3 Sins Every Beginner Wrestler Commits
Every beginner wrestler makes these mistakes. Every coach has watched them happen a thousand times. And every time, the punishment is the same: you end up on the wrong end of a scramble wondering what just happened.
Here's what you're doing, what it costs you, and how to stop.
Sin 1: Reaching for the far armpit from the front headlock
You've got him in a front headlock. Chin cupped, his head buried. Life is good. Then you get greedy: you take your hand off the chin and reach across for the far armpit.
That arm is now long, loose and sitting right in front of him. He grabs it, pulls it past his head, and sucker drags you. Just like that, he's behind you and you're the one getting ridden.
Sin 2: Pulling him straight back from rear standing
You've got a body lock from behind, and you try to drag him straight back to the mat. It feels like the obvious move. It's also a gift.
Pulling straight back puts your weight on your heels and your hips behind his. He reaches back over your arm, sits his hips through and hits a switch. Now he's behind you.
Sin 3: Turning in when you cut away from bottom
You're on bottom in rear standing. You clear his hands and cut away to face him. Good instincts, bad turn: you rotate in, toward him.
Turning in drops you square in front of him at arm's length, usually with your head down and your hips still catching up. That's exactly where he wants to shoot. Double leg, you're on your back, and you did all the setup for him.
The common thread
All three sins come from the same place: wanting the next thing before you've secured the last thing. Control first, then move. Your coach will thank you. Your opponents won't.
