“The 1st period is won by the best technician. The 2nd period is won by the kid in the best shape. The 3rd period is won by the kid with the biggest heart.”—Dan Gable
I have been blessed with the opportunity to coach strength and conditioning for the last four months for my son’s high school wrestling team. Minus the football players who have been in their preseason/in-season training, the bulk of the participants have been the younger wrestlers and those one might consider more the “underdogs.” They are not the more seasoned (perhaps “elite”) on the team—the “best technicians.” Some of these, in fact, have even given me a sense of scoff. The kids who have shown up are those who are likely going to see much more improvement in their technique this season and will start the season winning the 2nd period. They have worked hard, and it shows. They have trusted the process and it is notable.
Preparation is essential to success. Some see a level of success trusting in their genetics and technical practice. Most see no success because they lack the natural endowment and the will to try. Some surprise is because they focus on the fundamentals and develop their ordinary genetics to do (extra)ordinary things.
In the end, it will come down to heart. Practice and conditioning will get us through the first two period, but, in the end, it is all about heart.
Life is no different. Therefore, Dan Gable also said that “once you’ve wrestled, everything else in life is easy.” Gable set the bar for effort in wrestling. Few have conditioned more than he did (and continues to do). He set high expectations for his wrestler. We may not wrestle (or have wrestled), but we can have the work ethic and heart of a successful wrestler.
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!