Wrestling Seven Basic Skills – Penetration

The fourth skill in the sequence of seven is that of Penetration. By definition we are talking about a wrestler driving his hips to and through his opponent’s hips when executing a takedown. When penetrating for a takedown the wrestler needs to hold his head up and keep his arms back while he lets his hips lead the way. This is one of the most difficult tasks in wrestling. If a wrestler has properly lowered is his level before he starts to penetrate, he will at least have his head up and his back straight.

The problem now becomes one of keeping his hips coming forward so that he does not get over-extended and bent at the waist. By taking a natural step forward and thrusting his hips, he will be in a position to take another natural step with the other foot. By continuing the process, the wrestler can create a low level, rhythmic striding effect across the mat.

When confronted by the weight of his opponent, it is important that the wrestler concentrate on keeping his hips coming forward after each step. This allows the wrestler to keep his back straight and his head up.

When incorporated into a double leg takedown, deep penetration will put the wrestler completely through his opponent before he can react. It is important to keep in mind that the wrestler’s step should not only be deep but directed to his opponent’s hips. Wrestlers often step to where their opponent was. They must anticipate where his hips are going to be.

With deep penetration, a good arm drag can end up with a secure double leg takedown. With even greater penetration, the arm drag can develop into a back trip. Note that the head needs to be up, the back straight, and it is the power and thrust of the hips that secures the final takedown.

The same basic principles hold true on the mat. Too often, in executing a hip roll, the bottom man will try to wrap his opponent around him as he pulls away. Instead, the bottom man needs to concentrate on coiling himself up into a fetal position, all the time working back up and into his opponent, change direction (using motion), change levels, and uncoil. When he finally uncoils, he will do so after having driven to and through his opponent’s hips.

Another maneuver from the feet that emphasizes the importance of deep penetration is a high crotch takedown. The wrestler’s hips lead on this maneuver, which enables him to secure his opponent’s upper leg. Once in this position, the opponent has very little control over his own hips and therefore cannot lower his level or rotate his body to counter the attack.

All good wrestlers realize that to score they must be able to control and move their opponent’s hips. To do so, they must get their own hips into and under their opponent. To successfully move one’s opponent from a position of stability and to reduce his potential power, a wrestler must eventually make contact with and control his hips.

This type of movement, Penetration, is the fourth of seven basic skills leading to a successful wrestler.

In the next post, I will discuss the fifth Basic Skill of Wrestling known as Lifting.

Coach Hatfield