The New Rules of Attack: Defense Against the Funk

Though I have been a coach for 10 years, I competed at a time when "funk" wasn't very popular. The style and moves have always been exotic, mysterious and misunderstood by me. This is the first video where I feel "funk" has really been demystified. - Chester Chen

Funk wrestling is starting to dominate wrestling, frustrating coaches and wrestlers at every level. NCAA Champion Jordan Leen demonstrates several techniques and the importance of position when it comes to beating the funk wrestler.

Coach Leen is one of the most prolific clinicians in the country and does an amazing job of breaking down even complicated techniques and positions so even inexperienced wrestlers can understand. He maintains beating funk has less to do with technique and more to do with positioning. He covers the basics of good positioning from leg attacks that will eliminate that threat. His positioning - with your head and chest high, hips underneath you and protecting your feet - allows wrestlers to come out on top over many of the improvised positions caused by scrambles.

Coach Leen covers exactly what the funk wrestler is looking for and how to protect against it. He explains the importance of position as well as how to wrestle from scramble positions and how to win those positions. He talks about protecting your feet and ankles so your opponent cannot get to their position of advantage. The "leg pass" is the most common of all funk techniques, and learning how to deal with it is a key skill that will make you more confident in not only defending funk, but also in attacking to start with. Grabbing ankles is another common funk skill that is developed to counter leg attacks. Coach Leen shows how just sitting back on your heels is not enough. He also shares some excellent strategies to make this an easy position to counter.

Once in a scramble position, Coach Leen demonstrates how to get back into good position. Strategies for staying out of "the funk" are given for high single legs, high-crotches and low single leg takedowns.

Finally, Coach Leen shares real-life examples of how to use good positioning to stay out of scrambles, and how to get back into good position once your position has been broken. With a partner, he demonstrates scrambles from all positions covered in the presentation. They start by showing the worst-case scenario, and then work backwards, one step at a time, until they get back into good position.

Coach Leen adds several drills that, if used during regular practice, can help protect against funk wrestling This presentation not only helps you defend scramblers but it can also be used to teach some funk.

Keeping good position will keep you out of scrambles, enabling you to stop the funk. When caught in funk, these principles will help you get back into solid position and win the scramble.

50 minutes. 2015.