Tall & Skinny: How To Wrestle As A Lanky Wrestler?

**PaulH** · 07-23-2010 11:55 AM

So i weigh about 140-145 and about 6 foot.

I'm tall and lanky. And i was wondering if this is a disadvantage for me because most people in my weight class are medium height and ripped. Is there any moves better suited for tall guys like me? What can i do against the short, ripped guys? I'm a sophomore right now and would like to get some tips before the season starts.

**Schlottke** · 07-23-2010 12:16 PM

The great thing about wrestling is that there is no such thing as a disadvantage. You need to learn and understand your body and build techniques that work for it.

Short, stocky guys will have a tough time wrestling a lanky guy who uses his lines of defense properly.

First line of defense: Hands. Keeping your hands out in front of you, posting on his head, shoulders, and moving him.
Second line of defense: Head... Don't be afraid to block shots and positions with your forehead. Most people are scared to butt heads, so if you get past that worry you can really use it to your advantage.
Third line of defense: Hips... since your taller and have longer legs you really want to work on your hips for protection. Practice sprawl drills and scrambling. Let your opponents get in on shots (leg up in the air, in on a high crotch, a single leg on the ground, or other variations) and practice stopping his shots.

After you realize you can stop the guys who you were worried about being stronger than you, you'll have more confidence to tie up with them.

A lanky guy might not be the strongest guy on the mat, but leverage beats strength more often than not. Controlling with underhooks is a great way to use leverage and positioning to actually appear unnaturally strong and control your opponent when you otherwise wouldn't be able to.

On your feet: Ankle picks, throw-bys (underhook to a throw-by), and blast doubles work great for a taller wrestler.
On the bottom: Stand up.
On top: Start developing the cradle series to where you have 5-6 different set ups and 5-6 different finishes.

Check out our video library: http://www.thewrestlingtalk.com/videos/ all of this stuff is documented pretty well in there. (and it's free..)

**quinn14** · 07-23-2010 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by PaulH

So i weigh about 140-145 and about 6 foot.

I'm tall and lanky. And i was wondering if this is a disadvantage for me because most people in my weight class are medium height and ripped. Is there any moves better suited for tall guys like me? What can i do against the short, ripped guys? I'm a sophomore right now and would like to get some tips before the season starts.

I was at the opposite end than you (although I don't think I was ripped). I found for a short guy like me that a duck under while on the feet was almost a gimme. A quick head snap into a head and arm really worked for me too. On the mat, a solid stand up worked against a taller opponet, as did a gramby roll. When I was on top I had to stay to the side and try to take control of a tall guy's head and do a half nelson or 3/4 nelson.

So, as a tall guy if you were wrestling a short guy like me, don't tie up. I can't speak for all shorter wrestlers, but a double or single leg was hard to get for me on a tall guy with a good sprawl. That sprawl can also lead you to take control of my head and spin for the takedown.

On the mat, learn how to ride the legs. I was a sucker for a guy who could stop my stand up or gramby and ride the legs. When on the bottom, I always found that any bottom move that extends your legs made it tougher on me. A really good switch works well because of leverage and length, but it has to be good and quick.

With all that said, wrestlers these days are so much better than when I was in HS that I can't really say if all of this would work for you. But, basics are usually the best. Just get really good at a few of them that are good for tall kids and the strength won't really matter.

**PaulH** · 07-23-2010 12:30 PM

Thank you for your quick replies. I found it helpful and it gave me more confidence for taking on the stocky guys.

**Schlottke** · 07-23-2010 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by quinn14

So, as a tall guy if you were wrestling a short guy like me, don't tie up. I can't speak for all shorter wrestlers, but a double or single leg was hard to get for me on a tall guy with a good sprawl. That sprawl can also lead you to take control of my head and spin for the takedown.

I wouldn't be afraid to tie up with a short guy. Once you're comfortable in an under hook or collar-tie you can stop the offense of a shorter opponent pretty easily by just keeping his hips out and circling. The duck under is definitely something to watch out for when tied up though.

On the mat, learn how to ride the legs. I was a sucker for a guy who could stop my stand up or gramby and ride the legs. When on the bottom, I always found that any bottom move that extends your legs made it tougher on me. A really good switch works well because of leverage and length, but it has to be good and quick.

I completely forgot to mention leg riding. Using the same concept of leverage you use on your feet in ties you can be absolutely deadly on top with a good leg ride. If you don't have a coach or someone on your team who has placed or won state riding legs seek out videos or a camp that covers it in depth. Leg riding is a great skill to have mastered as a lanky guy.

**Schlottke** · 07-23-2010 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by PaulH

Thank you for your quick replies. I found it helpful and it gave me more confidence for taking on the stocky guys.

No problem. Welcome to TheWrestlingTalk.com

**Ground&Pound** · 07-26-2010 09:25 AM

Cradle, cradles and more cradles.

**vaisforlovers** · 07-26-2010 09:37 AM

Tall dudes should have some good snap downs, heavy hands. Overhooks and underhooks you should work on too. I'd practice some scrambling/funk stuff for when guys hit low leg shots, etc. Don't know where you are with your wrestling though.

**woodstockga** · 07-26-2010 11:31 AM

Its better to be tall and lanky then short and cocky. We spend too much time in the weight room. You need some muscle but not bulky muscle where its hard to move and your not flexible. One question I have is, are left handed wrestler have an advantage over right-handed wrestlers ?????? Good lefties-- Jordan oliver, brent metcalf and its a ton more. Leftys seem more effective with right handed wrestlers. Alex Deringer pick Ness apart because he was a lefty. Ryan Bertin was a lefty too. When you wrestle right handed people the whole tournment then face a lefty, it throws you off.

**vaisforlovers** · 07-26-2010 02:07 PM

Just having the ability to shoot both sides is important, not necessarily being right or left handed.

**woodstockga** · 07-26-2010 03:11 PM

Its more than just shooting to both sides. You have to think about lead legs, Head position, and positioning from the neutral position. Just for some reason it seem like most of the great wrestlers are left handed. It really do throws you off. When I teach wrestling I have to divide my students up. We are taught to shoot head inside on one side and head outside on one side. I agree you have to be able to attack both sides but you dont change your lead leg.

**TLV** · 07-26-2010 03:23 PM

Watch some Mark Branch and Cael Sanderson videos to see how lanky guys can do it. That stepover by branch again Slay in the NCAA championships his senior year was a classic tall guy move.

**PaulH** · 07-26-2010 07:50 PM

Originally Posted by TLV

Watch some Mark Branch and Cael Sanderson videos to see how lanky guys can do it. That stepover by branch again Slay in the NCAA championships his senior year was a classic tall guy move.

Ok i'll check that out.

**Spider** · 07-27-2010 01:13 PM

I'm reading this thread for the first time and I agree with the advice. I was a tall and lanky wrestler (at least I'm still tall), and my go-to moves were the cross body ride, cradles and switches - all leverage. I had my best matches against the short, stocky, muscular guys because I was all over them like a spider on a fly (hence my nickname).

**Flop The Nuts** · 07-27-2010 03:58 PM

Originally Posted by Spider

I'm reading this thread for the first time and I agree with the advice. I was a tall and lanky wrestler (at least I'm still tall), and my go-to moves were the cross body ride, cradles and switches - all leverage. I had my best matches against the short, stocky, muscular guys because I was all over them like a spider on a fly (hence my nickname).

I agree with this 100%, speaking as another formerly tall and lanky dude. I used the ankle pick, duck under, boots, step-over, and leverage as much as possible. I think my most difficult matches were against people who shared the same style - I did best against short stocky guys.