Is it too late to start wrestling as a junior?

[studlyduck]

If a pretty good-sized football player (TE/DE) is considering switching from basketball to wrestling his junior year, what are the considerations? Could the switch help him for football?
He's a black belt. Would that be helpful in the late switch?

This post was edited on 1/31 3:46 PM by studlyduck

 

[Drop.Tine]

Depends on what his expectations are? Wrestling is the single toughest sport a high school kid can do. I've seen X-country kids puke during practice.

With his karate background it should help with training and understanding of grappling. I would say do it.

It was no secret why Platte County was as good on the Football field and then excelled on the mats back in the 2000's.

 

[hitch_and_go]

Originally posted by Drop.Tine:


It was no secret why Platte County was as good on the Football field and then excelled on the mats back in the 2000's.

Steroids?

 

[freezeoption]

as with any sport, there is a learning curve, if he is a athlete he can pick some stuff up, it will be hard, i have had kids come out late in their hs careers, they did alright, but never got to be what they could have if they would have started earlier

 

[SadButTrue]

Originally posted by hitch_and_go:

Originally posted by Drop.Tine:


It was no secret why Platte County was as good on the Football field and then excelled on the mats back in the 2000's.

Steroids?

Makes you wonder????

 

[Drop.Tine]

Originally posted by SadButTrue:

Originally posted by hitch_and_go:

Originally posted by Drop.Tine:


It was no secret why Platte County was as good on the Football field and then excelled on the mats back in the 2000's.

Steroids?

Makes you wonder????

I tend to give the benefit of a doubt gentlemen.

 

[wc3peat]

Agreed it depends on goals. If wanting to be a
Champion wrestler probably a little late but the
karate background would definately be s huge
benefit. If doing it just to improve balance etc.
for Football it would be beneficial but I think
Crossfit is excellent for that as well. Balance
Strength stamina crossfit athletes are incredible
most of the gyms that have Crossfit offer classes
for younger people. A lot of people gripe about
technique etc. of Crossfit lifting I say you see
bad things in every sport. The good guys do things
right.

 

[Drop.Tine]

Crossfit is terrible.

But it does pay my chiro buddies bills.

 

[Veer2Eternity]

Originally posted by Drop.Tine:
Crossfit is terrible.

But it does pay my chiro buddies bills.

Amen. It's exercise and not training. Big difference.

 

[wc3peat]

I forgot we had you great fitness guys on here.
Quite a few High schoolers going through the Ozark
Crossfit 417. Fantastic for building endurance and
strength. Is there risk of injury, absolutely but there
is also proper technique for the moves as well.
Instructors like Jared Stevens at Ozark, Justin Olds
at JOMO Crossfit in Joplin and Justin Allen from
Oklahoma are some of the best instructors and
physical specimens I've ever seen. I use them as
they are all friends of my son in law who is also an
absolute beast. These guys hand stand walk a
hundred yards, run the 400 in a minute or less
clean and jerk in the 350 range squat in the 500
range. Most are ex college Football players hell
Allen Qbd at NEO and snapped his leg they said
he'd never be able to play again he started Crossfitt
and at 30 says he's in the best shape of his life.
Look any of them up on you tube or google them
great guys great instructors and all are beasts.

 

[Drop.Tine]

1. There are good crossfit gyms, but they're vastly out numbered by bad ones
2. Google crossfit bloopers on youtube, this is common
3. The question was whether wrestling would benefit. Wrestling would benefit this guy WAY more than crossfit. There is a difference between being in shape and physical toughness/shape.

Wrestlers are the gladiators of our time. There is a reason the UFC is being run over by former wrestlers.

 

[wc3peat]

I think the majority of the bloopers seen are goobs
in home gyms trying to do Crossfit. I said in
my original post wrestling as far as helping with
balance and core strength is definately a great
way to improve these but I don't think a year of
wrestling can come close to giving you the
endurance you achieve in a few short months as
with Crossfit. Aldo something you see in Crossfit
gyms is an unbelievable support group. When the
others have completed their workouts they go back
and cheer/push the others to complete. I'm very
impressed with the concept.

 

[Veer2Eternity]

Originally posted by wc3peat:
I forgot we had you great fitness guys on here.
Quite a few High schoolers going through the Ozark
Crossfit 417. Fantastic for building endurance and
strength. Is there risk of injury, absolutely but there
is also proper technique for the moves as well.
Instructors like Jared Stevens at Ozark, Justin Olds
at JOMO Crossfit in Joplin and Justin Allen from
Oklahoma are some of the best instructors and
physical specimens I've ever seen. I use them as
they are all friends of my son in law who is also an
absolute beast. These guys hand stand walk a
hundred yards, run the 400 in a minute or less
clean and jerk in the 350 range squat in the 500
range. Most are ex college Football players hell
Allen Qbd at NEO and snapped his leg they said
he'd never be able to play again he started Crossfitt
and at 30 says he's in the best shape of his life.
Look any of them up on you tube or google them
great guys great instructors and all are beasts.

It's so easy to get Crossfit cert it's really a joke.

And does being able to do what those guys do validate the training or is it because they're specimens? Have they ONLY done crossfit? haha no they probably had a solid background in real training.

If you want to build athletes , check out STRONG gym in springfield.

 

[shoot90draw]

Originally posted by hitch_and_go:

Originally posted by Drop.Tine:


It was no secret why Platte County was as good on the Football field and then excelled on the mats back in the 2000's.

Steroids?

Steroids indeed. I played against those teams in the 2000s...pretty ridiculous. But on the topic at hand, no it is not too late to start wrestling as a junior. Since he is already an athlete, I am assuming he has been working out, lifting, and should be in at least semi-good condition, AND he is a black belt. It will take him some time to get the moves down, and turn them into a system/progression style. I highly recommend this sport for lineman as it is a great way to stay in shape during the offseason plus continue to build ones athleticism.

 

[sbdude]

As a TE/DE, there isn't another sport he could do that would be better for him as a football player. He will learn balance, how to use leverage, how to hand-fight, how to move another person against his will, how to compete one-on-one. The black belt might be a help in that he probably already has some balance/flexibility skills from that training.

You can lift, you can work footwork, etc. but you still have to learn to battle and move another person against their will. Nothing teaches that better than wrestling.

He might not have great success in wrestling but I think it will make him a better football player.

 

[wc3peat]

..

This post was edited on 2/4 11:46 PM by wc3peat