Hi Tim,
I am wondering if freestyle wrestling is a good start in the fighting arts. I have to choose between wrestling and western boxing cause I can't do both at the same time. I know that they are known more as a sport. What do you recommend as a start?
Thanks.

Hi George,
I think both wrestling and boxing are excellent training for realistic fighting ability. If I had to choose, I would probably wrestle first. If you ever get into a real fight, you will almost invariably get into clinching/grappling range, the ability to take the opponent down and control him if necessary is invaluable. In addition, nothing will get you in better shape than wrestling, and the fighter with superior conditioning has a huge advantage in a fight. If practical fighting is your main goal, my suggestion would be to spend a little more time on throws and takedowns that leave you standing.Good luck in your training.

Hi Tim.
Thanks for your last response. I took your advice and have recently started wrestling. It's been 3 months now and I am enjoying every bit of it. However, for the past few weeks I've been having problems finding people my size to wrestle (I am 6' 2" and 230lbs). Whats the point of going to a place to wrestle when no one will wrestle with me? Do you know of any place that teaches greco-roman wrestling or freestyle (preferable greco)? I live in Northridge, Ca near CSUN university (CSUN doesn't have wrestling either). Reason I ask is cause you seem to know alot of places in southern california that teach different things.

Thanks in Advance.
George.

Hi George;
you will have to go to the parks/recreation dept.
or try your local college for friends to work
with in your endeavor. It's real inparitive that you get good at shooting at the legs and the sitout move wich is an escape from the ground.
Get yourself an old judo book to learn some of
the arm positioning to pin/hold someone.
these holds can harm or hold as you feel is
pertinate to the situation.
I feel regardless of others opinions that you
should not try to turn your back to enemy and throw him over shoulder as this puts you in a very bad place against an enemy who can choke you
or worse.just my humble opinion.Good luck.

George,

If you're in Northridge why not go to Tim's classes? I make the weekly trek to Garden Grove from my office in Woodland Hills.

Tim's a great teacher and traffic aint that bad
most of the time. And when it is bad.. it's still worth it.

Shane

George,
You might want to check out training with the RAW Team. Look them up on the net.