Tag Archives: sports

Wrestling’s Unhealthy Habits?

Posted on January 30, 2012 | Leave a comment

 

Here is my response to the aforementioned post, containing an article in a local high school’s newspaper about cutting weight in wrestling:

While RRRR did bring attention to an issue with some wrestlers, I’d like to bring some balance to the discussion.

First, some wrestlers do choose to “cut weight,” but a majority, at least on the Capo team, do not, and they eat perfectly healthy. 32 out of Capo’s 42 wrestlers don’t have to lose a single pound. Most of our upper weight wrestlers are undersized, so I actually tell them to gain weight, not by eating everything in sight, but by lifting hard and eating healthy. For some of the 10 left, simply eating healthy and working out hard does the trick.

Secondly, for those that do lose weight, realize there is a healthy, productive way to do it, and an unproductive way. I tell the athletes to work out more, not eat less. In addition, the high protein/vegetable/fruit/nuts/fats, few-grains diet that RRR mentioned in the article is a lifestyle that many competitive athletes even outside of wrestling have adopted because they have found it helps them compete at a more elite level of fitness. The basic idea is that processed grains, which tend to be high glycemic, unduly raise the body’s insulin levels and thus contribute to lower quality of performance. The aforementioned foods keep the body’s insulin levels more stable and body fat at manageable levels.

Not only does that lifestyle help athletic performance; it also helps athletes avoid many of the pitfalls of the typical American diet, which has led to record high levels of obesity and other diseases in this country.

Some, admittedly, still choose to cut corners. It is a problem. Anywhere you have competition, some will go to extremes, and though the particulars may be different, it is like this in every sport. Most wrestlers, like many young people and even adults, often don’t see the problem until they actually get in a match, and their performance suffers. Then they “get it.”

Third, there were some things that RRR presented as problematic that actually are common outside of wrestling and are perfectly ok. Many serious Crossfitters and other athletes, for instance, measure their food. This is normal. Likewise with practicing, lifting, then running for “an hour.” One of my assistants, who competes in MMA, jumps rope for an hour, boxes for two hours, spars in jiu jitsu, wrestles in our freshman practice, then wrestles in the varsity practice…and he does all this just about every day, not because he has to make weight, but because he’s in shape.

These habits can become unhealthy, especially when combined with an obsession with weight and appearance. That needs to be showcased. However, those sorts of habits are not shocking or automatically strange. It’s what fit people do!

Fourth, realize that wrestling is not alone when it comes to athletes cutting corners and doing foolish things about their weight. How many sports deal with steroid abuse? Quite a few, and although discussions about those issues sometimes come up and those issues need to be dealt with, they never overshadow the many benefits that athletes in those sports get by competing. It should be the same with wrestling.

There are so many benefits to wrestling that many who are outside the wrestling community easily miss. For one, wrestling skills easily transfer over to other sports. There is a reason why wrestlers make great MMA fighters, Crossfitters, football players, and the like.

Next, the habits forged in the wrestling room and on the mat stick with the wrestlers their whole lives, and that is good. Due to their participation in the sport, they develop the discipline, confidence, and self-knowledge it takes to succeed in anything outside of the mat. Once a wrestler has mastered his own body and mind, the rest of life becomes mere details.

Perhaps the greatest gift wrestling gives is mental toughness! Look at men who have spent their lives wrestling; what you’ll see is a depth of soul, character, and mental toughness that , while it is found in other places, is a rare thing indeed. So much of the success I’ve had in my own life can be attributed to my years on the mat!

There are even benefits for athletes when it comes to managing their weight. Through the process, they master themselves. What’s more, they know how to eat healthy. They know how to stay in shape. They have the self-discipline to avoid all the junk food out there. Along with this comes an incredible amount of confidence.

In conclusion, I applaud RRR for tackling a controversial topic that needs to be discussed. However, there is still every reason in the world to wrestle, even given the existence of weight classes. The way I look at it, while cutting weight should be avoided, managing weight is not a wholly bad thing.

 

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Reflections on First Crossfit Competition

Posted on December 5, 2010 | Leave a comment

Yours truly, waiting to start one of the events.

Sometimes, in the middle of training, I ask why I put myself through all the pain and crap.  I ask myself that often even in the midst of competition as well.  Both are hard.  Oftentimes I run into those “gut check” moments, when my lungs are pounding, my head is spinning, my muscles are on fire, drool is on my face, my eyes are stinging from the sweat dripping into them, and my hands can’t grip anything because the sweat makes my grip slippery.  In those moments, its either push through it or back down.  No third option.

Those are tough, and those are the moments that make me ask “why am I doing this?”  But then I get on the other side, and I figure out why I do it.  The satisfaction of completing the job by giving my all is deep and profound.

