Zone Drills

Using the zone can be an effective strategy in wining the close matches. It can be easier to score points using the zone and take less risk than it would be to score a good takedown on a good defensive opponent. The ability to force cautions can be a decisive factor in wining the tough matches. The following six Zone Drill tactics can be even more effective if combined with good offensive ground wrestling skills.

The best way to improve your groundwork is to incorporate a turn in all the takedowns that you drill. Every technique that is drilled should include a set-up, the technique, the finish and then the turn. This should be done without pausing. This helps to prevent pausing in a match setting when shooting and to perfect the finish in every skill.

As with any situation or even technique drilling, how your partner reacts is very important to learning. Your partner should not fight you all out when you are trying to learn technique or situation drill, but also should not 'wimp out' and allow you to easily do the technique. When drilling the following drills your opponent should be giving at least 50 percent resistance to help you train at your best.

The six Zone Drills used in practice to develop superior mat position are:

1. Shoot a leg attack on your feet driving your opponent directly out of the zone. Do not allow your opponent to circle or do not attack on your knees and/or with your elbows away from your chest.

You have your back to the zone, circle to face the zone then work Zone Drill #1

In the top par terre position:

2. You turn your opponent then you work to take him out again so that you can restart on the center of the mat and then do the same move again. If it works, work it!

3. If you cannot turn him, but are winning the match take him out of bounds to gain the restart in par terre. This is an effective time killer.

In the bottom par terre position:

4. If you got turned, you fight to stay inbounds, If you are wining and your opponent cannot turn you, you can choose to allow him to take you out of bounds. This way you can kill more time.

5. Your opponent tries Zone Drill #1 on you, you circle and face him in the out of bounds area, while looking to be offensive.

6. In the clinch position you try take your opponent out of bounds:

Push, but do not get extended, so your opponent can throw you. A more effective tactic would be to break your grip and do zone drill #1.

To get the extra edge that you might need to win the close matches memorize and practice these drills.

Editors Note: Stan Tzogas coaches at Pickering High School and is the Head Coach of the TEAM IMPACT Wrestilng Club in Toronto. He is a member of the Canadian National Coaching Staff and was Head Coach for the 2002 Canadian Team to the Commonwealth Games, an assistant Coach for the 2002 World Team, and has recently been named by Canada Wrestling as the 2004 Canadian Olympic Team Greco-Roman Head Coach. Stan is also an National Coaching Certification Program (N.C.C.P.) Master Coach and Course Conductor.