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I would pay that . 75 is dirt cheap compared to bjj guys. I would love to learn wrestling one on one with him, especially for jiu jitsu. I'm in Indianapolis unfortunately damnit!

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Great facility Ben. Thanks for taking the time to chat.and take a photo in Hilo. Good luck on your upcoming fight.

Ben Askren not a good driver

Confused, I know it is expensive, but it is a very valuable service and very worth it to some. It is hardly the most expensive in the country. For Example check Overtime website. Also every club in Max's area charges more per hour. Also we hope people will also take advantage of the 2 person or 4 person group options to make it cheaper for them.

SPEAKER Ben Askren

dfdsaf

Are private lessons offered at AWA Ny

$75 an hour for 1 private lesson? Dang, thats the most ecpensive i've heard of in the country!

Adding Dimensions

I believe that with the sport being as big as it, the kids do not have the individual attention that they need. It falls on the coach to make the technical tweaks that is needed for that specific wrestler, everybody evolves differently. Some kids lack the athletic ability (in saying that i mean not as much athleticism as another) to pick up on things just from a drill like other wrestlers. Coaches are so worried about just getting through the practice and going from drill to drill that they often times leave some behind as "well it looks alright, lets move on". I have just started up a youth program and i make sure that we do not move on, until i have personally worked with each kid on the drill or the move. I have learned that each kid just delevops differently, it easier for some and harder for others based on genetics.

Excellent piece Max! I cried when I watched you win the NCAA's. No one more deserving. I knew you would win one ever since those days of me never scoring on you in the basement drilling with you and Ben listneing to easy e and chillin! One of my favorite memories was when we went to Iowa with Tom and his dad along with Kyle and the wisconsin boys dominated!! Doin big things my man, knew you would! Hope everyone is well!! Good luck out there brother!! Have to catch up sometime! Any young wrestler who doesn't listen or take advice offered from you and Ben is a fool!

simply put probably the greatest speech ever wrote by a wrestler every wrestler needs to read this.

I think that it is time to write your cousin John about why to wrestle freestyle. He will be expecting a letter.

Think every wrestler needs to read this. This was great .

Logical Extension of Wrestling

Excellent. I enjoyed reading this.

SPEAKER Ben Askren

Scrambling is the greatest thing to happen to wrestling since the John Smith Single. Love live the funk!

Jared That was the mindset I had too. I wanted to field the best team, and I wanted to gain an advantage by being bigger. It was the dumbest thing I've ever done, and it almost killed me.

As a coach, I too believe in the FUN aspect. My last words to a wrestler who is about to go out and shake hands with his opponent are, "Have FUN out there". I have been working with Middle School wrestlers for quite a while. Many are brand new to the sport and need to gain knowledge and understanding through teaching, training, and the experience of being out there for the "real thing". It is only when we take the knowledge/ understanding and use it to create WISDOM...that we will enjoy different and usually successful results as coaches. I am now in the process of trying to view wrestling in terms of holds and moves as separate entities. We talk a lot about moves, but, the holds represent a stillness which usually involves temporary control over the opponent in an effort to have time to decide what to do next. I believe that this may be the essence of scrambling. I have watched you Askren fellas work your "magic" and often you will hold on until an opportunity for a movement is there. Almost like hyperquick mountain climbing...looking for or sensing the next foot hold or hand hold and then getting the timing right. The holds/moves concept is predicated on the basic definitions of music or dance. Music being essentially: Sound as it relates to silence. Dance being essentially: Motion as it relates to stillness. Once wrestlers are physically engaged: Moves as they relate to holds. I would love to know what the brothers think about my thinking. Coach Kelso Union Vale Middle School Wrestling Coach Arlington N.Y.

I think High School & College should implement a freestyle/greco season in the off season & run it just like the folk-style season, duals, states, etc

hi Askrens im spencer and im a wisconsin native. My dad doesnt believe in Freestyle and Greco he says its a waste of time and teaches me nothing.. i really love it also and im pretty good at it. what should i tell him please respond or if anyone else has anymore ideas please do tell. i have dreams to try to make the Olympics and its not helping when you hear that those styles are a waste. He also wasnt a wrestler so he doesnt understand.

