Beginning Wrestling »

It's like playing chess with your body--moves and countermoves that outwit and overpower your opponent. Once you learn the basic rules of school-style wrestling, and the strategies for winning matches, you're on your way to being a champion. And, whatever your age, size, or athletic ability, there is a place for you in the sport. It's a matter of getting yourself physically and mentally fit. Find out the right equipment to buy, especially shoes and headgear. Then, practice starting positions, following the instructions and photos of each stance. Add the essential offensive and defensive strategies, including inside step series, level changes, takedowns, and common countermoves. Learn to move and feint to create proper angles of attack, and control your opponent at will. A master plan shows how to set and reach weekly, monthly, and season-long goals. Sidebars feature famous people who got their start in wrestling.

Children's Literature

Wrestling has been a part of various cultures for hundreds of years. Scenes of men wrestling have been found in art and cave paintings. One of the original Olympic sports, wrestling continues today. Thomas Ryan, the head wrestling coach of Hofstra University, along with Julie Sampson, have created a wonderful introduction to this timeless sport. Even for students who are wrestlers, the coverage of the finer points of technique and style will help young readers fine tune their skills. Beginning with chapters concerning fitness and training, the book progresses to finishing holds and more complex styles in wrestling. The photographs supplied by Bruce Curtis provide good illustrations of the various moves and techniques, allowing the reader to model what is provided in the text. Curtis's photographs are so numerous that for a beginning coach this is an excellent resource. Also provided are a glossary and index. 2001, Sterling Publishing Co, Orsborn