On Speed, Strength, and Technique

There is a balance between the importance of technique, speed, and strength. All three are important, and any two are useless without the third:

If you lack technique, your speed and power will be useless because you will not know how to use them.

If you lack speed, your techniques will not work. Techniques do not work below 90% speed.

If you lack strength, you will be beaten by competitors near your skill and speed. If you are really weak it will not matter how good you are. Your older brother who doesn’t wrestle will probably still be able to beat you up…

Speed is the most important of all three:

Many people might object and say that technique is more important, and in a way they are right. Technique is the foundation for speed. When a technique is drilled repetitively it becomes muscle memory. If the speed is gradually increased, making sure that the mechanics of the move are not sacrificed, muscle memory will be developed to transition between positions quickly and powerfully. No thinking will be involved, it will be a reflex. Technique is a prerequisite for speed. Moving fast without perfect technique is useless.
All pauses must be eliminated, it is unacceptable to shoot a deep high crotch and not INSTANTLY be moving to finish. Speed makes the difference. Techniques will only work at 100% speed, anything less is useless. This is a battle, if you waste time not using your dominant position, your opponent will use that time to secure his own. If you don’t finish a takedown, it is always your fault. Shots and finishes are not separate moves, there are no moves, do not stop scrambling.

Strength:

Although strength helps, it is not as important as speed and technique (unless you are so weak that you are overpowered no matter what). You should workout and try to get as strong as possible, but remember that the type of strength which is important in wrestling is explosive power. Speed will generate more power than muscular strength. Think about throwing a punch, speed is where power comes from, not muscle strength.

Now with that said, go hit the gym.