Askren's take on hard work

Men's Freestyle Olympic Training Camp

Arizona State University  ⋅  Tempe, AZ, CA  ⋅  Jul, 3 2008 - Jul 12 2008   |   Coverage created by Joe Williamson


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About Ben Askren 

Organization:American Top Team
College:University Of Missouri-columbia
High School:Arrowhead High
Link:Get Ben Askren Gear Here
Bio:
There is no "type" of wrestler that Ben can be catagorized as. He has created a whole new genre that is unique with his rolling and pinning style. Ben over the last two years of his college career was…
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#24
CD   September 4, 2008 at 2:03am
Good thing Saitiev didn't get ahold of Askren...Askren would have been detroyed. Well actually Askren did get destroyed anyway. Come to think of it, aside from Cejudo, the entire American team got destroyed. That was pretty bad. I mean, the team captain ended up in the hospital trying to make weight!?!? The freakin' team captain! Great leadership. He should be wrestling with a freakin' Big Mac in his mouth. Hmmm...back to Askren...I think Askren spent too much time talking about how bad he wants the gold or how determined he is to get it. It's that fairy tale nonsense, "wish and you shall receive." Everybody wishes.
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#23
W_cusson   August 4, 2008 at 10:43pm
Any body who talk about Ben is a fool. This dude is the man when it comes to wrestling. I had a chance to watch him wrestle one of my idols from my state in vegas at a tournament that we were both in. Needless to say Ben beat him quite well, ever since then I have followed him. What a bad ass!!
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#22
Barber   August 4, 2008 at 7:02pm
Ever think about a haircut?
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#21
Alex   July 29, 2008 at 9:13pm
Prenctice is right. ive worked with ben a couple times and he is one of the hardest workers and greatest thinkers in wrestling. everyone out there who says he isnt is crazy. ben just knows what he needs to work on and does that and u cant argue with the results he gets
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#20
Reid Worley   July 25, 2008 at 2:08pm
Let's be honest, this is a really bad video of Askren. He was obviously caught off guard and was preoccupied during this time. He is usually a lot better than this, but I'm sure he's got a few things going right now. Let's just ease up off his back on this one as I'm sire the next one will just blow our socks off.
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#19
Prentice Thomas   July 21, 2008 at 12:15am
Alright guys he defenintly knows what he is talking about, yo do need to focus on all other things, like very small things, the only people who deserve to win is the ones who work very hard, unless your very good. Well what im saying is that you don't only have to work hard ro win, if you are the only one thats working very hard do you still deserve to win?

I actually learned some very good moves from Ben Askren i went private lessons with him...... trust me he knows what he's talking about and yes he is my fav wrestler.
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#18
Reid Worley   July 20, 2008 at 9:56pm
Hah, didn't even catch that ot first, WTF is an Olypian?
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#17
Current-hobo   July 20, 2008 at 10:39am
"FormerOlypian": Did you learn to spell olympian before or after the olympics? After you spend a few hours thinking about that, then please tell us what you mean by "class."
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#16
=]   July 17, 2008 at 10:03am
reid worley said exactly what was on my mind about "former olympian"
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#15
Reid Worley   July 16, 2008 at 4:46pm
OK "former olympian" why don't you act like one and post your real name? Oh right, because you're only a Special Olympian.
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#14
Mac   July 16, 2008 at 4:01pm
sometimes you don't have to be diffrent hard work is still the best substitute for sucess ask Cale Sanderson of John Smith Ben is a great wrestler but sometimes he thinks to much
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#13
How Come?   July 16, 2008 at 3:40pm
all of a sudden no one likes askren? he makes wrestling interviews and matches interesting
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#12
FormerOlypian   July 14, 2008 at 8:08pm
Askren needs to grow up and represent the country with class. All the hard work in the world will not make you a good role model it takes class, respect and honor and hard work. O.K. 1 out of 4 is poor.
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#11
T   July 14, 2008 at 7:52am
I agree with monsterstatus. Hard work needs to be focused and well thought out. I have seen too many times where individuals or even programs work hard and long yet do not work on weak areas and therefore do not improve much. What they are basically doing is working inefficiently.

I believe the key is to constantly evaluate and reevaluate ones wrestling and then go back to the "drawing board" and develop a game plan to keep improving on problem areas while at the same time work on your strong areas as well so it is still strong areas.
Bottom line, is to plan and prepare for success.
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#10
Interdome   July 13, 2008 at 10:50pm
Terry and Tom Brands were each multiple World Champion and an Olympic Medalist, what works for them might not work for others but I think Ben is an adaption or evolution of their championship philosophy but even more closely resembles the John Smith approach. I want to see him wrestle Saitiev and see what he is made of.
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#9
MonsterStatus   July 13, 2008 at 1:57pm
i think he's talking about arbitrary hard work. hard work needs to be focused and well thought out, not just working hard just to prove you deserve to win/give you that mentality
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#8
Greg Talarchek   July 13, 2008 at 1:45pm
boobies make everyone feel like peaches dudeman
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#7
scroobius   July 13, 2008 at 11:41am
Brands' "the only thing you deserve is what you earn" is really the epitome of the Protestant work ethic Askren is talking about. What Askren's getting at is more about working on your weaknesses, making them strengths, finding what doors those open, and developing in those new directions (i.e. working smarter, not harder).

What Tom Brands did in college lent itself well to freestyle (but not always as well for Terry). So at least for Tom, he drilled those aspects of his style into the ground. For Askren, what he did in college was a hindrance in freestyle. Rather than just work those things into the ground, with the idea "if I just work harder on this stuff than anyone else, it'll work," he adapted to strengthen his weaknesses (scrambling), and then looked for new offensive and defensive scoring opportunities those adaptations revealed.
Making those adaptations and working them into your repertoire can take a heck of a lot of work, and to master them even more. I think what he's getting at is that working harder at adapting is a more useful way of working harder than just working excessively hard at what got you to a certain level. Plateaus and all that.
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#6
Sierra149lbs   July 13, 2008 at 12:24am
Ben Askren is a savage on the mat and of the mind!!!!!
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#5
Ia Boy   July 12, 2008 at 6:03pm
they caught benny of guard. askren's done a great job adapting to the international style at the highest level. hard work should be automatic for these guys, simplifying and adjusting back to the basics is what wins!
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#4
Coach   July 12, 2008 at 8:42am
How to work hard..good thoughts and philosophies!
Get the Gold.
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#3
Revird Sub   July 11, 2008 at 11:34pm
Is it me or does it sound (not to mention look) like this guy is a little high....?
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#2
SSparks   July 11, 2008 at 11:20pm
Always love listening to this guy. Of all the athletes I have dealt with across the board, Ben is by far the most fascinating. It be interesting to be inside his head for awhile. His mentality and perspective set him apart. Great job Flo with the coverage all week.
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#1
BillyBob   July 11, 2008 at 7:25pm
So basically, in a round about way, you are trying to quote Tom Brands, "the only thing you deserve is what you earn."
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