Wrestling? Strategy or force?

[fastandfurious]

Alright, so my little cousin is in middle school and wants to join wrestling. Thing is his parents are really peaceful people. Theyre strict too so they say that wrestling requires no strategy and wont really help him in anything. Now as a martial artist I know wrestling has strategy I just dont know how exactly to put it in words. I want to help him out to convince his parents to let him do wrestling by showing them that it isnt all force and it does require skill. Any opinions, facts, or tips are welcome.

[m_calingo]

Wrestling, as done in middle school, is a sport. Wrestlers are competing for points to win a match.

Whether it requires skill, force, or strategy isn't the issue here. Your cousin's parents have other issues that they don't want to express. Maybe they're concerned he may be injured, or it may be possible they want him to focus more on academic achievement rather than athletics?

If it's possible to talk to his folks, try and see what the real concern is. If that's established, then you'll at least have a subject to debate.

Good luck on this. When you are dealing with family members (as in this case), logic doesn't always win.

[jubaji]

Take them to watch a high school wrestling meet. Jr High won't have enough skill to make your point, and at a college meet they probably wouldn't be able to appreciate what they are seeing.

Just let them watch.

[7r14ngL3Ch0k3]

Better yet, just show them some videos of BJJ even and explain to them that wrestling or grappling is very technical and strength hardly matters...And wrestling has more rules, thus making it safer.

[jubaji]

apple orange

Better yet, just show them some videos of BJJ.

How is that "better yet"?

[jubaji]

explain to them that wrestling or grappling is very technical and strength hardly matters....

That might be an exaggerration.

[7r14ngL3Ch0k3]

the kid's parents dont need to know that.

[jubaji]

the kid's parents dont need to know that.

F that.

[Bjjexpertise@be]

Point out that there are weight classes in wrestling. A common misconception is that they're going to pit a 260 pound wrestler against a 30 pound 3rd grader. Alot of the strategy in wrestling is making your opponent gas out before you do so, if you want to use that in an argument, go for it.

[Tom Yum]

Point out that there are weight classes in wrestling. A common misconception is that they're going to pit a 260 pound wrestler against a 30 pound 3rd grader. Alot of the strategy in wrestling is making your opponent gas out before you do so, if you want to use that in an argument, go for it.

Technique, speed and conditioning?

[Bjjexpertise@be]

I understand that wrestling are all those things. But I'd have to say that parents who no thing of wrestling will not see the technical aspect of the sport, they tend to believe it is all brute force where you randomly grab another person, pick them up, then throw them 80 feet into the air where they'll collide into the bleachers.

[J-Luck]

Alright, so my little cousin is in middle school and wants to join wrestling. Thing is his parents are really peaceful people. Theyre strict too so they say that wrestling requires no strategy and wont really help him in anything. Now as a martial artist I know wrestling has strategy I just dont know how exactly to put it in words. I want to help him out to convince his parents to let him do wrestling by showing them that it isnt all force and it does require skill. Any opinions, facts, or tips are welcome.

Hmmm... it is the one school sport that actually gets you into really good shape(depending on the coach). Ummm... dedication, determination, learning ways of dealing with loss and victory in a humbling way... all of this can be taken out of wrestling and applied in your life. Wrestling, for the first time in my life, made me respect authority, because I knew the first time you argue with coach you get kicked off the team, and when you train with someone that long, someone who takes the wins and losses with you, you just seem to learn respect.

Strategy??? Arguably more strategic than any other sport, you learn techniques that can be use in a real fight, balance, coordination, leverage... must I continue? Also, wrestling helped alot of people I knew who choked under pressure no longer do so. Also, can help make you a team player and help you develope social skills... wrestling is great for any kid.

[muaythaiguy15]

I agree with J-Luck. Wrestling is a martial art, bodybuilding is not.

[J-Luck]

Better yet, just show them some videos of BJJ even and explain to them that wrestling or grappling is very technical and strength hardly matters...And wrestling has more rules, thus making it safer.

Techniques aside... wrestling is better for a developing child... wrestling taught me to respect authority and those around me. In a BJJ gym, you might not have to develope any real bond with anyone in order to progress. On a wrestling team, you know every guy there, and it's like extended family. Also taught me to respect those I don't agree with and control my temper, when you are with people for at least 3 hours every day, there really isn't many other options than learning to grow up and put personal differences aside.

[fastandfurious]

Wow thanks guys I think with these experiences and opinions I might be able to get his parents to let him!