Becoming a Champion Wrestler: Breakdowns - Stopping the First Move

with John Smith,
Oklahoma State University Head Coach from 1991 to 2024;
5x NCAA Championship coach;
2x NWCA Coach of the Year;
20x Big 12 Conference Champions;
9x Big 12 Coach of the Year;
Member, NCAA 75th Anniversary Team (2005);
2004 U.S. Olympic Committee Titan Award;
2003 FILA Hall of Fame;
1997 National Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee;
1997 Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame;
Named one of the 100 Greatest Olympians of All-Time (1996);
2x Olympic Gold Medalist;
6x World Champion;
2x NCAA Champion;
Amateur Athletic Foundation World Trophy (1992);
1991 FILA Outstanding Wrestler of the Year;
1990 Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) James E, Sullivan Award (1st wrestler to win this award);
First-ever American to Earn FILA's Master of Technique Award (Best technical wrestler in the world, 1990);
1990 U.S. Olympic Committee Sportsman of the Year;
1989 USA Wrestling Athlete of the Year;
1988 Amateur Wrestling News Man of the Year;
1987 NWCA College Wrestler of the Year

You cannot successfully pin your opponent until you are able to break him down to the mat. Coach Smith presents a number of potent breakdowns - both from the top position and from the feet - which will get you working for a fall. Smith covers three breakdowns on the mat: the chop, spiral ride and ankle pick. He covers the proper techniques for all three and then shows different scenarios in which they are most effective. He dedicates a lot of time to the chop, covering three variations of the chop to counter the stand-up. The spiral ride is most effective against a tripod and the ankle pick can lead to a Turk position. The second part of the video is dedicated to bringing your opponent back to the mat if he happens to get to his feet. Smith demonstrates four simple, yet effective ways to safely put your opponent on the mat and take him out of his offense. These techniques are the same ones Smith teaches his wrestlers at Oklahoma State and have been a big difference in helping the Cowboys win four straight NCAA Championships.

39 minutes. 2006.