Stalling in Wrestling: Will this fix the problem?

Some interesting rule changes to promote action and shun away stalling. These rules seem to be less vague as the previous stalling rules, and should help promote a better understanding by the coach and spectator, and even athlete on what the referee sees as stalling.

Stalling is an interesting concept. In truth it's a great tactic for a competitor to implement. Being able to stall means you can shut down your opponents offense and not give up any position. In essence it's very calculated, wise, and the ultimate form of self defense and efficiency. However, as a spectator sport... It's boring.

These rules are way to help promote wrestling as a spectator friendly sport. A way to get the crowd involved, and help them understand the excitement. These rule changes on stalling are supposed to promote more action and as a result bring excitement to the sport of wrestling. I can't wait for another exciting wrestling season!

Eliot Kelly

916.595.4064

NCAA Wrestling: New rules aim to limit stalling

by Trent Shadid Published: June 27, 2014

Four experimental wrestling rules were approved by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel on Wednesday, all of which center around limiting stalling with hopes of creating more action on the mat.

Two of the rules will be implemented for the 2014-15 season, both focusing on wrestlers who are in control in the top position.

The first rule states if a wrestler in control locks or holds an opponent’s leg(s) and does breakdown the opponent, execute an offensive move, or work to the upper body for five seconds — stalling will be called on the wrestler in control.

The second rule states a wrestler in control will be called for stalling after five seconds if a side headlock is applied with no attempt to breakdown or execute an offensive move on the defensive wrestler.

The referee’s five-second count will be verbal and visual for both rules.

Stalling or a stalemate has commonly been used with this situation in the past, but establishing a five-second count eliminates any arbitrary decision making from a referee.

The NCAA states: “Both of the approved experimental rules are designed to promote offensive wrestling by limiting stalling tactics or a way to position oneself in a stalemate situation.”

The other two experimental rules will be used exclusively at the annual National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic on Nov. 1 at the University of Pennsylvania.

One of the rules encourages wrestlers in the neutral position to stay in the center of the mat with stalling being called against those who are not actively engaged in an offensive attack, or a defensive counter to an offensive attack, while their feet are out of bounds.

The other rule allows wrestlers who have scored a takedown or reversal to choose to resume wrestling in a neutral position after a stoppage in the action without surrendering an escape point.

Bullying and Wrestling: What we learn at the Wrestling Dojo

The wrestling dojo of el dorado hills is a community class for those who love to wrestle. One element we teach at the dojo is bullying. We talk to our students about bullying, but more importantly, we talk to them about being advocates against bullying. Dojo wrestlers need to be strong both on and off the mat. Not only do we train to protect ourselves, but also to protect each other.

An essential lesson we try to communicate is the idea of protection. Wrestlers need to protect their legs from getting taken down. There is an easy cross over for bullying. Dojo wrestlers need to protect their friends and those that are getting picked on. Placing responsibility on each other to advocate against bullying is the best process to combat bullying and promote anti bullying.

It goes without saying that wrestlers shouldn't keep the incident to their own. They need to quickly report the incident to a responsible adult or person who can help them in the moment and after. This is also an important part of the bullying lesson at the wrestling dojo.

It's very sad to hear news about these types of events, especially on a wrestling team. A wrestling team is usually a place were all are welcome and included. Regardless of how strong or good a person is on the mat, wrestlers should have a mutual respect for one another for working hard and contributing to the good of the team.

El Dorado Hills Wrestling Dojo

916.595.4064

Bullying culture cannot be ignored: Our View

Daily Tribune Editorial Board7:03 a.m. CDT July 5, 2014

(Photo: Daily Tribune Media file photo )

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Josiah Kleist is deaf, legally blind and has a neurological disorder that causes involuntary muscle movements. After his parents divorced, Kleist moved with his mom from Wausau to Wisconsin Rapids, where he decided to join Lincoln High School's dynastic, prestigious wrestling program.

A small ninth-grader at 5-feet 1-inch and 115 pounds, Kleist was probably never destined to be a star wrestler. But he had been on wrestling teams since he was in third grade. And it is the purpose of youth athletics to provide a place where all different types of kids can participate.

Story: Open records request reveals school district settlement

Column:Wrestling case about more than money

Kleist did not find a home on the Lincoln High School wrestling team. During the 2010-11 school year, Kleist, now 19, was bullied mercilessly by high school boys who were older, bigger and higher-status than he was. One was the son of the coach, who was himself the son of the longtime coach seen as the architect of Rapids' incredible wrestling dynasty.

Kleist was abused on the team bus. In the shower, his bullies subjected him to awful, quasi-sexual humiliations, regularly urinating on him, and sometimes dancing naked around him and hitting him with their genitals.

