Formula for Success: Winning the Neutral Position

with Mark Perry, Hawkeye Wrestling Club Coach;
former University of Illinois Associate Head Coach;
2013 Amateur Wrestling News Division I Assistant Coach of the Year;
wrestled at the University of Iowa - was a 2x NCAA Champion, 4x All American, the 2005 NWCA Rookie of the Year, team captain from 2005-08;
in 2007, won the Big Ten title and the Gorrarian Trophy at the 2007 NCAA Tournament;
helped lead the Hawkeyes to an NCAA team National Championship in 2008

Coach Mark Perry has a unique perspective on wrestling from his uncle, legendary Oklahoma State Coach John Smith, as well as his own experience wrestling in high school at Blair Academy under Coach Jeff Buxton and finally at the University of Iowa under Coach Tom Brands. Coach Perry has used this wealth of knowledge and experience to develop a highly effective blend of philosophies that he calls the "formula for success." That formula is the basis of this video.

Through a series of drills for the neutral position, Coach Perry explains a formula for success that blends two proven styles of wrestling to create a complete wrestler. He carefully highlights some high priority positions that athletes need to master to win at the highest level.

Stance - The drills in this segment emphasize stance and position. From the stance, Coach Perry explains the importance hand placement and the position of the head and body relative to the mat. He also covers the way a wrestler should move in his stance, including the role of effective footwork, how to incorporate fakes and how to create angles.

Offensive Philosophies - Coach Perry shares examples of how offensive attacks in practice (not just in ideal drilling situations) create a chain wrestler who can use multiple options to score. For example, if a wrestler fakes, then goes to one attack that's defended, he can change direction and go to a different attack.

Short Offense philosophies - Coach Perry covers ways for a wrestler to defend on his feet to avoid giving up easy points against short offense and go-behinds. To become an elite wrestler, your wrestlers must avoid giving up easy points, and have the ability to able to score from any position on the mat. Teach them how to keep focus when they miss or shot and how to be tough on their feet with the drills in this DVD.

Whether you are trying to get your middle or high school team to the next level or you're an athlete trying to take your wrestling to the next level, the philosophies stressed in this video can be your a valuable coaching tool to get there.

76 minutes. 2014.