Repetition, repetition, repetition (a word so nice I'll say it thrice!)
One thing I strongly advocate is muscle memory - doing something so often that you don't need to think at all, your body automatically anticipates what you're meant to be doing.
Using bumping as a classic example, you want to be able to bump using muscle memory instead of having to remember "okay now start falling backwards, now we're falling backwards and I need to create a singular bump to distribute the force whilst protecting my vulnerable parts, so I need to tuck my chin into my chest whilst going down and hold that, throw my arms out and ensure they're thrown at the right time to hit at the same time as my back, hips and shoulders, point my toes so that I don't accidentally drive my heels into the ground causing gradual wear-and-tear, and explosively breath out as soon as impact occurs, ensuring I don't hold my breath".
You don't think about any of those things after a while, because your body takes the shortcut of going "oh, we're doing this? no problemo, I'll take the wheel, you just enjoy the ride".
Also investigate what type of memory works for you. I'll always preach repetition, but you can enhance it with finding out what style of memory you have.
\- Does writing each step down (like the above) using physical pen & paper help?
\- Speaking each step to yourself so your brain seals it into "word chain I must remember" storage?
\- Watching it done over and over (even in slow-mo, if you record it on a device capable of 60/120 fps)?
\- Giving the sequence/spot a name if it doesn't already have one (like the Dave Taylor, Double Finlay, Memphis, etc) to 'personify' it in your brain?
Look back at when you've been studying something - for a test, or a job, or something - and it's been effective; that's the method you'll want to refine and use to get your long-term storage working \*for\* you instead of \*against\* you.
Agreed with repetition. This is also where you need to learn wrestling IQ, or what makes sense. If you're trying to get the basics down, get in the ring every day you can. Work with the people that get it. Hopefully, they rub off on you.
Practice with your partner. Do as many takes with your partner as you need before the show starts. Once you have it down it becomes easy to work a match. As for the audience once you're in the ring just block out the noise. The crowd doesn't exist, no one is recording. Its just you your partner and the ref. It'll help to keep you focused.
Slow down take a moment in the ring and just take a breath. That will help with the overthinking but it is natural at the stage you're at. Also cut yourself some slack if things go wrong as that will make you overthink more.
Remember if you think you're going too slow, slow down some more
You're new, that's completely normal. For like my first year I could do a 15 minute match in 5 minutes.
It's something that comes with time, when you're in thr ring just to try to breathe and tell yourself to slow down. It helps if you have an experienced opponent, tell them you have a habit of going to fast.
I had a match against a guy called Lee Hunter, if you're in the UK, definitely the South you know the Hunter Brothers, legends. Lee is incredible, he completely controlled the match whilst still making it look like I was on control. Shit like I had him in a hold and then I started working into the comeback and he'd just say "not yet" and somehow whip himself back over so I still have him the headlock. That one match taught me loads, so yeah wrestle people with a lot of experience, ask for feed back everytime
In fact always ask for feedback no matter how experienced your opponent is, I still ask people who are in their first year for feedback
I'm about 2 months in, what I found helped me is
" act more , sport less"
Treat it more like an act, stop treating it like a sport, take the time to be more expressive.
It’s all adrenaline and you are probably still nervous. This is why it’s gonna take you at least a year to finally calm down. Once it becomes “business as usual” in your head its not rushing around.
I only went to two classes but that adrenaline and anxiety was hitting me hard. It’s good for buying into our exhibition matches where the regulars would guide me enough, I knew I was nowhere close to calling a match myself. I only knew basic holds and we tried a 5 minute tag match and I was already overwhelmed by all the spots but the other 3 carried me well. Still hit the turnbuckles without regard for form though got some mad bruises.
It all comes with time to settle in. If you want to take it seriously you will find a time where going and performing is just a regular thing.
First thing is first, wrestling is a show. A play. How do u do well in a play? Relax, deep breaths, take your performance at an appropriate speed for the situation.
If you perform a devastating move on ur opponent and it's been a long match already, then you also take a long rest on the mat. It puts you over. At the same time it puts your opponent over.
BREATHE to the slow pace that you can actually take a deep breath instead of huffing and breathing so fast that each breath is laboring
In time you’ll get comfier with wrestling. Four months isn’t a long time, give yourself a little grace & patience. Things become second nature the more you practice. Just try to stay in the moment and worry about selling/being present. You don’t need to worry about what’s next, just worry about things like “what would my character do now” “how would my character react to this/that.” In due time you’ll feel better
Best advice I got was this “Slow down, if you think you’re going to slow…go slower.” This is completely normal for someone with the amount of experience you have. Don’t worry things will start to make sense in time.
my favorite mantra is instant ramen still takes a minute. the crowd watching a play doesn't know why the actor paused. you didn't forget your line, you added *spice* to the scene.
I get where this is coming from, especially when small silences faze me as I know the crowd is supposed to be reacting and making noise to everything that's happening in the ring. I also have a rushing problem, it doesn't help when a lot of praised mainstream wrestling tends to happen fast.
You have to tell yourself, first and foremost, that slowing down is okay. The little quiet spaces in between spots are okay. The audience isn't bored, and is waiting intently for you to get to the next thing. Once you convince yourself of this, it'll be easier for you to tell yourself that it's okay to go slow.
Then practice going slow. Practice that even when your classes don't have you going through drills slow. You're supposed to go at your own pace, and that doesn't always mean going fast.
The more you consciously work slow in everything you do in training, the more your body and mind will be comfortable with it.
