1. What is Wrestling

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Wrestling is one of the cornerstones of the Mixed Martial Arts skill set. The wrestling techniques used in Mixed Martial Arts are a combination of the best techniques from the many different styles of wrestling around the world, including American Collegiate, Greco-Roman, International Freestyle and Japanese Judo.

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These techniques are used to control the opponent’s body while standing or on the ground. The goal of this control while standing is to enable the fighter to take the opponent to the ground while at the same time being able to defend against being taken down by the opponent. The goal of this control while on the ground is to enable the fighter to maintain a dominant position of attack, while at the same time preventing the opponent from escaping from the subordinate defensive position.

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2. Why You Must Learn Wrestling

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All fights take place 1) standing,  2) on the ground and/or  3) during transitions between standing and the ground. The ability to dictate where and when the fight will occur is an essential skill. Wrestling is the key martial art that gives the fighter the ability to dictate, to his strategic advantage, if the fight will be a standing or ground battle.

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The ability to determine if the fight will be standing or on the ground provides a fighter with a tremendous tactical advantage as it allows him to direct the fight into the scenario where he is strongest or his opponent is weakest. It also allows the fighter to change the fight scenario, at will, in order to utilize specific standing or ground fighting techniques as needed. For example, if an opponent is a good puncher, eg a boxer, the fighter may decide to take the opponent down to the ground to prevent him from utilizing his boxing skills. On the other hand, if the opponent is skilled in ground fighting, e.g., Jiu Jitsu, the fighter may use his wrestling skills to prevent the fight from going to the ground.

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3. Why Yamane Championship Wrestling?

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While Wrestling is popular throughout most of the United States, like any other sport, the programs can be divided into basically 2 groups: 1) the dominant championship programs with storied histories, and 2) everyone else. Niall Yamane has been blessed with the opportunity of being a member of 2 of the most elite Collegiate and High School wrestling programs in the country with long-standing traditions of producing Collegiate National Champions and High School State Champions.

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Niall’s Collegiate Wrestling Experience: Coach Mike Clock/Pacific University

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• Niall was personally recruited out of high school by Hall of Fame Wrestling Coach Mike Clock to be a member of the powerhouse Pacific University Wrestling Program.

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• Coach Clock is one of the select elite wrestling coaches inducted into the Wrestling Hall of Fame. 

 

• Coach Clock led the Pacific University Wrestling Program to Championships and records that will forever reserve him a place amongst the elite of wrestling in the United States:

  • 68 All-American Wrestlers

  • 7 National Champions

  • 2 Olympians

  • 12 Top Ten Team Finishes in National Tournaments (NCAA and NAIA)

  • 16 CONSECUTIVE Northwest Conference Team Championship Titles

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• Niall had the tremendous opportunity to be a competing member of the Pacific University Wrestling Team while it was guided by Coach Clock, and was daily training partners with Two-time Olympian Romeleo Salas, National Champion and Hall of Fame Wrestler Rich Franklin, All American David Dawson, Collegiate Conference Champions Ken Oishi, Steve Agustine, Fred Reisinger & Kevin Binkard.

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• Niall attended Punahou High School in Honolulu, Hawaii. Punahou’s athletic program is literally second to none: Punahou’s athletic program has been ranked by the prestigious Sports Illustrated Magazine TWO TIMES as the #1 High School athletic program in the entire United States. This includes both public and private high school athletic programs.

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• Niall was a 4 year member of Punahou’s famous wrestling program that has a 4+ decades long tradition of producing State Champions. The wrestlers from Niall’s teams won 9 individual State Championship titles. Niall was the first wrestler in the program ever elected by the team to be a Team Captain 2 years in a row.

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• Punahou’s Wrestling Program was coached by Ken Mayo and Bruce Wampold who earned the distinction of being 2 of the most successful and technically sophisticated coaches to ever lead any of Punahou’s Championship teams.

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• Niall was one of the programs most successful wrestlers compiling a phenomenal record of 66-6 and an individual State Championship title in the ultra-competitive middle weight class.

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Niall’s  Wrestling Competition Record:

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• State Champion – senior year

• Champion of League – senior, junior and freshmen years

• Champion of Saint Louis Invitational

• Champion of Camp Edwards Bobby Douglas Tournament

• 2nd Place Junior Olympics Western Regionals

• 2nd Place of League – sophomore year

• 3nd Place State – junior year

• 4th Place State – sophomore year

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Niall now wants to pass on his years of experience and knowledge which he learned from these elite programs, as well as the invaluable lessons learned from his many years of competition experience.

 

4. A Typical Wrestling Practice

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Our Wrestling practices are taught in a variety of formats. Here is an example of a typical wrestling practice so you will know what to expect:

 

Warm-ups and Drills – Warm-ups are exercises designed specifically for wrestling and are intended to loosen and properly heat-up the major muscle groups that will be used in a wrestling training session. Drills performed at high levels of repetition are used to develop essential coordination and muscle memory of the wrestling skills that are taught. Supervision of these drills by an experienced eye is necessary to ensure they are performed correctly & that maximum benefit is obtained.

 

Technique – techniques are taught and students are allowed to practice them in a controlled practice session with a training partner.

 

Live Wrestling – students are permitted, but only if they so desire, to apply the techniques taught in a live practice session that utilizes phased intervals.

 

Conditioning –  is designed to improve primary muscle group development, overall flexibility and cardiovascular conditioning of all students.

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5. Questions and Answers

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A. Question: I don’t have any experience in wrestling. Does that prevent me from participating?

Answer: No. We prefer it. It’s easier for us to teach proper fundamentals to someone without any experience than it is to correct improper techniques.

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B. Question: Are any special clothing and/or gear required for a wrestling class?

Answer: Yes. You will need: 1) Mixed Martial Arts shorts or any mid-thigh length gym shorts are acceptable, 2)  Rash guard either short or long sleeve, 3) Water bottle and water, 4) Head gear is mandatory.

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C. Question: Are wrestling shoes used?

Answer: Wrestling Shoes are not required, but may be used if desired.

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D. Question: Is there any punching and/or kicking in a wrestling class?

Answer: No. The classes are focused entirely upon teaching important high level wrestling techniques. Striking and kicking skills are taught and practiced only in the Muay Thai/Kickboxing and Boxing classes we offer.

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E. Question: I have seen professional wrestling performed on TV by Hulk Hogan and other TV wrestling professionals. Everything they do looks dangerous and unsafe. Will the wrestling class be doing the same things?

Answer: Absolutely not. The professional wrestling shows on TV are staged performances by professional actors. They are not real wrestlers nor are they engaged in real wrestling. We will be teaching elite level wrestling in a safe and supervised program that does not involve any of the Hollywood stunts and theatrics you see on TV.

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