Wrestling is a massive part of the game at all levels, the thing is that it has only recently been labeled as wrestling when players have started using "chicken wing" tackles, and other tactics that are, in effect submission holds.

I coach an Under 18's team, and we have had a wrestling coach take a couple of sessions for us, but with no intent on hurting anyone. It is just a way to get effective technique when it comes to working a tackle. If we can put our opposition on their back, then it will take them longer to get up, thus giving our defensive line more time to get in position.

well i remember a few years ago Saints employed a wrestling coach in their pre-season. the grecco-roman stuff can be adapted to improve tackling technique. however, the chicken wing stuff and other twisting of limbs should be clamped down on as that sort of thing can do some serious damage

Tackling - Wrestling - Grappling

It's all the same thing.

And there was me thinking this was going to be about Hulk Hogan

Except it's obviously not, otherwise wrestling coaches wouldn't exist.

They are all the same.

The Bulls have had a wrestling coaches before. There was an article in the T&A about the wrestling coach that was 50 and could pin Sam Burgess everytime. They used to have an event called Wrestlemania between the players ( I don't recall any reference to Hacksaw Jim Duggan or Hell in the Cell ) - also didn't they used to call Mike Forshaw - wrestling Royce?

As to them all being the same tackling, wrestling and grappling - yes spot on! The greco roman style is very effective in an upright clinch and can be used to tackle the opposing player upright move the player in direction you want them to go and take them to the ground. All giving time for your defensive line to recover and form.

Wrestling takedowns are very much like tackling. The double leg takedown is the same as our dump tackle and can verge on a spear at times

The chicken wing is like the key lock/ Kimura call it what you want where the tackler pits two of his arms against one of the offensive player. Some coaches buy into this more than others though and I know this has been a big problem in Australia for a few years now. Some teams employ warm up techniques called pummeling - another wrestling drill.

Is Wrestling good or bad for Rugby League? It sures up defences (good) but when players are more likely to get injured (bad) then I would say some lines need to be drawn. Again back to Oz, there was a bit of a furore when one team had JiuJitsu coach, that is definitely too far as I can only see that being used to put leverage against limbs and joints

HTH

The Bulls should employ Dan Henderson to show them how to dominate the opposition a bit more.

and Lancastrians.

Andre Winner who was on Ultimate Fighter 9 trains cardio with the Leicester Tigers. Understands wrestling and rugby based cardio

Isn't Michael Bisping's school based in Widnes? Wouldn't be far for one of that lot to come down.

I didn't know that. It might not be a bad option though to have somebody with high credibility in such technique come on and show them about though. I only mentioned Hendo because you mentioned Roman Greco wrestling.

Not sure if they train wrestling that seriously at Wolf' Lair to be honest.

Yes - the Wolfslair is in Widnes

Dan Hardy's gym is in Nottingham and there are more current UFC fighters from there at the moment

Where does that guy that smashed Kampmann at UFC 103 fight from?

Team Rough house - same gym as Dan Hardy and Andre Winner

They hammer wrestling at wolfslair, and have more fighters in the UFC than any other gym. Bisping, Rampage Jackson, Paul Kelly, and Cheik Congo.

OK, Fair enough. Like I aid I wasn't sure.

Rampage has quit MMA to be BA Baracus. Doubt you'll see him back for a while.

Rough House has Hardy, Paul Daley, Ross Pearson, Andre Winner, Dean Amasinger andNick Osipcsak FWIW

Wolfslair is strong on wrestling though - Russian guy coaches it, I think

On twitter today, Sam Burgess says he has been wrestling in training! not sure who with though

The Bulls went in for wrestling training a few years back, around the time when Mike Forshaw was at the club. As previously mentioned up the thread, he was a big believer in it. There were articles about it in the press at the time, though I`m not sure whether it was in official training sessions or was `extra-curricular`.

But then you go on for 3 paragraphs about very different, very specific examples.

I think the statement "they are all the same" is about as useful in this context as it would be in relation to birds. Yes, they are all the same too, but when I want to discuss an eagle, as opposed to an ostrich, or a hummingbird, would you think it useful to tell me they're all birds?

Wrestling is not at all "the same" as "tackling". Rather, wrestling (which itself as you make clear can encompass a thousand different techniques and styles) is a specific discipline (or disciplines) each of which can be applied to what rugby players do when they tackle an opponent.

Wrestling is "the same" as tackling pretty much like the boxing of a pished pub brawler is "the same" as Joe Calzaghe's.

Is Wrestling the same as tackling - it depends. Yes there are a lot of different styles but still a lot of common ground too. The way I was taught it included elements of Freestyle, Greco and Jiu Jitsu. I took to it well because of the similarity (I felt) to skills learnt playing amateur rugby league. So to me, yes they are all very similar (perhaps a better phrase?)

As to the boxing comparison would I dare suggest the pub brawler probably hits harder than Joe Calzaghe?



Also I'd prefer not to comment on the birds for two reasons:

1. Much more highly qualified Twitchers such as Tigertot on here
2. Keith is the ladies man on here

Apologies for going on

I should think so, too. You'd never find [ime[/i going on and on in a post.