The United States Men’s freestyle wrestling team has come a long way in the last decade. 2010 was a year that most wrestling fans in this country would like to forget. You can look at the results up for yourself, but it wasn’t good. To think that we went from a wreck of a year like 2010 to winning a world team title in 2017 and being a solid contender since is pretty amazing. 

So, what spurred the change?

The answer to that question will be different depending on who you ask. Some cite the introduction of RTCs around the country. Others take it back further, noting that the current crop of senior-level athletes is the first to have all, collectively, specialized in our sport at an early age. More flippant people will simply say that the current ruleset is more advantageous to U.S. success. 

No matter what school of thought you subscribe to one thing is for sure: The U.S. is enjoying one of their golden ages in wrestling. 

So we’re done, right? We can all pack it in? Rest on our laurels? 

C’mon. That’s simply not in our nature. We need to stoke the fire. If you ask me, the last piece to the U.S.-dominant-puzzle is upper body attacks. Being more competent in upper body situations puts a tremendous strain on the foreign opposition. It’s the one place that they think they can take us out of our element 

Why should we spend our time, reps, and attention on upper body attacks? First, they are valuable. If all things are equal going into the scenario one four-point throw is worth as much as three two-point takedowns. 

Secondly, the rules are set in a way that rewards a throw. For example, I don’t need to wind up on top of you in order to score. Take a look at this four-point head pinch performed by Deng of China on Nick Gwiazdowski in Budapest in 2018. Obviously, a four-point move will change the complexion of most high-level matches, but this is especially true at 125kg where points can be at a premium. 

If the upside to throwing isn’t enough for you to start putting it into your training regimen, then the lack of a downside should be. What happens when you swing and miss on an arm throw? Nothing. The ref calls it a slip throw and brings you right back up to your feet with impunity. 

One more reason for us to focus our collective attention on upper body attacks is that it makes for a better product. I know that wrestling coaches should be more concerned with winning wrestling matches, but as a fan and media member it’s far easier to sell the sport to outsiders when they can look forward to big throws as well as the fast-paced action that freestyle always delivers.

Does anyone remember when Zeke Jones got the job as the head coach of the national team and he said that one of his priorities would be par terre wrestling? That seems to have worked out over the years. There was a time that we, as a country, were just flat-out bad on the mat. Especially in the bottom position. Not only has bottom become less of a liability, we have athletes like Kyle Dake that can pretty much turn anyone in the world. 

While we’re on the subject of Kyle Dake, let's take it back to Budapest and his first world title. I want you to watch Dake's semifinal match with Gazimagomedov. In one of the opening sequences of the match, Gazi gets in on an upper-body tie up and started pushing in as he was heading towards the line (a BIG no-no). Dake launched him for four with a beautiful wizzer kick. I was very close to the Russian corner during that match and while I do not speak Russian, I can tell you that they Russian coaches were visibly shook at the realization that Dake had an upper body acumen.