I wish that high school and collegic was freestlye, I believE the US wud be able to be more competetive in the oolympics and the worlds

Another great blog Max! Appreciate you sharing these thoughts each week. I know you guys primarily focused on freestyle, but am curious on your thoughts about greco in the overall process too?

Two thumbs up!

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great picture! congrats

Max this is a very well thought out concept and i agree that weight cutting does take away from the ability of a wrestler to improve however, I also think it is something that is un avoidable at times for instance a weight cut that would benifit the team is something that i have had to do for 2 years in a row now at my college and it isnt something i enjoy but i think that it is ok because it improves the teams lineup

I am the man

No ben, I am the man

Tribute To Wrestling

SPEAKER Ben Askren

sickest throw ever at 4min

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I agree with your position 100%, but I find it strange that you don't mention your own cut from 197 to 184 the year you won your NCAA title. What were your reasons for doing that, and how do they compare with the reasons you've heard others put forward for why they dropped down a weight class or two?

Push It

Max, this Blog is the shiz! I WISH I did this back in high school, and, at the very least, shoulda put the same time in as I did on my low single and high crotch. I have seen guys pin their way through the regions and other big tournaments because they mastered simple moves such as the cross face cradle or a simple turk. They crushed people with it! BIG points are scored on top, takedowns, only 2 points, unless you can bring the guy to his back with a throw. Get the word out there man! --z--

Push It

Max when you write a blog like this you need to put a plug for the Houdini camp at the end of it, LOL.

Wise words that apply not only to wrestling but to all aspects of life...bjj, school, work, etc. We need to get kids curious and excited about learning. If we make learning, solving problems, etc fun for kids, they will want to learn everyday of their lives.

Another great topic - love the chess analogy. In chess, there are theories, not facts. Masters take positions from games they play, or other games, and explore various options. Like wrestling, there are always more continuations than stars in the sky so we can forever explore new theories. One addition that I would add. Theories need to be tested vigorously. Develop in slow positional play then test in progressively more intense opposition. Coaches need to encourage this and not apply cookie-cutter technique to the entire wrestling room.

Dont let me grab our leg or you might not be getting it back

Max, this was awesome bro! I train a lot of wrestlers in strength & conditioning and although we bust our ass we have FUN. I NEVER had fun when I wrestled and it locked me into a style that did not progress, it also locked me into fear mode and road blocked my success. I try to teach ALL the kids I train to have FUN, they have NOTHING to lose by giving their 100% honest, best effort. And, they are doing GREAT! We have a LOT of freshman and sophomores winning tournaments and tough matches out here in NJ, a TOUGH wrestling scene. They KNOW they've done the work and they are ready for a grueling 6 minutes if need be! They are having fun and experimenting, allowing their own style to come about and I'm gonna send them all this article, it's awesome, brutha! Congrats on ALL your success & thnx for sharing. I hope you and your bro come to the Dirty Jer-zee to visit and train!!! Peace Bruddah! -- Zach Even - Esh --

I could not agree with you more Max. Cutting a couple pounds is ok, but when the scales become your main opponent, it takes the fun out of the sport and burn-out comes quickly. Many wrestlers have fallen short of their potential doing the weight cutting game. I speak from experience. Best of luck to you. I am sure you will do well and you are an asset to the wrestling world.

I agree 100%. Cutting ONLY a few pounds is great. I ref alot of high school wrestling & you know when one of your wrestlers "hit the wall" & their tank is empty. We are much more educated on this matter now!

As the mom of a Senior in HS wrestler, I thank you for this. He walks around at 175 and easily makes his 171 class. There is no way that I would let him cut to 160. He is strong, hydrated, and mentally fit to wrestle every match. and not having too bad of a season so far!!

Max you are so right. Nice article.