When preparing for the military, some sports and activities lay a solid foundation of fitness and mental toughness for the candidate or recruit. One of the best is wrestling.
Wrestling combines weight training, high-repetition calisthenics for strength and muscle stamina, running and high-intensity intervals for superior cardiovascular endurance. In addition, it adds the intangibles of mental toughness as it pits one opponent against another.
Wrestler's strengths for the military recruit (intangibles)
Mental toughness. Wrestling practices require a high-intensity mindset, with the ability to push past exhaustion in a variety of the high intensity interval training (HIIT)-type workouts and mental and physical challenges of basically fighting another person.
Typically, getting beat up for a few hours after school every day is common. Dropping pounds when wrestlers strive to meet their weight class takes mental toughness to another level. “Finding the fuel when the tank is empty” is the very definition of mental toughness and a daily mantra for the wrestler. The one meal a day at Ranger school is typically not that challenging for the wrestler, who is used to cutting weight and working hard on empty.
Competitor/teammate. Wrestling is a one-on-one competitive event, but you do not get there without your teammates. Wrestlers join the military with a mindset to be a competitor and a teammate. Being a helpful supporter to fellow teammates, recruits and other members of the military is engrained in the wrestler’s history of practice and meets. Being a good, supportive team player with fellow recruits is a must for new military members.
Wrestler's strengths for the military recruit (tangibles)
Strength and muscle stamina. Wrestlers have a remarkable cardiovascular endurance, so running is typically not an issue. They have incredible upper-body strength and muscle stamina, making PT tests easy. Wrestling gives you a unique combination of strength from lifting weights as well as higher-repetition calisthenics and lifting people.
Workouts mixing in carries, crawls, lifts, body-weight exercises and short, fast running create a high level of anaerobic endurance and general physical ability. Pushing the anaerobic threshold is tough and builds a strong, tough athlete.
Injury prevention/foundation building. The solid foundation of muscle stamina, endurance and pound-for-pound strength enable the wrestler to move quickly and without being susceptible typically to overuse injuries.
Obstacle courses. Wrestlers do very well with obstacle courses. They tend to have good technique from doing rope climbs with very long-lasting grip strength. A collegiate wrestler holds the all-time record for completing the SEAL's obstacle course in the fastest time.
Wrestler's weaknesses for the military recruit
Specifics. Depending upon the branch of service, as long as the typical wrestler does not need to swim, he will do quite well in the military. However, at schools like SEAL training, it always has been said that “a wrestler does very well at BUD/S if he can swim.” Sometimes that is a big if. See the discussion video for more details on the wrestler preparing for SEAL training.
Regardless of your athletic background, becoming a tactical athlete requires molding your current strengths to the service requirements and focusing on current weaknesses that could be detrimental to the new recruit or spec-ops student.
If you are a current wrestler, keep it up. When in the offseason, get specific to the branch of service that you are considering. You may need to add in some rucking, swimming, more running and perhaps lifting so load-bearing events do not crush you. For the most part, the wrestler brings many strengths needed to master military training programs.
Related video discussion:
As the Wrestler Prepares for SEAL Training
Previous athletes discussed:
Cross Country Endurance Running Athlete
Stew Smith is a former Navy SEAL and fitness author certified as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) with the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Visit his Fitness eBook store if you’re looking to start a workout program to create a healthy lifestyle. Send your fitness questions to stew@stewsmith.com.
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