Yesterday was my first foray into competing as a crossfit athlete.  After the competition I had competing feelings (no pun intended).  On the one hand there was the satisfied emotion I talked of above.  There were some gut check moments in the competition and there was a healthy dose of adversity to overcome too.  Facing all that head on was immensely worthwhile.

On the otherhand, the whole experience left me wanting more and fired up for the next one in April (there’s actually one in January, but I can’t compete in it because that’s the heart of wrestling season), mainly because I wasn’t pleased with my performance.  Yes, I gave it my all and left nothing out there, yes, my identity is not in my performance so failure doesn’t eat at me, and yes, I had that sense of satisfaction I talked about above that comes with giving it my all, but the competitor in me is rarely satisfied unless I meet all my goals (and my goals are usually pretty lofty, almost out of reach).

Over the years I’ve made my peace with that part of me, mostly because I’ve realized that having high expectations of oneself is a common character trait in heroes and great men/women who have moved society forward.  Take a look at anyone who has forged anything worthwhile in this world, and you’ll find that quality.

I say that at the risk of sounding arrogant, but don’t be worried: I don’t count msyelf in the same company as Lincoln, Roosevelt, Wooden, or Jordan…lol, not even close.  All I’m saying is that drive is responsible for a lot of good in the world, so I feel no compulsion to follow the voice that tells me to kill it and be part of the horde that knows neither the thrill of victory nor the sting of defeat.

So what were my goals?  The competition was split up into ten events, and of the ten events, I only met my goals on two of them.  I met my goal of a 150 lb snatch in that event, and I exceeded my goal of completing one of the timed events in a certain time by thirty seconds.  On all the other events, I missed the mark.   Overall, I finished 17th out of 51 intermediate competitors (competition was split in divisions–intermediate and advanced).  My goal was to finish top five.

Admittedly, there wasn’t a whole lot I could do on some of the events. Some of them, like the vertical jump or maximum deadlift, measured raw athletic talent for the most part.  Raw athletic talent is not something I possess, at least compared with most of the horses in the competition.  What’s more, for all the events, I trained smart and hard, held nothing back, and pushed through discomfort and pain, but still I have that dual sense of satisfaction coupled with dissatisfaction.  Why?

Hey, it is what it is.  I’m  a driven guy.  So I train on…

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Investing

Posted on July 23, 2010 | Leave a comment

Lately I have been endeavoring in a little fundraising venture for the wrestling team I coach.   Unbeknownst to many, school sports teams (at least in the district I work) are responsible for coming up with the lion’s share of funding, not the school.  The school pays for about 20% of our expenditures.  Student-athletes, for example, even have to pay to ride the bus–a $100 fee–to our meets.  It is what it is, and this isn’t a complaint post (I actually think there are some benefits to this), so I digress.

Usually, a parent or booster is responsible for leading the fundraising charge, but though I have parents assisting, I am heading up the fundraising for now; I feel that I need to be at the helm here at the start to get things going, though I hope to hand it off to a capable parent or booster member eventually within a few years.

The specific fundraising venture in view is advertising in a program/media guide.  You know the little booklet you get when you go to a football game that has player pics and bios and such in it?  Yeah, that, except for wrestling.  Those programs usually have advertisements in them that cost a tad, for it gives the businesses therein exposure to the fans and community.  Things like this *can* turn out to be win-wins for both parties: the team gets funds, and the business gets exposure.

Doing all this has been *incredibly* time consuming, and not exactly easy.  For some people, sales and fundraising comes easy.  Not so for me.  I’m a teacher and coach, not a salesman.   I’ve had to do it often as I grew up, but I always hated it.  Even when the product I’ve offered is my own services that I know are exceptional–for example, when I was a fitness trainer–I still have dreaded the selling, especially in tough economic times in which many people I come across simply can’t afford it.  I’m not one to push in that circumstance.  I’ve always done the selling/fundraising, though, for I’ve always recognized the need and larger purpose for it all. 

Even though I have not really enjoyed doing this, I’ve learned some valuable lessons and I feel I’ve grown through it.  Here is a not-so-brief list of some of the things I’ve learned through this whole process:

1) There’s a capitalistic element to this venture.  I just finished reading a book on the virtues, biblical and otherwise, of capitalism, called *Money, Greed, and God* by Jay Richards.  Some of the things he talks about in his book I’ve seen in fundraising for my team.  Part of what I do I see in terms of building, creating, and investing in a business.  Though that certainly doesn’t capture the whole of my job–the bottom line is not the bottom line, it’s about discipling young men–it is a part.  Yes, technically since this is a public school, I work for the government, but given that this is a sports team, there is a “free market” element to it that I hope becomes apparent as you continue to read.

