Wrestling southpaw?

[Ck1989]

I've been training jiu jitsu for about 2 and half years and am left handed. When drilling takedowns we're told to mirror the opponents stance when shooting for double legs or going for a clinch meaning the majority of the time I have to stand orthodox which feels pretty unnatural. Being from Britain I know relatively little about wrestling so was just wondering if there are any southpaw wrestlers here that have had similar problems. Thanks

 

[cms9690]

I wrestle the way that I box: Left foot forward. I've been told this is unorthodox for wrestling, but it feels natural for my foot work.

 

[Ck1989]

So is it orthodox for a wrestler to stand right foot forward? That's how I feel comfortable but was told that you've to mirror the opponents stance, for jiu jitsu, to get the takedown and lead with the left foot

 

[jack36767]

I've been training jiu jitsu for about 2 and half years and am left handed. When drilling takedowns we're told to mirror the opponents stance when shooting for double legs or going for a clinch meaning the majority of the time I have to stand orthodox which feels pretty unnatural. Being from Britain I know relatively little about wrestling so was just wondering if there are any southpaw wrestlers here that have had similar problems. Thanks

Whoever told you to mirror the stance is either inexperienced or misguided. There are plenty of wrestlers who wrestle with a left leg lead. I'm actually right handed but lead my left leg.

While there are many reasons to generally keep the same lead leg foward. It's actually a lot like boxing. Keeping one lead leg foward helps with your positionin, attacks and defense, and switching your lead leg can lead to being out of position to attack or defend. And it's usually the best investment to get really good at one skill on each side than be mediocre at everything

But like boxing you can change lead legs or "shift" if it's for a reason to set up an attack or create an angle. But it has to be for a reason to not just to be undisciplined footwork

There are advantages to it to but it would take a while to explain

Some great left leg lead guys to look at include, Dave and Mark Schultz, Tom and Terry Brands, Brent Metcalf, Nathan Tomasello, Logan Steiber, Jordan Oliver, Frank Molinaro, and Isiah Martinez

 

[Ck1989]

That's great man thanks a lot, being left handed I feel comfortable leading with the right foot to fight southpaw. I'm totally clueless about wrestling, that's a massive help though, so fighting southpaw you can still lead with the right foot against an orthodox fighter to land a takedown?

 

[youngsteinel]

Whatever leg you lead with, you need an attack to both sides. I am a right leg lead, so when a guy leads with his right leg I go with something like a high crotch. If the guy is a left leg lead, I go with something like a ankle pick, shrug, or sweep single. I use these attacks because I don't have to change which foot is forward.

 

[Ck1989]

Whatever leg you lead with, you need an attack to both sides. I am a right leg lead, so when a guy leads with his right leg I go with something like a high crotch. If the guy is a left leg lead, I go with something like a ankle pick, shrug, or sweep single. I use these attacks because I don't have to change which foot is forward.

Whatever leg you lead with, you need an attack to both sides. I am a right leg lead, so when a guy leads with his right leg I go with something like a high crotch. If the guy is a left leg lead, I go with something like a ankle pick, shrug, or sweep single. I use these attacks because I don't have to change which foot is forward.

So depending on what leg you lead with, that decides what sort of attack you go for? I would mainly be against guys leading with their left leg. Could a right leg lead shoot for a double against a left leg lead stance or would you have to switch?

 

[jack36767]

So depending on what leg you lead with, that decides what sort of attack you go for? I would mainly be against guys leading with their left leg. Could a right leg lead shoot for a double against a left leg lead stance or would you have to switch?

You are caught up too much with what your opponent is doing. Whether you lead right leg or left. You focus on your attacks and what you are doing not him

 

[Ck1989]

Whoever told you to mirror the stance is either inexperienced or misguided. There are plenty of wrestlers who wrestle with a left leg lead. I'm actually right handed but lead my left leg.

