest of the world; perhaps give it an upgrade.

Wrestling is a dynamic sport with many facets, strategies, and philosophies.

Being willing to do things that would "make a Billy Goat puke" is just one of them and we must consider that although we think it pretty cool and a source of great pride, perhaps it’s not all that endearing to Mr. Jones and Mrs. Smith. Perhaps there’s a better way.

Truth be told there are numerous aspects of our awesome sport, many of which that might be exceedingly more favorable to the collective consciousness of the American people.

We might be well served to consider some could be infinitely more effective in breaking into the minds of John Q. Public so wrestling can finally get the attention, recognition and appreciation we all think it rightly deserves.

“In order to get something you've never had, you need to do something you've never done”
~Author Unknown

Monday, May 17, 2010

World Class Wrestling Camps - Synopsis

We believe the key to championship wrestling is implementing across the board an intelligent, comprehensive and strategic system that is easy to learn, properly presented, technically sound, works harmoniously and produces constant and never-ending improvement.

We also believe that the teams who either create for themselves or, simply adopt such a system, will instantaneously and consistently rise to the top and be able to produce a assembly line of regional, state, and national Champions.

After 38 years of championship wrestling experience culminating with a seven year study of the absolute best wrestlers and coaches on the planet, we’ve created a unique style of wrestling that due to its supreme strategy, attention to detail, and unprecedented level of systemization is shockingly more effective and efficient than any other camp around.

With a keen allegiance to “Simplicity” and the fearless motto of “Rethink Everything” we broke wrestling down to her barest bones and after gleaning the best of the best from the Gods of Wrestling, we painstakingly built a one of a kind wrestling program that is perfectly poised to catapult your team to the highest of wrestling ground.

Our innovative and tremendously effective techniques are “In the Seed” making them the most potent and powerful on the planet and due to wrestler-like dedication, unwavering commitment and a relentless refinement process, the entire program is boiled down to the inner-core making it not only the best in the world but also the easiest to learn.

Perhaps the rarest beauty with our camp system, besides the fact it’s world-class is that we actually come to your home to deliver the goods and save you HUGE amounts of cash on collective camp fee’s, food and lodging and increasing travel expenses.

The World Class Wrestling Camp is a perfect fit for any team, club or community that’s interested in building an entire program of wrestling champions – not simply a few key individuals.

The God’s of WrestlingThe best of the best.

This is the world-class list of wrestlers and coaches we meticulously studied and gleaned in order to create this perfect blend of wrestling techniques, information and supreme system:

Dave Schultz, John Smith, Dan Gable, Tom and Terry Brands, Kevin Jackson, Kenny Monday, Zeke Jones, Rob Koll, J Robinson, Cael Sanderson, Jim Zalesky, Ben Askren, Lincoln Mcllravy, Royce Alger, Marty Kistler, Marty Morgan, Jim Miller, Chris Short, Mark Branch, Mark Perry, Mike Sheets, Pat Smith, Jay Borshel, Steve Knight, Troy and Terry Steiner, Jim and Jeff Jordan, Jim and Joe Gibbons, Joe Heskett, Brett Metcalf, Melvin Douglas, Ken Chertow, Brian Dolph, Steve Marrianeti, Ed Giese, Melvin Douglas, Johnny Johnson, Matt Demeray, Jim Martin, Barry Davis, Jim Heffernan, Roy Hall, Brett Metcalf, Jon Reader, Dan Chandler, Dan Chaid, Kendall Cross, Bob Siddens, Jack Cuvo, Mike Krause, Matt Fury, Mark Churella, Randy Couture, Joe Scarpello, Cary Kolat, TJ Jaworsky, Bobby Douglas, Dan St. John, Joe Melchoire, Joel Sharratt, The Martin Family, Nick and Tony Purler, Alan Fried, Darryl Burley, Gene Mills, Jason Ness, Brian Dolph, Jeff Buxton, Mike Krause, Randy Lewis, Greg Strobel, Russ Hellickson, Joe McFarland, Stephan Abas, Les Gutches, Bruce Kinseth, Stan Dziedzic, Wade Schalles, Lee Kemp, Mike Land, Dan Zilverberg, Pat Milkovich, Dan Hodge, Chuck Yagla, Bill and Jim Scheer, Ben and John Peterson, Glen Brand,Yojiro Uetake, Carl Adams, Ray Brinzer, Dave Arens and a country full of the top Russians wrestling champions including Bouvaisa Saitiev, Arsen Fadzaev and Sergei Beloglazov.

The Physical Program

It’s all…“In the Seed”

All our camps begin with an incredibly deep-rooted and highly valuable core group of skills-sets, uniformed terminology and comprehensive information that lay the foundation for the wide array of forthcoming specialty techniques.

This informative, practical and conceptual foundation will generously plant all the necessary seeds laying the rich groundwork that will ensure your kids optimal growth by maximizing the efficiency and effectiveness of our championship system.

These skills are not only surprisingly simple to learn but at same time highly advanced in functionality and will by-themselves catapult your team’s performance to far greater heights.

