If you try to learn wrestling by choreographing moves or by rote learning alone you will not be able to progress far.   These methods allow you to intellectually understand what to do but they do not ingrain what to do in your soul.  Through drilling and scrimmaging (sparring) the familiar pattern of events starts to emerge and if you pay attention to this pattern it can help you to stay focused.

 

You can thus  think of wrestling as a series of decision points or problems that need to be overcome.   These decision points are like the junctions of branches on a tree.  Each decision point requires a course of action and what you choose dictates the choices that you have at the next decision point.  Having made one decision, the number of possible choices diminishes.  This branching pattern of choices is called a Decision Tree.  Coaches of complex sports and other activities are using Decision Trees to make it easier for the athlete to process what needs to be done in the moment.   The idea of a Decision Tree is based on game theory.  MMA coach Greg Jackson uses this process when coaching such athletes a John Jones.  The process simplifies what a wrestler has to think about in a match or in combat.  It helps diminish the time required to observe, orient, decide and act. 

 

Wrestling as a martial art progresses through a series of steps:

 

• Entering into grappling range

• Obtaining control over your opponent

• Penetration to capture your opponents balance

• Takedown

• Ground Control

• Escapes and Reversals

• Submission

 

These steps outline the most basic and broad decision tree.

 

Each step is a branch point and each ranch point conveys with it a choice.  How you choose will dictate what options come next.  You will want to flow from one branch point to the next smoothly while taking advantage of the instability that you have created in your opponent’s defence in the process.

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When you consider wrestling to be a martial art,  you have to place it within a continuum that begins out of range with a noncompliant opponent who in all likelihood wants to strike you with either fists or a weapon.  Entering is how you get to grappling range.   To enter well, it really makes sense to view wrestling as a component of martial skill and not as a stand alone art.   To learn to enter, learn unarmed striking skills and how to use weapons well.   Unless you know how to punch, kick and use a weapon you cannot find the voids in your opponent that allow you to enter.

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Having entered into grappling range you can take hold of your opponent to both stifle attacks and to obtain control. using ties and the skill of pummelling.   While closed at this "clinching range"  close range striking as well as joint locks can be used to soften your opponent up, to prevent them from obtain control over you and or end the fight outright.  

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Once you obtain control, you will control your opponents contre and create openings within which to penetrate to capture your openents centre and allowing you to do a Takedown.

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Takedowns are the means by which you change the game from standing to the ground.  YOu can use takedowns to throw your opponent, ending the fight as a result of you can go to the gorund with them.

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Ground control  is similar to pummeling in that you are maintaining control of your opponent's body so that you can manipulate them into submission.   All the while, you opponent will be attempting and escape or a reversal to turn the tides.

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Submission  skills include pins, strikes, and locks.  Pins hold an opponent down and under control until they see the light of reason.  Strikes and locks can either cause damage or pain and cause a submission orinduce a loss of consciouness.  The goal of submission is the same: to destroy your opponents resolve one way or another.