Ask Cael: What is your take on the aerobic conditioning and wrestling? Some say aerobics are useless in developing the overall conditioning of wrestlers, and that wrestlers should only focus on anaerobic methods, since wrestling is a short fast pace sport.

Story Published Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

name: John DeGarmo

question: What is your take on the aerobic conditioning and wrestling? Some say aerobics are useless in developing the overall conditioning of wrestlers, and that wrestlers should only focus on anaerobic methods, since wrestling is a short fast pace sport.

I think aerobic conditioning is great supplement for wrestling conditioning. However, I don’t think aerobic conditioning will get you into warp wrestling shape. The only way to get into warp wrestling shape is to wrestle. Running, riding a bike, running sprints etc, have their place and benefits. They are good for building a foundation of conditioning and great for building confidence in conditioning. Aerobic conditioning is good for the mind, and can give you some variety in your training to keep things fresh.

The only way to get into warp wrestling shape is to train at warp speed. You have to wrestle as hard, if not harder, in practice matches as you do in real matches. I learned this lesson my redshirt year in college. I started competing as hard as I could go in practice and my real matches followed suit. The mistake kids make is that they think they can train at a comfortable pace, and then expect to be able to turn it up in matches. That doesn’t work; you are the same person in competition that you are in practice. You aren’t going to magically be able to compete hard if you haven’t been training hard. The effort has to be the same whenever you strap on those Asics wrestling shoes.

We do condition as a team after practice with sprints and aerobic type exercises but that is just adding sprinkles to the frosting on the cake of conditioning. After practice, the common thing for kids to do is to jump on the treadmill or bike, especially when trying to cut weight. Our staff encourages our guys to wrestle. Grab a partner and roll around on the mat to get extra work in and to burn extra calories. You don’t learn how to wrestle riding a bike or running. Good technique will improve a wrestler’s conditioning a great deal, but that is a different subject.

Good luck!

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