Interesting fact about Russian preparation for Olympics

[Big]

Fadzaev knows many moves but right now he would go 0-2 in most American tourneys as well.

Many other factors come into play, like training environment, motivation, access to competition and so on.

Even though I lost my first match I headlocked him and did a front headlock turn to him.

[quick_single]

How is it irrelevant? If he knows more moves he should at least win a few matches and maybe even place in the top 4.

Because he's like 34, 5'8", and needs to diet and cut weight to get below the HVY limit. He's not exactly your model specimen here. No offense Big.

The point here is that chessplayer stated that here in the US we tend to teach our guys how to maximize their physical attributes. He then asked Big's opinion on Russian training. We all know the answer is technique so this shouldn't come as a shock to anyone here.

All Big was saying was that even young Russians know a ton of freestyle techniques where some of our Olympians only know a small percentage.

This is backed up by the fact that 3 of our Olympians recently lost to Junior level Russians.

Does it always win matches? No. Guts and hard work go a long way. But they are the best in the World by a long shot and there's a reason why that is and it's not conditioning and strength.

[Champ Kind]

Shouldn't he be able to at least win a match or two though, just based on his technique alone? Its not like he was wrestling Mocco, Rowlands, Konrad, etc.

[pinartist]

if technique alone could win you matches than there would be no weightclasses

[Big]

There were more than 30 people in Brockport in my weight. The guy I lost to by a point finished top 6. Perhaps I would win a couple of matches if I wrestled a few other guys there. The guy that won the qualifier had a very tight match with Dlagnev who is like top 3/4 in America.

[Navy]

I can't fault US coaches too much for trying to build superior conditioning as a competitive edge. The gap between Russian technique and US is due to structural advantages mentioned many times in this blog (Russian emphasis on technique, year round training with full time coaches, competition, etc.). The coaches would need to work with an individual for years to close the gap (aka emulate the Russians). If you only have months to work with an individual, the best you can probably do is address the weakness (mostly defensive) in order to keep a tough match close and possibly pull in out the win with conditioning.

Again, this is a gross generalization as there is a wide range of skill level among US wrestlers and the gap is some is smaller than others (another large topic for debate).

[Big]

Russian emphasis on technique, year round training with full time coaches, competition, etc

You are saying it like this is something that should not be implemented in America. Fans want to see technique not two guys horsing each other in a battle of endurance.

[Ken Shirtaugh]

Russian emphasis on technique, year round training with full time coaches, competition, etc

You are saying it like this is something that should not be implemented in America. Fans want to see technique not two guys horsing each other in a battle of endurance.

Brent Metcalf was the most talked about wrestler in the NCAA this year.

[Big]

Brent Metcalf was the most talked about wrestler in the NCAA this year.

That had nothing to do with his endurance but with other circumstances.