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WRESTLING WORKS
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Research has shown that wrestlers tend to have better body control, balance, and core strength than athletes who do not practice wrestling.
These skills are essential in contact sports such as rugby, where athletes need to be able to maintain balance and control while making contact with opponents.
Incorporating wrestling techniques into contact sports training has been found to help athletes improve their tackling and blocking abilities, increase their overall strength and power, and enhance their agility and speed on the field. Additionally, practicing wrestling can help reduce the risk of injuries by improving athletes' body control and reducing the likelihood of awkward falls or collisions.
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There have been several studies that have explored the impact of incorporating wrestling into training for contact sports such as rugby and American football. Here are a few examples:
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A study published in the International Journal of Wrestling Science found that collegiate football players who incorporated wrestling into their training program demonstrated significant improvements in strength, power, and speed compared to a control group who did not practice wrestling.
https://inwr-wrestling.com/international-journal-of-wrestling-science/
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A 2017 study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research compared the effects of three different training programs on high school football players: a traditional weightlifting program, a wrestling-based program, and a combination of both. The study found that the combination program led to the greatest improvements in players' speed, power, and agility.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5491841/
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Another study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research investigated the effects of a wrestling-specific training program on rugby players. The study found that the program resulted in significant improvements in players' tackling ability, agility, and balance.
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A 2015 study published in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine examined the effects of wrestling training on injury rates in high school football players. The study found that the wrestlers who participated in the study had significantly lower injury rates than the non-wrestlers.
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Overall, these studies suggest that incorporating wrestling into training for contact sports such as rugby can lead to improvements in strength, power, speed, agility, balance, and injury prevention.