How To Have A Better Shot In Wrestling

To "shoot" in wrestling is to go in low to capture your opponent's legs and start a takedown. It's a vital skill for wrestling success and will be part of almost every match you wrestle throughout your career. But few of the things you do to improve your shot have to do with your legs or those of your opponent. Rather, you'll get your best results by working on your setup -- what you do in the moments before you take your shot.

Step 1

Move constantly in the seconds prior to your shot. If you take your shot from standing still, your opponent will react faster to your aggression.

Step 2

"Schuck" your opponent to create a wider leg opening. Begin by "tying up" with a grab to the neck or arm. Immediately before you take your shot, pull down on his upper body. He will reflexively resist. When you let go, his upper body will pup upward by a few inches, leaving you a wider opening at the legs.

Step 3

Feint toward your opponent's head and face before taking your shot. Do this with fingers toward the eyes or a light tap on the forehead or temples. Like schucking, this will make your opponent flinch upward reflexively, opening his legs for your shot.

Step 4

Practice just two or three takedowns consistently, rather than many takedowns infrequently. Shoot only with takedowns you know well. Otherwise, you risk hesitating in midaction, which will slow you down when you take your shot.

Step 5

Get your head flush against your opponent's body once you make your shot. This will reduce your vulnerability to a cross-face, one of the most common and effective defenses against low-line takedowns.