When Kleist came forward alleging abuse, four of his teammates were charged with disorderly conduct. Several would plead no contest to the charges. The school's internal investigation would result in policy changes and a new push for anti-bullying messages in school; two of the team's coaches would not be rehired for a new season. And most recently, on June 24, Kleist would receive a $100,000 settlement from the Wisconsin Rapids School District's insurer.

Story: WRPS settles wrestling harassment suit

That conclusion marks the end of the civil and criminal proceedings in these cases. Kleist, who transferred from Lincoln following all this, graduated from the Wisconsin School for the Deaf, according to his attorney, and will attend a top university for the deaf on a scholarship.

This case is concluded and, some say, it is time to move on.

Maybe so. But throughout the case, the people in the district who should have been leading — including wrestling head coach Scott Benitz and his deputies; including Lincoln High School administrators; including the Wisconsin Rapids School Board — have been defensive, closed off to the public.

The community cannot and should not move on until the community has rooted out the ugly culture of bullying and intimidation; of athletes who believe they are above the rules; of administrators who use "boys will be boys" to avoid dealing with abuse; and of coaches who value winning above the welfare of their students.

It's not just Wisconsin Rapids. In any community that rightly takes pride in its successful athletic programs, taking a hard look at the values that underlie such a program can be uncomfortable. But these programs don't exist to win. They exist to teach.

Lincoln High School has made changes to supervision policies, and perhaps the anti-bullying initiatives have begun to take hold. We don't know, and outside the school the community would have a hard time knowing. Officials have been understandably reluctant to discuss this case while court cases were pending.

Now those cases are finished. There is no more reason and no more excuse for silence. The community shares in Lincoln High School wrestling's successes; the community has a stake in knowing that its culture is repaired.

There is only one person who can really speak with authority about the culture of the program and how its underlying values may have changed since these allegations became public: Benitz. He has not spoken publicly about this case, about bullying on his team or about why anyone in the community should be confident that changes will ensure that nothing like this abuse will ever, ever happen again.

In the wake of Kleist's case, those changes are what matters. And until they're settled, it won't be time to move on.

Choke variations from Submission Wrestling applied in jiu-jitsu: Learned from catch wrestler Fujiwara Yoshiaki

I was recently in Japan for a quick trip and got to do some jiu-jitsu. I learned this wicked cross face choke that really is more of a neck crank. This video of Yoshiaki Fujiwara is somewhat of a classic, but if you pay close attention to the Miyao brothers and some of the other top players at the 2014 IBJJF World Championships ofter referred to as the Mundials, you would see them doing the exact same cross face choke. 

The choke in application is more of a jaw crusher / tooth breaker / neck crank, but what makes it a legal choke is that when the person goes to defend from the pain they put themselves in a submission. It seems like the best moves or finishes are always two part, and this is one of those if you don't defend from the pain you'll break your jaw or crack your tooth, or you'll defend and give up the choke. The concept where the defense leads to a finish is classic jiujitsu concept in application. 

There are several other concepts in application here as well. The idea that if you attack the body in a certain way they will open up. If you fight the strength of your opponent staying tight with strength he won't budge, but if you attack the right place (body part) with the right angle and your right body part. It's that simple! 

The important lesson to keep in mind is to keep an open mind. This can be one of the hardest things to do sometimes. By keeping an open mind and exposing yourself to different arts on the mat, you will quickly see that there are more then one way to do things. Some are better than others, some are the same, some depend on body type. However, at the end of the day, the most important thing is to follow your system. Find things that support your system, allow the people around you to improve and expose the holes in your system and again be open minded to the potential you could receive! Ultimately, we are on a quest to better ourselves and improve our understanding. Constantly striving towards this goal is all we can do. 

Eliot Kelly

916.595.4064

El Dorado Hills Jiu-Jitsu

Dealing with Frustration An Analytical Approach to finding a Resolution

frus·tra·tion

frəˈstrāSHən/

noun

1. the feeling of being upset or annoyed, especially because of inability to change or achieve something.

   "I sometimes feel like screaming with frustration"

   synonyms:

   exasperation, annoyance, anger, vexation, irritation; More

   • an event or circumstance that causes one to have a feeling of frustration.

     plural noun: frustrations

     "the inherent frustrations of assembly line work"
   • the prevention of the progress, success, or fulfillment of something.

     "the frustration of their wishes"

     synonyms:

     thwarting, defeat, prevention, foiling, blocking, spoiling, circumvention,forestalling, disappointment, derailment; More

There are many things in life that could lead to frustration. But before we define an event or circumstance as frustration, let's think about what is causing the feeling that we are having. That feeling, we've loosely defined as frustration, is not necessarily bad. We've associated a word, in this case frustrated, to a certain feeling we have and the word might have a negative connotation. However, that does not necessarily mean that the situation is frustrating. 

