Getting Your Body Fit for Wrestling
As with any sport, getting your body in the best shape possible helps you reach your full potential, and the sport of wrestling is no exception. If you're fit physically, you're able to handle anything your opponent tries during the match. Below are eight ways to make sure your body is fit for wrestling.
Building Endurance
Your body needs to be able to handle intense levels of exercise over time, especially for competition. Some exercises to build endurance are riding an elliptical for 30 to 40 minutes, swimming, rowing, running, box jumps, or riding a bicycle. Some exercises for strength training include using a medicine ball, dumbbell, pushups, squats, and situps.
Eat Healthy
While you do need to take in more calories when training for a competition, you also need to make sure that what you're eating is healthy. While you may be more focused on protein and carbs, you also need to make sure you hit nutrition goals for your vitamins, minerals, fiber, and potassium.
Flexibility Is Key
To be a good wrestler, you must also be quick on your feet and able to remove yourself from any hold your opponent uses on you. To increase flexibility, you must do proper stretching exercises, but other loosening exercises include jumping rope, arm circles, lunges, walking toe touches, jogging with high knees, and jogging laterally.
Good Amount Of Rest
As important as it is to train for your eventual success on the mat, it's also just as important to make sure you get enough rest. During the season, take one or two days off from training and get 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night. During training seasons, practices and training shouldn't last more than two hours. You can also add CBD tinctures to your daily routine before going to bed to enhance exercise recovery and preserve overall wellness.
Hydration Is Important
Since around 75% of the human body is made up of water, staying hydrated is also important when getting your body fit for wrestling. You can eat healthily, sleep well, and train until you're at peak performance, but if you don't stay properly hydrated, you're still not going to do well, and you'll wonder why you feel tired and drained.
Prevent Diseases
Make sure you take in plenty of vitamins, without ingesting too much, and wash with antibacterial soap and clean your practice gear daily. Whatever you do, do not share headgear, towels, or anything else with your teammates to avoid skin diseases such as herpes or ringworm.
Take Care of Injuries and Concussions
See your doctor if you have any physical injury, especially if you have a head injury. You may not feel it, but you could have a concussion, which is a brain injury. Before you can wrestle again, your doctor must clear you.
Following these methods, you'll not only be physically ready for wrestling, but you'll be mentally ready too. When you follow good habits, you inspire those around you to follow good food and exercise habits as well.