2) People appreciate the little things.  In other words, “sweat the small stuff.”  You’d be surprised at how some of the little stuff makes a difference, things as small as providing a SASE for people to mail in the support.  Calling first to ask if I can stop by to merely introduce myself (rather than doing a straight cold call and pitching for a sponsorship right there) is another one businesses have tended to appreciate.

3) Don’t be afraid of the word “no.”  I’ve contacted and visited lit-ra-lly hundreds of businesses.  Seems like darn near every day I’m putting on my dress clothes and my best smile, and going to meet local businessmen and women.  I’ve gotten a “no” (or sometimes they ignore me, don’t return phone calls, etc) in the overwhelming majority of times.  I started contacting businesses (some of which I already know, some not) way back in April, and so far have garnered a pittance–about $1000 short of breaking even when factoring the cost of production in.  Some of this is no doubt due to my approach, which I am tweaking as I go along, but most of it is the nature of the beast. 

It’s a numbers game, and this has given me a chance to grow some thicker skin, lean on the God who truly gives me self-worth (as opposed to my performance or people liking me), and learn how to keep going amidst much rejection.

4)  In just about everything, relationships are paramount.  I elaborate on this in the other pointers, so rather than just beating a dead horse I’ll move on.

5)  Success, as Hugh Hewitt says, is not a zero-sum game.  Win-win relationships are potent currency in the business world.  I’m not the only one benefitting…the businesses that place ads benefit as well.  Options in which both parties gain something are the best options in our free market economy, and they are the engine that drives progress.  I’ve had this conviction for a while: what I have yet to figure out, admittedly, is a particular win-win that businesses will go for.  A football team with a weekly game attendance of over 3,000, with considerable media coverage to boot can command much more interest when it comes to advertising in their program.  A wrestling team with 300 weekly attendance (that will change if it’s the last thing I do!  :) ) and with close to zero media attention (that will also change, with time)–not so much.  I’m constantly trying to think outside the box, so I’ll let you know as I progress…one thing for sure: don’t even think about suggesting car washes, cookie sales, and the like.  I’m convinced the only things like that get is a whole lotta sweat, but relatively little funds in return…and a good dose of colon blow from ingesting all those cookies.  What’s more, everybody under the sun does them…coincidently, I’ve found out that everybody under the sun also does ad sales in programs, and getting ads is sweat-inducing.  Hmmm…

6) Even if the business says “no” at first, build a relationship with them anyway.  Why?  Because you never know when a door for a win-win might open.  This is one of the things that has led me to change my approach as I’ve gone along.   Whereas in the beginning I approached a business and directly asked for funds, now I approach a business with a wider goal in mind, of which sponsorship is merely a part.  I approach a business with the honest intent of getting to know the person, what her business is, the role she plays in the community, and I want her to simply be aware of my team.  I give her a copy of our highlight DVD as a opening gift.  I ask if I can send them a fan request from our facebook page, and I do a few other things, but the goal is to open a simple introduction, then I want to cultivate that acquaintance as best as I can given my particular time constraints as things go along.  I figure the more they are comfortable with me, the more likely it is that genuine win-win options will arise.  If a sponsorship arises out of that, great.  If not, there are other fruitful options that might pop up in the future.  And simply having more “supporters in spirit” is a good thing too.

7) Coaching is more than coaching.  As J. Robinson, head wrestling coach for the University of Minnesota once quipped, the success of your program won’t depend upon how well you can teach a double leg takedown.  I can’t just expect to show up and win a title only by teaching great technique.  When it comes to coaching a successful team (which, I admit, isn’t the end of coaching–molding the next generation of young men is.  Still though, having a successful and competitive team is nice), there are all sorts of administrative, bigger-picture things that factor into the success of your team.  There’s PR.  There’s communicating your vision and motivating the athletes, the parents, and the larger community to get involved.  There’s marketing…yes, that matters.  You can have something in your garage that’ll change the world, but if no one knows or cares about it, it’s about as good as the old broomstick it sits next to in the corner.  Marketing puts butts in the seats, which increases the notoriety and name of your program, which increases the numbers of participants.  Then there’s the funds.  As much as I hate to admit it, this matters.  I know Holywood is replete with hit movies of coaches who won world titles with nothin’ but a mound of dirt and a few ne’r-do-well derelicts, but reality is a bit less rosy, and funds really help.  

This is not so much something I’ve learned in the process as much as it is a conviction that got me into the fundraising venture. Let me give you two particular examples:

First, without funds we don’t compete.  It costs money to enter tournaments.  Teams usually go to enough tournaments such that only the talented few get to compete, but what about the guys who show up day in and day out, bust their tails, but aren’t talented enough to make one of our squads?  I’d like to have enough funds to send them to some competitions.  Not only will it make them better, but it will keep them involved and invested.  The more they stick around, the more they’ll help the other guys on the team, and vice versa.  The more they stick around, the more young men I’ll get to mold with the character lessons of wrestling.  This takes funds.

