In wrestling, just like in life, it’s easy to get distracted by what others think of you. Maybe a teammate criticizes your technique, or someone doubts your ability to succeed. Here’s the truth: none of that matters. What matters is what you can do—right now. If you want to be the best wrestler you can be, your focus should be on getting better, consistently, over time. Success on the mat doesn’t come overnight, and neither does your progress.
Start Where You Are
Stop comparing yourself to others. You’re on your own journey, and what someone else is doing has nothing to do with your success. Wrestling is an individual sport at its core—when you step on the mat, it’s just you and your opponent. So, forget about what others are saying or doing and focus on how you can improve today.
If your goal is to master a certain move or score more points on top, break it down into small steps. Maybe you’re working on your leg ride, but it’s still shaky. Start by focusing on the basics—get your positioning right today. Tomorrow, focus on controlling your opponent better. Each day, take one step forward. By the end of the season, those small daily improvements will add up, and your leg ride will be a game-changer.
Don’t Burn Out Before You Begin
Sometimes, we want progress to come faster, and that’s when we push ourselves too hard too soon. Maybe you want to perfect your takedowns, so you spend hours drilling double legs in one practice. That might seem like a shortcut to success, but it often backfires. Your body gets fatigued, your motivation fades, and soon you find yourself dreading practice. Instead of pushing yourself to exhaustion, focus on consistency. If you know you can execute 10 solid double-leg drills, start there. Don’t jump to 50 just because you want to speed up the process. If you build slowly and steadily, you’ll stay motivated and avoid burnout.
Progress at Your Own Pace
Wrestling is about consistent growth. Stay at a certain level of training until you can complete it without struggling. If you’re working on a switch from bottom position, stick with it until you can hit it cleanly every time, even when tired. This builds both confidence and muscle memory.
When you focus on your own progress instead of worrying about what others are doing, you free yourself to grow at your own pace. That’s how champions are built—not by rushing through the fundamentals, but by mastering them.
Comparison is the Thief of All Joy
In wrestling, comparison can rob you of your progress. Maybe a teammate is winning more matches or improving faster, and you start to feel like you’re behind. But their path isn’t yours. Focus on what you can do, not what someone else is doing. Wrestling is a marathon, not a sprint, and if you stay committed to improving each day, you’ll get to where you want to be.
So, stop listening to what others think, start with what you can do, and keep moving forward. On the mat, you’re competing against yourself as much as your opponent. Progress one takedown, one escape, one match at a time. Your journey is yours alone—embrace it and make each day count.
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