When you want to overpower your opponent on the wrestling mat, the best defense sometimes is an aggressive offensive strategy. According to the Human Kinetics website, wrestlers who adopt aggressive mindsets can improve their performance on the mat while increasing their overall confidence. You gain a psychological edge over an opponent as he interprets your confidence as evidence of power and skill, potentially causing him to second-guess his strategy. For best results, reinforce your regular wrestling practice sessions with mental exercises that can improve your overall aggressiveness on the mat.
Step 1
Focus the majority of your mental energy on finding and exploiting the weaknesses of your opponent during a wrestling match. Watch for gaps in her form or other unstable aspects of her stance, which may allow for an offensive opening. Surprise your opponent early into the first round by exploiting a weakness in her form and quickly take her to the ground.
Step 2
Approach your opponent as if you have already won the match, adopting a facial expression that is both aggressive and confident. Look your opponent in the eye before the match begins and maintain a steady gaze without looking down or away.
Step 3
Pump yourself up before the match by listening to loud, fast-paced music that helps you enter an aggressive psychological state. Warm up before the wrestling match by performing aggressive wrestling drills with a friend, training your eye to seek out and take advantage of your opponent's weaknesses.
Step 4
Trust your instincts about when to engage your opponent and when to wait. Being aggressive does not mean acting like a barbarian. Remain confident in your ability to identify sudden gaps in your opponent's stance and take risks to exploit those weaknesses before you or your opponent have enough time to think about it.
Step 5
Break out of pins, take-downs and other binding maneuvers by applying all of your body strength in a burst motion, surprising your opponent and breaking out of his grasp. Prevent yourself from getting discouraged during a match by constantly bringing your attention to the present moment, quickly forgetting momentary setbacks and defeats. Keep your eyes trained on your opponent and pay attention to your breathing to keep your mind from wandering as your wrestle.
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