By the way, that was me in college.  I was always sitting behind an NCAA qualifier or All-American, and never made first string.  Those were the guys that got all the matches.  I got an exhibition match here and there, and paid my own way to open tournaments, but that was it for me.  Most athletes I know won’t put up with that.  It’s rough.  If I can keep those kids on the squad through four years, I know they’ll look back as I did on their wrestling years with fondness and see how it positively shaped their lives.  If I quit years ago because I rarely got to wrestle, I’d be half the man I am today.  Now the question is: who can I keep out for wrestling that can gain the same lessons I did?

Second, lifting weights is an integral part of wrestling.  However, at our school, the football team occupies the weightroom the overwhelming majority of the time.  We have a tough time getting in there.  However, rather than continually butting up against that brick wall, why not do an end run around it?  With just a few dollars, we can purchase some things and make an interesting weightroom ourselves.  And I’m not talking about Eleiko bars, bumper plates, and squat racks.  I’m talking about some rather inexpensive items–marine ropes, bungee cords, sandbags, gymnastics rings, wheelbarrows, truck tires, hurdles, etc.  With stuff like that, we can make a quite functional “weightroom” and get our weight training outside, in nature, without ever having to step foot in the weightroom.  Problem solved.  Plus, our workouts will have a “farm boy” quality to them.  I myself grew up doing manual labor like bailing hay, and it forged some good toughness in me.  I’m convinced that physical tasks inherent in handling equipment like the above contain some potent character lessons for boys…but it takes funds.

There are other examples where funds make a world of difference.  It all adds up.

So those are just a few of the lessons I’ve learned lately through trying to fundraise for my team.  Work hard, but work smart.  I’m not quite there yet.  This is not a finished venture by any means, so I’ll add to this list as time goes along.

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Wrestling Highlights Part 2

Posted on March 22, 2010 | Leave a comment

Part 2 of the CVHS wrestling highlight dvd.

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Wrestling Highlights part 3

Posted on March 22, 2010 | Leave a comment

Part 3 of the highlight dvd.

Rdb268@hotmail.com if you want me to custom make one for you.

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Wrestling Highlights

Posted on March 22, 2010 | Leave a comment

Looky at what I made!  Part 1 of the CVHS 2009-2010 highlight dvd.

If you want me to make one for your sport/event, email me at rdb268@hotmail.com

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A Saint in the City

Posted on March 9, 2010 | Leave a comment

More wrestlers should write books about wrestling.  There.  I said it.

I’m not talking about “how to” books.  I’m talking about real life stories.

Am I biased?  Perhaps.  I challenge you, though, to take a look at the lives in the sport.  It’s an often misunderstood sport, but there’s some good food for the soul there– especially for men–that people often miss because they haven’t tried to get past it’s “goofiness.”  All they see are the few examples of kids who lose weight the wrong way:

“when I was in high school, the wrestlers (what they  mean is just one or two) used to run around all day in trash bags.” 

That’s all they can say about it.  They forget that every sport has its abuses.  They miss the incredible dedication and discipline that it takes to even get through one season.  They miss the countless hours in the weightroom.  They miss all the 6 a.m sprints.  They miss the conditioning push ups and rope climbs after a two hour grueling practice.  They miss that when you lose, there is no teammate to hide behind: it’s just you, your opponent, and a circle.  They miss the fact that, despite the fact that every bone in your body screams for rest and you feel like  Mac truck has hit you,  you have to keep going hard in that sixth minute of a match.  You’d rather nap than attack…but attack you must.  Wrestling is a sport that beats the little boy out of you, and in a way, that’s good.  It forges character, and that makes for quite inspiring stories.

For an example of how lives in the sport can be uplifting, inspiring, and encouraging, look no further than a book that recently came out titled A Saint in the City, by Scott Glabb.

I can recommend this book for *anyone* looking for an uplifting story; it’s not just for wrestling fans. He uses wrestling jargon in a few places, but by and large, this book is about the character lessons that young men have learned under Glabb’s tutelage. The type of stories you find in this book are the kind that you only expect to find in Hollywood inspirational movies, not in your own back yard in Southern California..but here it is, and it’s all true.

I can testify to the impact Scott has had on young men: I know a few of the guys Scott tells of in the book, and they are men of good character–the type of guys you want your kids to be around.

If you are looking for hope that there are men of good heart and sound mind in the city impacting the next generation of men, look no further than A Saint in the City.

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