What is important is that you are getting a feeling, an emotional message that says something isn't right and needs to be fixed. In Jiu-Jitsu or wrestling it's most likely being beat by the same person or by the same move. This feeling is great. It means you are alive, aware, and realize that something isn't right. The worst situation would be that we are being beat by the same move or same opponent and feel complacent. The feeling of frustration should give us the motivation to change and do something different.

The next step is to process what is going on. A few questions you could ask are: When do I feel frustrated? How am I being beat? What is the position I am losing from? Where do I almost score? Where do I almost get a submission? These are a few questions you could ask and answer to help get through the feeling of frustration. 

There's no other way to overcome this feeling. You need to take an active role in figuring out the next step. This might be very difficult, but is part of the joy of learning and improving. Use the references you have around you for help. Your coach should be the first person you ask, but it's never a bad thing to help the upper belts or more experienced friends help. 

Once you've asked and defined the point of frustration you need to train. It it's a technical mistake you need to fix it and train it in drilling, situations, and rolling ample times. The more you can realize the position or situation and work through it with the solution you came up with the better you will be the next time you are faced with the situation. This can be difficult at first, but it is essential to process. It might be good to take advantage of an open mat session, time after training, or private lessons to drill the position and play an active resistance until satisfactory. (Dave Schultz, a legendary American wrestler is said to have stayed after wrestling practice a focus on one position he was beat and fix it until he was satisfied with how he could wrestle from that position. Sometimes that took 10 minutes, sometimes he would be there for hours after training, figuring out a specific position.) The process of training your self on your own is essential in improvement and overcoming the feeling of frustration. 

When you feel frustrated.... Rejoice! It means you've found a place with training partners that will challenge you. A place where you will need to seek out answers on your own and do a lot of self discovery. Acknowledge the feeling and embrace it! Don't allow semantics to persuade you into thinking it's a negative thing. The feeling is simply a way for you to realize you need to do something different. The challenge is finding the specific problem area and creating a solution. Once you've taken those steps, the next challenge is to train the solution so that you can perform it on anyone. The process could take a few minutes or months, but an important thing to remember is that this challenge is the fun we find in learning jiu-jitsu both on and off the mat! 

Eliot Kelly

El Dorado Hills, CA

EDH Jiu-Jitsu

916.595.4064 

Teen Wrestler takes on a quest to spread awareness with his brother

At El Dorado Hills Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu we are looking not just to become a better competitor on the mat, but also contribute to the people around us. Our goal is to raise awareness for the differences we all encounter and motivate each other to do better, one step at a time. This is a great example of a wrestler going above to raise awareness for cerebral palsy. Our students are challenged and motivated to take on different tasks and pursue what they feel passionate about. Great work Hunter for not only challenging yourself on the mat, but also taking on the challenge off the mat and into the world! 

El Dorado Hills Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu 

916.595.4064

Teen wrestler finishes quest, carrying brother with cerebral palsy for 40 miles

Sam Gardner

FOX Sports

JUN 09, 2014 1:38p ET

 

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Hunter Gandee, 14, walks in Saline, Mich., on Sunday with his 7-year-old brother, Braden.

A Michigan eighth-grader hoping to raise awareness for cerebral palsy has completed a 40-mile walk with his 7-year-old brother on his back,according to MLive.com.

Fourteen-year-old Hunter Gandee began his journey Saturday at the gymnasium at Bedford Junior High School, where Hunter is a wrestler, and walked the initial 25 miles. After stopping for the night in Milan, Hunter quite literally picked up where he left off and conquered the final 15 miles Sunday with his brother Braden aboard, finishing with a group of 100 followers at the University of Michigan'€s Bahna Wrestling Center.

The walk was inspired by a dream of the boys'€™ mother, Danielle Gandee. In it, she envisioned Hunter carrying Braden, who has cerebral palsy, from the family'€™s home in Temperance to Mackinac, MLive.com reports. Earlier this year, Hunter raised $350 selling green cerebral palsy awareness wristbands, and so the walk seemed like the logical next step.

"That'€™s just Hunter,"€ Danielle Gandee told MLive.com. "€œThis is what he wanted to do. I knew he'€™d do it, and I had faith in him the entire time. We were a little worried about Braden. He had some injuries and blistering and stuff like that from some of the equipment and just the heat and sweat, so we were worried we were going to have to push him in his stroller."

Hunter'€™s commitment to the goal never wavered, though, and eventually the team reached the UM campus in Ann Arbor, with the wrestling building being the most appropriate place for him and Braden to stop.

"Braden sits mat side at Hunter's matches, and he keeps stats. He knows the tournament brackets when Hunter is in there,"€ the boys'€™ father, Sam Gandee, told the site. "€œHunter wanted to tie this (walk) in with Braden'€™s love of wrestling and do something hard, and really wrestling, the determination and strength and the (preparation) that comes with wrestling really helped this to happen. Without wrestling, this wouldn'€™t have happened.

