Wrestling Blogs - Mike Tamillow

A few years ago I thought that I could just ignore my aches and pains. My plan was simple: by the time I’m 40 it will be the year 2026. If I learned anything from Hollywood movies it is that either the world as we know it is going to end before 2026 or medical science will become so advanced that I can just get full body reconstruction. I determined that I could just keep pushing through minor issues until I turned 40 and then I could just get them fixed. I started to realize I might have been wrong last year. Fortunately my body has held up better than most. I’ve had few major injuries but I still go to the trainers any time I need a tune up.

The final world team training camp is going on at the OTC. I can’t say how everyone looks since I’m practicing at the same time. Poland was the closest equivalent to a world championship for me. The competition was intense; I lost two close matches to the number #2 and #3 guys from Russia at 84 kgs. Iran brought their first team. In my first match I beat the 2008 Olympian from Armenia. The guys I lost to had great defense. I was bummed to not have placed at the tournament, but watching always makes me think and want to get back on the mat.

Leigh Jaynes commented on a little Swedish girl who was wrestling. Leigh said the girl was one of her favorite wrestlers because of the way the girl beat all her opponents into submission. I thought about my matches. Realistically, what more could I have done to win my matches? In my mind there is always something. The opponents that I lost to didn’t leave any openings, the opponents that I beat I was obviously better than. The #2 from Russia baited me into a single and the #3 stayed in great position. I stayed in good position but that just kept the matches low scoring and going to clinches.

My conclusion was that if I realize that maybe I’m not the better wrestler, or that the positions that I might be the better wrestler from are not available, I have to break my opponent. Outside of hoping for a clinch and doing nothing, while hoping my opponent is thinking the same thing, I can’t win. I’m not going to improve my technique during the match, but I can wrestle tougher. I can refuse to waste a second while I’m still in it.

I don’t believe I’m making a move to 84kgs. I like myself better when I’m bigger. I don’t feel it’s necessary to cut weight. As much as I felt like a giant on the mat in Poland, I cut a lot of water and I really don’t like that feeling. I would rather feel big at 96 kgs. which is why I need to gain weight. I talked to Tervel about gaining weight recently. He told me that he would take in 160 grams of protein from supplements and then he’d try to match it with food. Bryce also told me I need supplements if I’m going to gain weight. Many people follow the advice of others they trust, I’ll trust the advice of people who have done it before. They’re giving me advice because they have it. Tervel told me it took him about three months to put on the weight and that getting in every meal and shake was a priority. Missing a shake was worse than missing a practice.

I’ve been sticking to my plan and training hard, which I can feel good about. I have a weird mentality. On a day when I’m going live, I’ll think “Maybe today I’m going to manhandle everyone.” I know I didn’t do it yesterday, but I honestly think that just about every day. I think I got that much better. I feel like I’m going to win the lottery. I’m not going to have a good practice; I’m going to tear down the walls of the wrestling room. I’m a little disappointed when it doesn’t happen, but I just think that tomorrow’s my day. Even when I just got whooped I think I’m that good and I got that much better.