A Worker's Responsibility...

I recently read one of Lance Storm’s articles entitled “The Gym.” You can read the commentary in its entirety here. In his commentary, Storm talks about the importance and often overlooked aspect of wrestlers and their weight training regimens.

This topic is very endearing to me, as I am a fitness professional by trade, and take my weight training and cardiovascular conditioning very seriously. I train four to five days a week, in addition to my wrestling training and shows. I make my training a priority. Lance Storm states that “The gym is not a recommendation, it’s a pre-requisite.” Like Storm, I had several years of weight training and cardiovascular conditioning under my belt before I even thought about stepping into the squared circle, and after my first wrestling class, I was darn glad that I did.

Storm writes about the need to prepare your body for the physical demands of professional wrestling. “Weight training prepares you physically, so that you are strong enough to do this job, big enough and solid enough to survive the physical beatings involved with this job, as well as prepare you cosmetically to look the part so you are believable when doing the job.” These are very important points, but I would like to expand on one component of this sport that Storm mentions, but does not emphasize…SAFETY.

Wrestling is a very dangerous sport. Every time a wrestler steps in the ring, they are facing the possibility of injury. This is made worse by climbing into the ring with an out-of-shape opponent. As a wrestler, you are responsible for your safety, and the safety of your opponents and partners. You must be able to lift, throw, catch, roll, toss, support, and balance other people, as well as be in good enough cardiovascular condition to run the ropes, jump, flip, and make it through the duration of a match without running out of steam.

I believe Harley Race said it best, when describing the importance of cardio conditioning at his yearly training camp. “Each one of them (students) starts off with about an hour's worth of cardio," explains Race. "The most important thing to me in wrestling is if you're in shape cardio-wise, the odds of either guy getting hurt in the ring are cut dramatically. That's how a lot of the kids nowadays get hurt. They've worked out just enough and they've learned just enough they think they can get in there and do about anything and when they run out of gas, that's when people get hurt.”

So as a wrestler, where do you start? First, if you’re going to hit the gym, make sure you learn proper exercise technique. In the same manner that you would go out and search for a reputable trainer to teach you the fundamentals of wrestling, you should do the same when putting together a weight training and cardio program. If you’ve never lifted a weight in your life, it is highly recommended that you hire a professional to assist you. Learning proper technique and theory will help you achieve your goals in a safe and effective manner.

Be consistent in your training. It must become a part of your daily routine. In the same way that you eat, sleep, work, study, and train at wrestling, your workout should become part of your lifestyle. I often hear stories about people not having enough time to workout. I say bullshit. If wrestling is your dream, you will make time for your workout. I work a fulltime job, and spend most weekends on the road. No matter how much I have to do, I always make it to the gym. That’s how much it means to me, and that’s how much it should mean to all wrestlers.

Also, find a gym you like, and are able to get to without much travel. Convenience is key.

I will end this article by stealing a quote that Lance Storm stole from "Dancing with the Stars". Yes, he does watch that show and freely admits to it. “If you fail to prepare, you are prepared to fail.” So, if you are considering becoming a wrestler, or are one right now, make sure you get to the gym. For your own success, and for the safety of those who put their trust in you in the ring.

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