damon's blog
Same stats challenge, no wrestling skills needed
I was talking with a guy who’s exactly my height and weight. I'm 190/71kg, he's 1.88/70kg. But he has no wrestling experience, and I suggested something that turned out to be a really interesting idea as a start before the actual wrestling.
TranslateYou stand face-to-face, grip each other’s hands, and from that moment you both push with everything you’ve got. Letting go is but allowed.
You set two lines as boundaries, a few meters apart and the goal is simply to push the other guy back past his line.
That’s it.
No technique. No wrestling knowledge. No tricks.
Just raw leg drive, balance, core stability, and willpower.
What makes it surprisingly intense is that when you’re the same size, you’re basically pushing against your own weight. It immediately becomes a pure strength and stability contest, and it gets exhausting very fast. I learned that on my one time (amazing) sumo experience in Japan.
For a guy with no wrestling background, this removes the “skill disadvantage” completely and creates a very fair, very competitive situation from the first second. And for both guys, it creates a lot of physical contact, tension, and effort before you even go to the ground.
It works really well as a kind of foreplay to the match because:
it’s simple
it’s very balanced
it’s extremely intense
and it sets a competitive tone right away
We’re actually going to try this when we meet in March, probably outside, and I’m honestly very curious about the outcome maybe even more than the wrestling that comes after.
I’m curious if others have tried something similar, or use other strength tests like this before the actual wrestling begins.
roy65 (112 )
25 days agoGefällt mir, eine gute Idee! 👍
GhostEscape (0)
24 days agoThat is a good idea for sure and I have seen similar things. I also suggest pummeling,
Where you each stand in front of each other
And mirror the stance.
Feet in opposite stance (so you can change stance)
You start off super slow and relaxed just getting the feel for it.
Each person pushes their RIGHT hand down and slides under the arm pit
The LEFT hand goes to their back
This results in your shoulders and chest coming together, and each person should have an arm under the other and an arm on their back.
Then you repeat trying to push your free hand into their armpit without separating too much.
Once you are comfortable with the arm and chest movement you can start moving your feet as well.
It can become a game as you ramp up the pressure. This is one of the ways I get my guys to warm up when I reach.
Ask any wrestlers I am sure they have done this. (Sorry for the janky explanation)
damon (85)
24 days ago(In reply to this)
I actually went to look it up😁
Do you mean that?
LoboFighter24 (10 )
14 days ago(In reply to this)
Have done this many times. Can confirm it is hot.
GhostEscape (0)
24 days agoThat is a little different than what I mentioned. I like that a lot as well
It just takes a little more understanding and skill.
I am sorry I didn’t post a link, I just thought there was some sort of rule against it. Here is a link to a YouTube video and a wrestler I watch a lot. If you want good advice it’s hard to go wrong with Coach Brian
damon (85)
24 days ago(In reply to this)
Thanks man!
SFFight (77)
23 days agoI love what GhostGrapple added to your original post.
but your original post is what I call "Bull Rush Contest"... set markers behind each fighter stand facing with legs apart and lean into each other chest to chest... then try and "bull rush" the other guy backwards to the marker.
Another good match setup for two unskilled guys... one guy on his back the other guy kneeling on top straddling the guy on his back... then you hand fight to get and keep control.. switch positions after each round.
I have some skilled buddies who like to do all these strength tests along with grapple when we meet. It is all great fun.
damon (85)
23 days ago(In reply to this)
Thanks man. I'm glad to collect some more ideas here
Juggernaut (0)
19 days agoAn excellent idea. One way to balance things when one or both opponents of similar stats are unskilled. There's little to no risk of injury and so simple a child could do it.