Oak Park River Forest (IL) High School; 2x Illinois Dual Team State Champions;
2012 National Wrestling Hall of Fame - recipient of the Medal of Courage;
former Illinois National Team Greco-Roman Coach; 2012 USA Wrestling Cadet Coach of the Year;
All-American wrestler at Indiana University
Mike Powell presents the technique and finishes to one of his signature moves: the football snap. This dominant tie is ideal for wrestlers that don't have an explosive penetration/drop step and struggle getting under opponents to get to an attack. The football snap's purpose is to wear down your opponent, allowing you to hit your attacks easily. It also serves as a nice change-of-pace set-up, as it forces wrestlers to use their left hand - and pulls the opponent down into a right-handed front headlock.
Coach Powell begins by demonstrating the mechanics of the football snap. He covers the Jam, Circle, Bounce technique. All his wrestlers have to master this before moving on to the finish. Opponents can stay on their feet, but with this technique you'll be able to create the angle you need for a successful attack. Coach Powell covers the basic finish, the Butt Drag, and Head in the Hole counter used when you get stuck in front of your opponent.
Leg Attacks from a Football Snap
The Football Snap provides a number of option to score on leg attacks. Coach Powell offers the following options, giving you the ability to score no matter what your opponent tries to do to counter:
- Opposite Side Single Leg - Learn how to finish when you can't get the opponent snapped to the mat. Coach Powell shows you two options using this technique, including how to get five points with an inside cradle.
- High Crotch - For when your opponent is backing out hard.
- Bull Rush Double - Perfect when you feel like you are losing your grip on the football snap.
- Ankle Picks
Popping the Opponent's Head Out
If you start to feel your opponent getting out of the football snap, Coach Powell gives you a number of options to still get the takedown:
- Collar Steal
- Underhook Snap
- Underhook to High Crotch
- Underhook Throw by Single
- Inside Trip
Coach Powell's teams have used the football snap with great success. Add it to your team's takedown arsenal today!
44 minutes. 2011.
WRD-04967B: with Mike Powell,
Oak Park River Forest (IL) High School; 2x Illinois Dual Team State Champions;
2012 National Wrestling Hall of Fame - recipient of the Medal of Courage;
former Illinois National Team Greco-Roman Coach; 2012 USA Wrestling Cadet Coach of the Year;
All-American wrestler at Indiana University
Mike Powell, member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, presents a detailed look at the inside trip. You'll get an overview of the ideal positions to trip from, basic setups and techniques, as well as tips that Coach Powell teaches to hit the inside trip every time.
Fundamentals of the Inside Trip
Coach Powell breaks down the basic movements of the inside trip. He covers head to side you'll trip, detailing the steps for a successful move. To pull off the inside trip, wrestlers must turn their hips and shuffle step in while keeping the opponent's inside thigh on the front of their thigh. Coach Powell includes the rest of the move progression and gives pointers on what makes the move more effective.
Set-Ups to Inside Trip
Get nine set-ups to use for the inside trip from Coach Powell, including:
- Underhook - Coach Powell's #1 set-up that leads into his highest percentage trip.
- Over Under Position - Great move for "less athletic" upper weights.
- Over Under with Locked Hands - This position doesn't let the opponent back out and can lead to back points or a fall.
- Single Overhook - When the opponent gets the underhook, force them to chase you into the inside trip.
- Double Overhook - For wrestlers who have trouble slipping the underhook, especially the upper weights.
- Saitiev - From a whizzer position.
- Outside/Inside Trip - An effective move against any opponent.
- Front Headlock - Coach Powell shows it from a specific headlock position (snap down from underhook), which makes it more high percentage. However, it can be done from any front headlock position.
- 2-on-1 Position - Can also lead to a double or single leg takedown. Coach Powell gives a detailed breakdown of switching off to finish with a double or single leg takedown.
Coach Powell closes with a look at the Inside Trip as a method to defend the single leg and a drill that trains your wrestlers to keep their knee off the mat until their opponent is off balance.
Everything you need to learn about the inside trip is included in this detailed video from Coach Powell!
51 minutes. 2014.
WRD-04967C: with Mike Powell,
Oak Park River Forest (IL) High School; 2x Illinois Dual Team State Champions;
2012 National Wrestling Hall of Fame - recipient of the Medal of Courage;
former Illinois National Team Greco-Roman Coach; 2012 USA Wrestling Cadet Coach of the Year;
All-American wrestler at Indiana University
Mike Powell, head coach of two Illinois Dual Team State Championships at Oak Park River Forest High School, shares a system of dominant hand fighting skills that are sure to produce great results on the mat.
When working with his team, Coach Powell breaks his takedown instruction into thirds: set-up, attack and finish. He spends a lot of time on the first third, set-ups, especially on creating openings with the hands and feet because that's where hand fighting comes into play.
Fundamentals of Hand Fighting
Coach Powell starts with the basics, explaining the key words that go along with the fundamental techniques and why they are important to dominant hand fighting:
- Good Approach - Learn three approaches that focus on getting the opponent to back up and feel panicked. A good approach allows wrestlers to move their opponent anywhere on the mat, setting them up for a shot, and gives the opponent problems getting to their legs.
- Head Position - Get key pointers to progress to your set up, as well as a better attack.
- Heavy Hands - Wear your opponent out and move them into an advantage position.
- Transferring Hands - If there's no opening after a long pull, the wrestler needs to move their hands to keep wearing on the opponent to create a new angle/opening.
- Forward-Forward-Back - Get the opponent to resist to get them off balance. This move is great for opening up the opponent for a snap.
Snap Downs
Coach Powell's hand fighting system focuses on the snap. He details four snap downs that lead to better attack angles or to short offense. The traditional snap, 50-50 snap, arm snap and foot fake snap are all broken down by Coach Powell.
Dominant Ties
Learn three techniques to shut down your opponent and open up your attacks. You'll see the underhook, football tie and the 2-on-1. Additionally, Coach Powell shows three variations of the 2-on-1: a traditional tie (with and without head position), a Keyhole Lock (a Coach Powell favorite that his teams have used with great success) and the Baseball Grip, which can also help a wrestler who gives up too many attacks on the approach.
Hand Fighting Drills
Coach Powell demonstrates over 10 drills to build an attacking mentality awhile incorporating snaps into all of his drills. These drills reinforce good head position (unless you have a dominant tie), reassess position after a break, create angles and more. The goal of the drills is to force kids to work through the positions to keep their hands and feet moving. This teaches wrestlers how to be aggressive.
This video contains great instruction on Coach Powell's hand fighting system. Perfect for any coach or wrestler who's looking to get elite drills and skills for hand fighting!
81 minutes. 2011.