While there are many reasons to generally keep the same lead leg foward. It's actually a lot like boxing. Keeping one lead leg foward helps with your positionin, attacks and defense, and switching your lead leg can lead to being out of position to attack or defend. And it's usually the best investment to get really good at one skill on each side than be mediocre at everything

But like boxing you can change lead legs or "shift" if it's for a reason to set up an attack or create an angle. But it has to be for a reason to not just to be undisciplined footwork

There are advantages to it to but it would take a while to explain

Some great left leg lead guys to look at include, Dave and Mark Schultz, Tom and Terry Brands, Brent Metcalf, Nathan Tomasello, Logan Steiber, Jordan Oliver, Frank Molinaro, and Isiah Martinez

Thanks man,

You are caught up too much with what your opponent is doing. Whether you lead right leg or left. You focus on your attacks and what you are doing not him

You are caught up too much with what your opponent is doing. Whether you lead right leg or left. You focus on your attacks and what you are doing not him

Yeah, just that's the way I've been taught in jiu jitsu. So your best to just fight in the stance most natural and attack from there. I have no wrestling experience at all so am totally clueless

 

[jack36767]

Thanks man,


Yeah, just that's the way I've been taught in jiu jitsu. So your best to just fight in the stance most natural and attack from there. I have no wrestling experience at all so am totally clueless

You're good man. I don't mind helping. I only get annoyed by people who've never done it, trying to tell me how to do it. Go ahead and keep leading your right leg so it syncs up with your striking. Make sure you don't reach with your lead leg/right hand.

I'll try to add more after work

 

[Dirty Holt]

In wrestling, left leg lead is southpaw. IMO, it is an advantage.

 

[jack36767]

In wrestling, left leg lead is southpaw. IMO, it is an advantage.

My high school coach tries every year to convince the team to become lefty leads lol. Even if right handed, the advantages are awesome

 

[Rico]

I'm left handed naturally but was taught to wrestle right leg forward... Which has some definite advantages in an MMA context.

I'd do what's more comfortable to you as well as putting a serious effort in developing go to attacks on each side.

 

[jr jr]

I play both. As Jack said switch intentionally. I have certain attacks I do with either leg forward, some I do only when right is forward, and some only when left is forward.

I am right handed and always used a skateboard right foot forward (goofy). Wrestled right forward (high school), did judo right forward figured out some attacks in judo work better for me left first now I have some wrestling attacks I do left first (wrestling for bjj).

 

[Dirty Holt]

My high school coach tries every year to convince the team to become lefty leads lol. Even if right handed, the advantages are awesome

I forced myself to do it when I was 16 because I saw Dave Schultz was a left leg lead and I thought he was the best thing ever.

 

[jack36767]

I forced myself to do it when I was 16 because I saw Dave Schultz was a left leg lead and I thought he was the best thing ever.

He was awesome lol. I switched my sophomore year because of my coach and because I couldn't stop myself from reaching or clubbing with my right hand. So I switched, It Fixed that problem and gave me all the advantages

My high school coach was a university greco all-American and had a nasty lefty headlock. I could never quite get it down. In fact headlocka in general I've never been able to get a feel for, regardless if it's back step type or sag. It's annoying

 

[Ck1989]

That's a

You're good man. I don't mind helping. I only get annoyed by people who've never done it, trying to tell me how to do it. Go ahead and keep leading your right leg so it syncs up with your striking. Make sure you don't reach with your lead leg/right hand.

I'll try to add more after work

That's awesome, thanks man. I really wish wrestling was big over here. Probably should take up some mma, closest thing we have here

 

[Ck1989]

I'm left handed naturally but was taught to wrestle right leg forward... Which has some definite advantages in an MMA context.

I'd do what's more comfortable to you as well as putting a serious effort in developing go to attacks on each side.

That's kind of the position I'm in, natural left handed and feel comfortable leading with the right foot in terms of boxing

 

[wordspeaker]

My right hand is dominant and I didn't know which way round to wrestle.

I picked some wrestlers brains about it and was advised that the Right handed orthodoxy in wrestling is dominant hand (right hand) forward. But I was also advised that in a fight involving standing strikes, the opposite is true, so a lot of wrestlers end up needing to swap for fighting/mma.

I was also advised that wrestling weak hand forward can provide its own advantages in pure grappling. I took this to mean I should learn to wrestle however I would box/kickbox.

I am of the understanding some attacks (I.e the single leg) are only viable in matching stances (each with their right foot forward, for e.g.). But my coach advises against unnecessary stance swapping, i.e to stay in one stance and force them to change stance if need be, by reaching for a leg (so he pulls that leg to the back) or by posting my hand in his shoulder on the side of his front leg and pushing as part of the single leg shot, forcing him to step his front leg back. Or just do other attacks.

