Why doesn't everyone learn to ride legs?

As a leg rider I find it to be the best addition to my wrestling style. While it took me awhile to learn and really get the hang of it, I'm confident i can turn almost anyone or punish them at the very least. It feels great when a coach yells "Get right up, he's a leg rider" Kids often change their style around my legs, even guys who are significantly better than me at every other aspect. So my question is... Why doesn't everyone learn to ride legs? Sure they're risky, but doesn't every single move take time to learn? why not learn to ride legs.

You'll know you're good when no one chooses the down position against you.

Develop a good stand up and you basically start each match winning 1-0.

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Originally Posted by accadaccakid

As a leg rider I find it to be the best addition to my wrestling style. While it took me awhile to learn and really get the hang of it, I'm confident i can turn almost anyone or punish them at the very least. It feels great when a coach yells "Get right up, he's a leg rider" Kids often change their style around my legs, even guys who are significantly better than me at every other aspect. So my question is... Why doesn't everyone learn to ride legs? Sure they're risky, but doesn't every single move take time to learn? why not learn to ride legs.

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I agree that it's a great tool. Even if you don't use legs in a match, you should know how to use them so you can better counter them. I was rarely if ever stronger than my opponent, but was able to control and score on many much stronger opponents with a crossbody ride, and usually got riding time. One opposing coach in college yelled to his wrestler in the bottom referee's position, "He's putting them in on the whistle," which of course I wasn't, but it seemed that way.

well the way i see it, it's the tall and skinny kids that have an advantage with legs. I mean their legs are just so long, it's difficult to get them out. I'm one of those kids but I think I have longer arms (they come down to my knees). My legs aren't short though, just not skinny for real.

As a fellow leg rider, I have a question:

How do you guys set up legs?

My coaches are big into teaching the spiral-ride to legs, but I've found much more success chopping an arm off the whistle and slipping the legs in when my opponent is on the mat. If my opponent knows legs are coming, I attempt a basic tilt (when the opponent is flat on the mat) which either gets him turned over from the tilt or allows me to throw in my legs.

So what do you guys do?

There are lots of ways to get a leg in, but the easiest way for me is to break my opponent down, and if you are on his left side, as soon as he bases up, block his left arm by pushing into his triceps with your left forearm so he can't catch the leg, then slip your left leg in. Then, immediately swing your body around so that you are perpendicular to him with your weight on his lower back, your left hip tight against his left hip, and your back arched. Then, you can grab his right anke with your right hand and look for your next move (my favorite is the guillotine).

Similar to the spiral ride, but staying on the same side.

Anyone else set their legs up differently?

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Originally Posted by Spider

There are lots of ways to get a leg in, but the easiest way for me is to break my opponent down, and if you are on his left side, as soon as he bases up, block his left arm by pushing into his triceps with your left forearm so he can't catch the leg, then slip your left leg in. Then, immediately swing your body around so that you are perpendicular to him with your weight on his lower back, your left hip tight against his left hip, and your back arched. Then, you can grab his right anke with your right hand and look for your next move (my favorite is the guillotine).

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I could never leg in. It seemed like my legs were too thick, or maybe my joints just too stiff, but I couldn't get myself bent around like that. However, I got real good at catching leg riders. I would often bait them by raising my hip (with my elbow already in tight) to get them to try. There was a LOT of pleasure in bringing that leg up and stuffing it into their chest.

By the way, a good arm bar will turn/punish pretty well also. Of course, back when Spider and I were wrestling, on the horsehair and canvas mats, there were a lot of moves that aren't legal now that really punished your opponent. Find some old f@rt and ask him to show you a navy cross or a keylock. Tell me then what punishment is.