"The Toe-Hold Club" or "A Case Study on How to Start Your Own Catch Wrestling Group"
"The Toe-Hold Club" or "A Case Study on How to Start Your Own Catch Wrestling Group"
The only way for Catch Wrestling to survive is to actively practice under the rules of Catch Wrestling:
Win the best two of three via pin or submission.
No point system; it is a win, lose, or draw format.
Each fall is a minimum of 12 minutes long.
Now during practice, you will want to focus on repetition of the basics through drilling. This will minimize injury and build confidence in the movements among you and your guys. Your drills should address the following basics:
1) Conditioning
2) How to use gravity against your opponent
3) Basic and best positions, transitions, and rides
4) Escapes and reversals
5) Takedowns
6) Pins
7) Concession holds (submissions)
I will expand upon each of these in future blogs. But in order to practice, you must first have a place with a mat and a few guys that are interested.
Try asking around at local high schools or martial arts dojos that have extra space. I started my first club in 2002 at a small boxing gym in Venice, California. I paid the owner $400 a month for use of his facility for a few hours a couple times a week. Most recently I have been able to work out an arrangement with a local high school that has a great freestyle club. With the exploding popularity of Mixed Martial Arts, Catch Wrestling is a great compliment to any wrestling program.
It is crucial that you get martial art insurance (I use www.karateinsurance.com , they are great. Tell them Scientific Wrestling sent you!) to protect yourself, your club members, and the owner of the space you are using.
Once you have a space and insurance, then you need to beat the drum and get some people interested in wrestling to show up. You can use craigslist, myspace, flyers, etc. Just be honest and tell them what they can expect!
If you ever have any questions, just send me an email...