All of the information, techniques and drills in this section are excellent content that can be conveniently used by your coaching staff all season long. Our intent is to plant the seeds for growth and believe if you can nurture them via daily/weekly review, they, ergo your kids, will produce great things.

Here’s the “In the Seed” Program…

The Stance – The Epi-Center of it all.

Where it all begins. You don’t get any points for a good stance but it’s perhaps the most important part of your wrestling. A good stance gives away nothing to your opponent but a bad stance unwittingly gives away oceans of unnecessary points.

Moreover, the stance is from where your entire offensive system begins so proper attention to this position is paramount for those wanting to go places.

In addition, a good stance will allow a Coach to move ten times as fast and save on years of correcting problems and frustration.

Head Position

Sometimes it’s the simplest and most subtle of changes that make the biggest of difference.

Head Position is another “In the seed” concept that is far more valuable and than meets the eye. In a nutshell, “good” head-position wins matches - and “poor” head-position loses them.

In this brief but incredibly potent session, your kids will learn and become masterful at both elements of ‘head position’ which will immediately make them both a much more effective offensive and defensive wrestler and enable their skill level to advance at extraordinary speeds.

The Seven Steps to Success

Footwork is perhaps the most misunderstood, least known and under-taught aspect of wrestling in the United States.

Because we don’t get any actual points as a result of good footwork, many coaches have glazed over it. Because our country has mistakenly ignored this area, its chock full of benefit and if properly installed the over-all improvement your team will receive will blow your mind.

This session efficiently and effectively installs all the essential steps in neutral position wrestling which will open the gateway to high level wrestling. Steps covered and mastered in this highly effective lesson include:

1. The Inside Step
2. The Outside Step
3. The Side Step
4. The Slide Step
5. The Hook Step
6. The Hesitation Step
7. The Jam Step

Step into greatness with the Seven Steps to Success and never look back.

P.R.O. Offense System

Pressure – Reaction – Offense.

This is masterful system of takedown wrestling that will instantantly and dramatically elevate your wrestlers’ performance from “A to Z” and, at the same time teach them an extremely valuable concept of wrestling.

Our original PRO Offense is a skill-set that will not only expedite your team’s takedown performance but will miraculously continue to produce rapid growth in all your individuals for their entire career.

The PRO Offense will instantaneously make your entire team look and wrestle like well…a bunch of PRO’s.

The Three "Shuns" of Wrestling

This is the Virtual Treasure Map to Creating Productive and Practical Motion that yields an unlimited supply of prized takedowns.

The treasure M.A.P. consists of three areas of focus:

1. Manipulation
2. Anticipation
3. Penetration

Learn the secrets of this concept wrestling idea and upon completion of this simple but profoundly impactful lesson, you will see not only an incredibly successful group, but also one that is remarkably more fun to watch.

Specialty Areas

The Back-Step: The 8th Wonder of the Wrestling World

This is without a doubt the single most valuable tool in all of takedown wrestling and if properly instilled, the Back-Step will single-handedly empower your wrestlers to takedown anyone on the planet.

For whatever reason, at this point in time hardly anyone knows this amazingly powerful secret and the select few who do are literally making a killing with it. We at World Class Camps can think of no reason why you shouldn’t be in on the secret and using it to your extreme advantage.

With this one small step, each and every athlete in attendance shall become a phenomenally improved takedown wrestler and if properly performed via prescribed and forthcoming combination of hand-positions and set-ups, your team will literally become one big takedown machine.

The Outside Carry:

This is without a doubt the best takedown in all of wrestling.
Want to become great? Lean this move.

Allow us to come in and show and tell your team how to master this one move and they will instantly become one of the best takedown teams in the state. After installation of this incredibly effective takedown your only problem as a Coach will be needing to find a few more managers to help tally all the Takedowns!

Use this move, along with our G-3 Tie-up Series including the High-Hook and the Post, V-Block or Vanishing Wrist and you will have a Takedown System that is not only the envy of the state but also nearly unstoppable.

Stone Wall Defense

Our original Stone Wall Defensive System will change your team now and forever.

Learn to build a Stone Wall today and your entire team will be wrestling like Division 1 All-Americans tomorrow. In this session, discover the subtle secrets of defense and how to employ this simple system and your kids will never, ever get taken down with leg-attacks again.

The Stone Wall Defense is crowned with valuable instruction on how to transition from defense to offense and if time will take you through our primed Counter-Attack System complete with the four essential defensive hand positions, how to gain the angle, and the secrets of attaining the all-important foot.

• The Circle Sprawl
• The 5 S’s of Defense
• The 4 Hand Positions
• Defense’s Triple A - Angles, Arm-pits, Ankles

G-3 Takedown Tie-up Series

Learn today, dominate tomorrow with this NCAA D-1 Series.

The most important part of any move is the set-up.

In order to achieve the set-up, you must first know how to win the Tie-up. The G-3 Tie-Up Series is the most potent Tie-Up series you can use and will hand-deliver your team to countless wins.

The beauty of this series is that not only is it the best way to set up our wide assortment of attacks but it also immediately and masterfully takes your opponents out of their offense at the same time! Adopt this series and let the fun begin.