But if someone must switch stances, he advocates that it should be the opponent. You are strong in your usual stance, and he in his. That's why you are standing that way. It is how you practice. If you put your weak/less practiced stance against his strong/more practiced stance, you are not maximizing your advantages. If you keep your usual stance and force him to change his, you are maximizing your advantages. So this should become your habit.

For this reason, a left foot forward wrestler may wrestle quite differently to how an "orthodox" (right foot forward) wrestler would. Presumably, like in boxing, this puts left hand forward wrestlers at an advantage against right hand forward wrestlers if only because we are more familiar with the match up because left handed people are less common. If he swaps to mitigate this situational experience advantage, he is now in his b stance and you are still in your a.

I am not an expert. I just wrestle for JJ. But this is my understanding.

Halt, etc, am I right? I would hate to misguide someone and would love your opinion for my own reasons.

 

[Ck1989]

My right hand is dominant and I didn't know which way round to wrestle.

I picked some wrestlers brains about it and was advised that the Right handed orthodoxy in wrestling is dominant hand (right hand) forward. But I was also advised that in a fight involving standing strikes, the opposite is true, so a lot of wrestlers end up needing to swap for fighting/mma.

I was also advised that wrestling weak hand forward can provide its own advantages in pure grappling. I took this to mean I should learn to wrestle however I would box/kickbox.

I am of the understanding some attacks (I.e the single leg) are only viable in matching stances (each with their right foot forward, for e.g.). But my coach advises against unnecessary stance swapping, i.e to stay in one stance and force them to change stance if need be, by reaching for a leg (so he pulls that leg to the back) or by posting my hand in his shoulder on the side of his front leg and pushing as part of the single leg shot, forcing him to step his front leg back. Or just do other attacks.

But if someone must switch stances, he advocates that it should be the opponent. You are strong in your usual stance, and he in his. That's why you are standing that way. It is how you practice. If you put your weak/less practiced stance against his strong/more practiced stance, you are not maximizing your advantages. If you keep your usual stance and force him to change his, you are maximizing your advantages. So this should become your habit.

For this reason, a left foot forward wrestler may wrestle quite differently to how an "orthodox" (right foot forward) wrestler would. Presumably, like in boxing, this puts left hand forward wrestlers at an advantage against right hand forward wrestlers if only because we are more familiar with the match up because left handed people are less common. If he swaps to mitigate this situational experience advantage, he is now in his b stance and you are still in your a.

I am not an expert. I just wrestle for JJ. But this is my understanding.

Halt, etc, am I right? I would hate to misguide someone and would love your opinion for my own reasons.

My right hand is dominant and I didn't know which way round to wrestle.

I picked some wrestlers brains about it and was advised that the Right handed orthodoxy in wrestling is dominant hand (right hand) forward. But I was also advised that in a fight involving standing strikes, the opposite is true, so a lot of wrestlers end up needing to swap for fighting/mma.

I was also advised that wrestling weak hand forward can provide its own advantages in pure grappling. I took this to mean I should learn to wrestle however I would box/kickbox.

I am of the understanding some attacks (I.e the single leg) are only viable in matching stances (each with their right foot forward, for e.g.). But my coach advises against unnecessary stance swapping, i.e to stay in one stance and force them to change stance if need be, by reaching for a leg (so he pulls that leg to the back) or by posting my hand in his shoulder on the side of his front leg and pushing as part of the single leg shot, forcing him to step his front leg back. Or just do other attacks.

But if someone must switch stances, he advocates that it should be the opponent. You are strong in your usual stance, and he in his. That's why you are standing that way. It is how you practice. If you put your weak/less practiced stance against his strong/more practiced stance, you are not maximizing your advantages. If you keep your usual stance and force him to change his, you are maximizing your advantages. So this should become your habit.

For this reason, a left foot forward wrestler may wrestle quite differently to how an "orthodox" (right foot forward) wrestler would. Presumably, like in boxing, this puts left hand forward wrestlers at an advantage against right hand forward wrestlers if only because we are more familiar with the match up because left handed people are less common. If he swaps to mitigate this situational experience advantage, he is now in his b stance and you are still in your a.

I am not an expert. I just wrestle for JJ. But this is my understanding.

Halt, etc, am I right? I would hate to misguide someone and would love your opinion for my own reasons.

That's like me, no wrestling experience just learning some takedowns for bjj. Sounds about right though, from what I can tell it's best to stand in the stance most comfortable to you and attack from there