"€œ... Proud isn'€™t even really a word I could use; it'€™s way beyond that," Sam Gandee added. "To me, it'€™s one of those things that can make a difference in the world, and at age 14 and at age 7, Hunter and Braden, they've reached so many people. It'€™s way more than I have done in my life."

A thing or two about Challenge: Anthony Robles

I remember watching Anthony Robles wrestling one of our wrestlers at a UC Davis dual meet a few years ago and just smiling. He had found a way to adapt wrestling to the body he had. He didn't complain about getting around (he would use crutches to go from place to place), and he would wrestler his heart out. 

The lesson is not just that wrestling is for everyone, but also that the challenge of wrestling pushed him to find a way to make this work. His wrestling was simple and by the end of the year every coach had figured out a way to challenge his style to their wrestlers to beat him. Needless to say he won Nationals that year. Keep up the great work Anthony! 

Wrestling Dojo

El Dorado Hills, CA

916.595.4064 

Wrestler talks of challenge ... and portrays it

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BOB MOLINARO

Sports columnist for The Virginian-Pilot

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1 OF 4 PHOTOS: 

Anthony Robles, center, talks about the importance of proper technique during Ranger Wrestling Camp at Kellam High School in Virginia Beach on Tuesday, June 17, 2014. Born with only one leg, Robles went on to win the 2011 NCAA wrestling 125-lb title and is now a motivational speaker. For several days this week, Robles will be doing mat work with the kids and also delivering a motivational talk between wrestling sessions. (Vicki Cronis-Nohe | The Virginian-Pilot)

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The Virginian-Pilot
© June 19, 2014

If all goes according to plan, Hollywood will be putting Anthony Robles' story on the big screen.

The script, Robles says, should be complete in about a month, with filming scheduled to start in December.

Whenever the movie is finished, its narrative will be something that even Hollywood's creative minds and purveyors of fantasy never would have imagined.

A film about a child born without a leg, missing up to his right hip, who goes on to become a college wrestling champion? Who would believe that?

Unless it were true.

"The movie," Robles said Tuesday during a break from a clinic at Kellam High for middle and high school wrestlers, "is going to be basically my whole life story."

A story with an unmistakable message.

"We all wrestle with our own challenges," he said, "and I believe you can't let the challenge become an excuse."

Moments before saying that, the 2011 NCAA champion in the 125-pound division was on the mat, demonstrating some of the moves that helped him finish 36-0 as a senior at Arizona State, explaining each one in a clear, relaxed voice.

"It's great seeing the light coming on," he said of the young wrestlers. "I remember being in the same spot, learning something for the first time."

As the wrestlers broke up into pairs to practice what they had just seen, Robles checked in with each of them, going around the room on crutches. He gave up his prosthesis for crutches when he was 5, a decision that "ended up paying off for me, wrestling-wise," he said. "It made my upper body strong."

A resident of Chandler, Ariz., Robles was here by invitation of Curtis Wiley, Kellam's assistant wrestling coach, an Army Lt. Colonel at Dam Neck who took leave to host Robles and help run the clinic.

"He's sort of a god in the wrestling community," said Wiley, who wrestled in college. "A wrestler understands how tough it would be to do what he did. He figured out the sport and trained to win his way, with his upper body strength."

It took time, of course. As a ninth-grader in Mesa, Ariz., Robles was tossed around by stronger, two-legged wrestlers.

"I was pretty bad at 14," he said - "last place in my city. But I loved the sport and just wanted to be the best at it."

His championship and the unique story of his life provides a platform that allows him to make about 65 speaking engagements a year, in addition to appearing at a dozen or so wrestling clinics each summer. He's also been a commentator for ESPN during the NCAA tournament.

"I love doing motivational speaking," said Robles, whose message is grounded in "the whole idea of being unstoppable."

"It was basically how I was raised," he said. "Aim high and never stop until you get the job done. I was blessed with a great mom. She always believed I could do whatever I set my mind to."

Robles put in a full day at Kellam, working with the middle school kids in the morning and high schoolers in the afternoon. In between, he gave a motivational talk in the gym.

"It's a pleasure to give back to the sport," he said. "It's given me a lot."

A good-looking guy who is at ease before an audience, Robles mentioned that the movie production team was searching for somebody - "an up-and-coming actor" - to play his part and talked about how green-screen technology could be used to simulate his missing leg.

When somebody proposed to him that he could play himself, Robles politely shrugged off the suggestion.

"I'll probably be in and out, doing the wrestling scenes," he said. "I'll be my own stunt double. But no acting for me. I'm not into it."

It's the closest he came to saying that there was something he couldn't do.

He has, after all, constructed his life - on and off the mat - upon the foundation of being unstoppable.

Unstoppable.

That might make a good title for the film.