Seat Belt Series

This series is absolutely priceless.

Not only one of the best series in all of takedown wrestling but also teaches one of the most valuable concepts in wrestling known as “Chain Wrestling”.

Even though “Chain Wrestling “ is considered by the masses to be one of the most critical elements of wrestling success, ask any Coach and he’ll tell you it’s actually a very difficult concept to teach.

However, this exceptionally productive series will successfully accomplish this highly valuable task for you in just one short lesson.

We believe this “Seat-Belt Series” will not only become one of your team’s favorite takedown series’ but because it also single-handedly teaches the concept of Chain Wrestling is worth the price of the Camp all by itself.

*This is simply a snapshot of our amazingly comprehensive, organized and packaged system. We will of course cover as much as humanly possible but of course time, number of helpers you provide and learning ability of your group will dictate how many of the potent lessons we are able to get to.

No one walks away disappointed with our system. If there are portions of the system you definitely want to see covered with your group, simply let your wished be known to Coach Lembeck and he will accommodate all you ask.

If interested in securing a camp date for your team, please contact Coach at: chris@chrislembeck.com

Thank you very much.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

The Philosophy of D

Defense is where to begin - each year, every year, no exception.

Whether a brand new wrestler at home in the basement or the beginning of your new wrestling season “defense” is the always the best place to start.

Let me explain…

First of all, “defense” is incredibly simple.

It’s by far the easiest aspect of the entire sport of wrestling if you have the map.

Believe it or not, if done properly, you can have your entire team performing like Division 1 All-Americans inside one week no matter their age or skill level.

The way to achieve this is by choosing, learning and finally coaching the perfect blend of information, concepts and techniques right from the start.

You can do this on your own accord, or can simply use the the forthcoming System that’s been specifically designed for that specific purpose.

The key to achieving what you want here is to teach all and only the best concepts in the proper manner and order.

In order to do this, you need an intelligent, thoughtful, and strategic System that is technically sound, works harmoniously and makes good wrestling sense. Do you have one?

The Mind-Set

Defense is a momentary lapse of reason; it’s a phase, a short spell.

Defense means “to defend” however, the secret and the point of emphasis to your kids is to only be in a defensive mode for a short while.

The main objective is to effectively improve your status as quickly as possible from a situation of defense to a point where you can effectively launch our incredibly potent System of counter-attacks.

Transitioning

When discussing your philosophy at first day of “Defense” I suggest you use and explain to them the concept of "transition".

Truth be told, knowing and understanding key terms, will go amazingly far in his progress and "transition" is one of those key terms to put in your coaching vocabulary, hence your athlete(s).

“Transitioning” is a crucial term in all of wrestling but especially in the “defensive” realm.

Transition is the exact point-in-time when your athlete upgrades from “defense” to “offense”.

This concept should reiterated to your team often along with the point they want to make this moment of transition as quickly as possible each and every time.

Tell your crew it’s essential to have an impenetrable “defense” but somewhat ironically, you want them to use it as little as possible.

The contrast of thought will help the point stick.

Defense vs. Counter-Attacks

Although is sometimes the case, “defense” should not be disrespected.

Because “Defense” wins matches, or perhaps more accurately, it doesn’t lose them.

And for certain, some wrestlers are simply built for a more defensive style of wrestling.

A defensive minded wrestler should not be dodged, averted or suppressed.

A wrestler’s “style” very often is a mirror image of his/her personality i.e. basic, non-stop, physical, unorthodox, conservative, flashy, aggressive, risk-taking, etc.

Although exceptions exist, the degree of correlation is too high to deny.

Given this valuable insight, it might be both foolish and perhaps even counter-productive to try and tamper with something so deep and natural. On this matters and those similar, I suggest you simply go with the flow.

If you have a wrestler on your team who is drawn to the defensive side of things, so be it; as matter of fact, celebrate it.

It might be wise to work with their strengths rather than against them and if you do the chances are good he will become one of the most successful wrestlers on your team.

The key here is to instill in their mind that (in all actuality) he is truly NOT a defensive wrestler.

Do your best with words and actions to make it crystal-clear that he/she is a "counter-attack wrestler". To help seal the deal, you might even from time to time refer to your wretler as a counter-attack "master" or "expert".

The Best Wrestling Requires Patience

“Defense” is what you have your wrestlers employ to win matches while you are working on installing the far more complicated part of wrestling called “Offense”.

A properly applied "defense", hinged to the forthcoming Counter-Attack System will enable your wrestlers to soundly defeat wrestlers who are currently far better.

This will positviely excite and delight your athletes, build confidence, and keep them coming back for more.

In addition, semi temporarily tying one-hand around your wrestlers’ back and making them compete somewhat “short-handed” will automatically and effortlessly bring out their absolute best and exponentially speed up the entire developmental process.

Ever notice how good your hearing becomes if blindfolded for a while? Or hear the phrase “Necessity is the mother of skill”?

By the time you untie their hands and remove the blindfold allowing full sight, his defense will be so amazingly effective, they’ll hardly ever need it.