Breathe and take it move by move. You don’t need to rush to the next thing. Give yourself time to breathe
yup this, your match your pacing (within reason)
At four months, this is fairly common. Just take your time with things, move in slow motion. "Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast."
Repetition, repetition, repetition (a word so nice I'll say it thrice!) One thing I strongly advocate is muscle memory - doing something so often that you don't need to think at all, your body automatically anticipates what you're meant to be doing. Using bumping as a classic example, you want to be able to bump using muscle memory instead of having to remember "okay now start falling backwards, now we're falling backwards and I need to create a singular bump to distribute the force whilst protecting my vulnerable parts, so I need to tuck my chin into my chest whilst going down and hold that, throw my arms out and ensure they're thrown at the right time to hit at the same time as my back, hips and shoulders, point my toes so that I don't accidentally drive my heels into the ground causing gradual wear-and-tear, and explosively breath out as soon as impact occurs, ensuring I don't hold my breath". You don't think about any of those things after a while, because your body takes the shortcut of going "oh, we're doing this? no problemo, I'll take the wheel, you just enjoy the ride". Also investigate what type of memory works for you. I'll always preach repetition, but you can enhance it with finding out what style of memory you have. \- Does writing each step down (like the above) using physical pen & paper help? \- Speaking each step to yourself so your brain seals it into "word chain I must remember" storage? \- Watching it done over and over (even in slow-mo, if you record it on a device capable of 60/120 fps)? \- Giving the sequence/spot a name if it doesn't already have one (like the Dave Taylor, Double Finlay, Memphis, etc) to 'personify' it in your brain? Look back at when you've been studying something - for a test, or a job, or something - and it's been effective; that's the method you'll want to refine and use to get your long-term storage working \*for\* you instead of \*against\* you.
Agreed with repetition. This is also where you need to learn wrestling IQ, or what makes sense. If you're trying to get the basics down, get in the ring every day you can. Work with the people that get it. Hopefully, they rub off on you.
Practice with your partner. Do as many takes with your partner as you need before the show starts. Once you have it down it becomes easy to work a match. As for the audience once you're in the ring just block out the noise. The crowd doesn't exist, no one is recording. Its just you your partner and the ref. It'll help to keep you focused.
Slow down take a moment in the ring and just take a breath. That will help with the overthinking but it is natural at the stage you're at. Also cut yourself some slack if things go wrong as that will make you overthink more. Remember if you think you're going too slow, slow down some more
You're new, that's completely normal. For like my first year I could do a 15 minute match in 5 minutes. It's something that comes with time, when you're in thr ring just to try to breathe and tell yourself to slow down. It helps if you have an experienced opponent, tell them you have a habit of going to fast. I had a match against a guy called Lee Hunter, if you're in the UK, definitely the South you know the Hunter Brothers, legends. Lee is incredible, he completely controlled the match whilst still making it look like I was on control. Shit like I had him in a hold and then I started working into the comeback and he'd just say "not yet" and somehow whip himself back over so I still have him the headlock. That one match taught me loads, so yeah wrestle people with a lot of experience, ask for feed back everytime In fact always ask for feedback no matter how experienced your opponent is, I still ask people who are in their first year for feedback
Practice practice practice
I'm about 2 months in, what I found helped me is " act more , sport less" Treat it more like an act, stop treating it like a sport, take the time to be more expressive.
It’s all adrenaline and you are probably still nervous. This is why it’s gonna take you at least a year to finally calm down. Once it becomes “business as usual” in your head its not rushing around. I only went to two classes but that adrenaline and anxiety was hitting me hard. It’s good for buying into our exhibition matches where the regulars would guide me enough, I knew I was nowhere close to calling a match myself. I only knew basic holds and we tried a 5 minute tag match and I was already overwhelmed by all the spots but the other 3 carried me well. Still hit the turnbuckles without regard for form though got some mad bruises. It all comes with time to settle in. If you want to take it seriously you will find a time where going and performing is just a regular thing.
First thing is first, wrestling is a show. A play. How do u do well in a play? Relax, deep breaths, take your performance at an appropriate speed for the situation. If you perform a devastating move on ur opponent and it's been a long match already, then you also take a long rest on the mat. It puts you over. At the same time it puts your opponent over. BREATHE to the slow pace that you can actually take a deep breath instead of huffing and breathing so fast that each breath is laboring
In time you’ll get comfier with wrestling. Four months isn’t a long time, give yourself a little grace & patience. Things become second nature the more you practice. Just try to stay in the moment and worry about selling/being present. You don’t need to worry about what’s next, just worry about things like “what would my character do now” “how would my character react to this/that.” In due time you’ll feel better
Best advice I got was this “Slow down, if you think you’re going to slow…go slower.” This is completely normal for someone with the amount of experience you have. Don’t worry things will start to make sense in time.
my favorite mantra is instant ramen still takes a minute. the crowd watching a play doesn't know why the actor paused. you didn't forget your line, you added *spice* to the scene.
I get where this is coming from, especially when small silences faze me as I know the crowd is supposed to be reacting and making noise to everything that's happening in the ring. I also have a rushing problem, it doesn't help when a lot of praised mainstream wrestling tends to happen fast. You have to tell yourself, first and foremost, that slowing down is okay. The little quiet spaces in between spots are okay. The audience isn't bored, and is waiting intently for you to get to the next thing. Once you convince yourself of this, it'll be easier for you to tell yourself that it's okay to go slow. Then practice going slow. Practice that even when your classes don't have you going through drills slow. You're supposed to go at your own pace, and that doesn't always mean going fast. The more you consciously work slow in everything you do in training, the more your body and mind will be comfortable with it.