Motivation Monday
“Wrestling Just Demands More”
by Jon Gums – Dakota Grappler
The wrestling season is short—10 to 12 weeks more, and it’s over. That’s it. A few months to grind, improve, and leave your mark. But let’s be honest: wrestling isn’t a sport where showing up is enough. It demands more. More effort, more focus, more self-control. Every day you don’t give your best, someone else is out there working harder, inching ahead of you.
Today, let’s focus on what “giving more” means. Giving more is what separates the average from the great, the good from the unstoppable. It’s about finding that extra gear within yourself, pushing past limits, and embracing the demands wrestling places on your body and mind.
Give More: Be One Step Ahead
Every time you drill a takedown one more time, spend five more minutes on the mat after practice, or hold your bridge a second longer, do ten more wall stand-ups, shadow drill penetration steps, etc. then you’re putting yourself a step ahead of your opponent. Giving more means doing what others won’t.
Tony Robbins says it perfectly: “The only limit to your impact is your imagination and commitment.” Imagine yourself standing on the top of the podium. Commit to doing whatever it takes to get there. When your opponent stops, you keep going. When they rest, you push. That’s how champions are made.
Remember, wrestling isn’t just a physical battle—it’s a mental one, too. As Willie Robertson from Duck Dynasty says, “The stronger your foundation, the stronger the rest of your house.” In wrestling, your foundation is built on consistent effort and the will to give more. Without it, your progress crumbles.
No Time to Waste
Wrestling season flies by in a blur of practices, tournaments, and weigh-ins. Blink, and you’re at regionals or state. There’s no time to waste. Don’t wait for next week to get serious—start today.
When you step on the mat, remember this: the time you invest now will show in February. Every second spent sweating and grinding is a second you won’t regret when you’re fighting for a championship. As the old saying goes, “The pain of discipline is far less than the pain of regret.”
Self-Control: The Key to Giving More
To truly give more, you need self-control. This means practicing discipline not just in the gym but in all areas of your life. It’s resisting the temptation to skip a workout, not to study for a test, slack off during drills, or eat something that doesn’t fuel your performance. Self-control is about mastering your emotions and staying focused on your goals.
Self-control is also about the inner conversion of your heart. It’s finding purpose in your grind. You’re not just going through the motions; you’re giving everything with intention. You’re growing into someone stronger—not just a better wrestler, but a better person.
Wrestling Demands More
Wrestling demands a level of effort and sacrifice that not everyone is willing to give. It’s not easy, but that’s what makes it worth it. If you’re willing to give more—more time, more focus, more heart—you’ll not only be one step ahead of your opponent, but you’ll also find that you’re capable of more than you ever thought possible.
As you head into practice today, ask yourself:
Am I giving more than I did yesterday?
What can I do right now to put myself ahead of the competition?
Am I making the most of the time I have left this season?
The answers to these questions will determine how far you go, not just in wrestling, but in life. Because wrestling doesn’t just demand more—it makes you more.
Your Call to Action
Get on the mat today with one goal: give more. Drill harder, listen to your coach more intently, and focus with a new level of intensity. Let your actions today echo all the way into the final weeks of the season and life.
No time to waste. Wrestling demands more, and so do you.
