HOW TO WRESTLE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 729, 31 January 1910, Page 6

HOW TO WRESTLE.

BEST METHODS OF TRAINING... (Bt GEORGE HACKEKSOBinDTj ' "Train, train, train" .must be the bur,den.ofthe song of all would-be.wrestlers. If you don't work continuously success will never be yours, because the muscles become inactive and the whole- frame loses its power. Then again,- too, much training is no,good—one becomes. stale,and the tissues, after having been- timed

up' to concert pitch, commence to show signs of not being able to stand the strain when put to,-the test in .actual wrestling.-' Even great, athletes who have made a life study of preparing to get into "nick" for tough contests at times' work themselves stale. .. I'remeniber when,l was -' getting . ready,; for, a match at': the start of my career'.. losing because; staleness had come -my-.way. . Another, thing beginners, must remember -is. piiti-, erice.. Many people imagne that to climb the 'ladder of -fame .in the. wrestling world they,have only to go through ordinary exercises to.be top-notchers. .Now,: ; I want to disj/el .that fallacy I Good "athletes are. not ■'made in a. day. Many years, of hard labour have to ;be gone through before success is achieved. , It is like ;a contractor buOding .'a -house. First of all he lays 'the'..foundation, and then brick upon brick until the finished article' is there. Just;the same with a: at -.wrestling; 'he .must persevere steadily with his exercise. '-.-;' During my connection. with the sport: I have'come' across-men who apparently did;not ■-show the. slightest: aptitude for: •anything- in the • physical culture ;line.' ", Wlien'' taken in . hand by' a first-class' teacher marvellous changes'.'.have been . wrought..-.by systematic , training. ■- Of course, many '■■ men when they master: a few-holds imagine that they,'have .learned all there is to. know;- -' Some men" probably know many tricks of.:the.game, and yet ■ ■'. may- never ~ develop' - ;rnio really skilled wrestlers', because they have" never .6tudid:the'.art. Perhaps curred to them to mate a proper study of how ,to apply, the:.various.holds to a really, useful ;■ purpose.;.-,lt, must .be 'remembered • that there are,. many, moves. •in.-defence which .will not/only., save a man. from being thrown,- but will also enable a wrestler; in;-difficulties, to. successfully- turn, the-tables on his oppo-. nent.'i -.-.. '■■■■'";■..■:■ '■'': .-'■''-i;'-.' - ;:• .

To. become a, champion, a ...wrestler must ', possess skill; strength,., stamina, and quickness; :,,'Unless ... Tie .possesses . those qualities, in a', very "high degree; he' -will never, reach'the front, rants. Even after. : all possible practice and' study. a wrestler has to rely' to; a' large extent on strength,' one of , the most valuable;, qualities. to /possess. 'All-round development, is -;;ab- . solutely; • necessary. ' Some men, ' .neglect this department, and,.in- many cases .the building up. of. the neck; is. passed over.'. , Unless ,he can' rely: on his. neck Vmusfcles, a man- must succumb, to numerous '.■„ ai> .'tacksi.. Special .exercises. are ; necessary'for !tho 'purposo.i.bothr: with .: and .without; weights. My advice to : the beginner is' to strengthen.iup: thej.parts. of the, frame in which, he. finds himself lacking in muscular :power/i;iHe.;should practise' it. con-.; scientiously.at.least three times -.every week. can be .'. .'com : 1 bated : : byO jthe- jpractice,' of.; light '■ exercises} ;such as-jumping, skipping; hand-balanc-;ing, and general gymnastic work. .;;.'. „ <'- -'. ; Quick ...walking and slow, running 'exer-, ici.ses.onthe.Tqad is one bfth'e.mosc/valu-.. able forms, of developmental;.work. .I- ---■ would/go so far as" saying; that it '.is the .finest' method' of ' obtaining,stamina; especially 'if jit' is carried' but in the early .morning, 'when the/air is; fresh, and pure. Thete,,is r 'no need;for, ; spriiting_, : the. idea ■being to. cover about'ten .miles in one and a half hours, quick,': brisk walking-being alternated- with > occasionally fairly.' fast running, so that from SO to 40. minute? out of the full.9o.devoted to'the work is carried out at a-.trot.'-; If you.can : pos-', .sibly .contrive to ;do: : so ' always ;perform your exercises with weights in';the. open airi 'and whenever- you' :are; working in a' sweater.on the road to. " reduce y our.: weight—wear: as 'little clothingas circumstances will; permit. Should you .need a brief rest between.'your, exer-, cises,', never ,' sit down. Throw. a '.wrap over your shoulders and .walk .up and '; down;-until-you "resume to prevent, the muscles stiffening.' Always >keep the blood; flowing regularly, through. the muscles. as woll as, circulating evenly all .over, the • body..''-. .'-:/''.V-;v...'.;.'..;V''.'-'-.'.--.'. .'-'■'" .After.; finishing "your exercises; always . have a good Tub down. When.. practicable requisition. the :-.of a. trainer who is proficient in.the art of massage.: Be- ; sides. a rough: towel ] the' hands' should be used. . I always, have a morning l bath before exercising, -and■ theh'.'start straight awayjwith my.', weights until: my. body dries itself. Ini my. training-1 never use bandages,- which.' :are favoured; by, many wrestlers. To my mind they often handicap'a man, as \vell as interfere with the free circulation ;of thei blood.. The leather knee-cap, oh the other. hand,; is; easy, to: wear, and affords ample protection,, even against • the. heaviest jar. I. would strongly urge.all wrestlersjto. use ; rubl)er;;6.hoes in their work:solas to 'obtain, the;necessary 1 grip of the mat or board;,on. which they are• performing.;- ':-. ';.',' , : V '';''-.'■ .V;.,;•:. 'Wrestling demandsa'lot of study,; and ■ thought, not only during practice hours; buti.also. during-. one's leisure moments. For instance,- suppose 'yo'ur-instructor' has , frequently, successfully. employed a certain, hold. which you, have been, told is ; irresistible. Plan out for yourself, ,: : and devise, parries for it, because there is: a counter ■ ■ $o ; -'■ every, attacking move, • if; you only have the necessary. ;strength and quickness to bring it,into operation.; Whether you are on your feet or wrestling on the.mat, never forget that innumerable : opportunities ■'.. will present l . themselves for an arm .roll. . I have' found the arm roll to be'a.most useful counter' to most methods of attack. ;It is almost invariably an exceedingly simple' move, for, all' that you heed to do is: to hold your, adversary's : arm .across"' your own back. Draw or hold ■ his arm' as far round your chest,'or across your abdomen as:you'can manago instantaneously,- and pitch, on to your shoulder, bringing his ;back under "your own. Ho is then under iybu: on?your, shoulder, and unable to escape, so that you'have only, to work up' towards a sitting posture and throw yourself'across his. chest to pin him down.. ,'