Why Strength Train?

Why not!!? One thing we have seen in every major sport is that “Speed Kills, and Strength Punishes”. In wrestling, while technique will still beat strength 9 times out of 10, the fact is, at the highest levels of competition, the technique gap is very small between competitors.

Jake Varner
Jake Varner might know a thing or two about Strength and Conditioning work

So, how do we make the overall competition gap wider? Strength, Conditioning, and Power! A wrestler with great technique, AND strength and power is a monster. Add in mental toughness and a gas tank that doesn’t run out and chances are he is or will be a champion. Cael Sanderson agrees:

“I was more concerned about hustle and technique as a competitor but strength is icing on the cake.  I did lift weights.  The year I took second in the world I learned that I had to get stronger.  I felt that the top guys were much stronger than me.  I did a lot of cleans and thought about lifting in wrestling terms.  In wrestling you have to explode, and push and pull. So I did the exercises that made me a stronger wrestler.” 

In my years of experience, if you have been wrestling for years and years and your technique is solid, but you have yet to reap the benefits of your hard work on the podium, chances are you are lacking strength, speed, power, or conditioning. We have seen countless wrestlers who place in the top 3 at big tournaments consistently, but never quite pull out a win benefit greatly from Strength and Conditioning programs and finally reach that top spot! The bottom line is this, with everything being equal (technique, mental toughness, etc.) the stronger, faster wrestler will always win. Which will you be?

While both Dake and Taylor are absolute studs, I firmly believe Dake’s strength and power are big reasons he has held the edge.

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