The Standard

Coach Cabrera explains The Standard in detail and discusses implementing proper programing into a coaching curriculum.

I have just completed the Bronze certification for USA Wrestling, and the information housed in the professional development was insightful and valuable for continuing my program standards.

Why are Standards necessary?

Standards allow an individual to provide themselves with a direction, which is vital when trying to attain challenging, complex goals.

Providing the student-athlete with a clear direction is crucial when constructing a program.

Today, I will discuss The Standard at the Diesel Wrestling Academy and the opportunities associated with mastering particular skills related to The Standard.

Physical Fitness Standards

Rationale: The following standards are based on the Army and Marine physical fitness standards. These standards are attainable for all young adults. The separation in criteria for boys and girls stems from decades of research showing physical strength and speed differences between the genders. USA Wrestling has a boys' and girls' division with varying weight classes. The Diesel Wrestling Academy respects these differences and makes the standard.

Rationale: The following standards are based on the Presidential Challenge Physical Fitness Test & STK Gymnastics Assessment. These standards are attainable for all children. The separation in criteria for boys and girls stems from decades of research showing physical strength and speed differences between the genders. USA Wrestling has a boys' and girls' division with varying weight classes. The Diesel Wrestling Academy respects these differences and makes the standard.

Rationale: The following standards are based on the Presidential Challenge Physical Fitness Test & STK Gymnastics Assessment. These standards are attainable for all children. The separation in criteria for boys and girls stems from decades of research showing physical strength and speed differences between the genders. USA Wrestling has a boys' and girls' division with varying weight classes. The Diesel Wrestling Academy respects these differences and makes the standard.

The above physical standards combine different fitness tests with age group indications specifying percentile groups.

Translation: If your 6-year-old son can perform 7 push-ups in 1 minute, he can do as many push-ups as 50% of the population in his age group.

I use that information to guide instruction in group classes, provide this information to the parent, and provide them with some basic exercises their child can do to strengthen weaker areas.

Your overall physical health is essential for more than just your wrestling performance but for mental health and academics.

The teenagers need to pass The Standard as a gateway into performing complex weightlifting routines.

CHILDREN ARE INJURING THEMSELVES BECAUSE OF WEAK BASIC PHYSICAL FITNESS.

Stop allowing your child to lift without adequately being able to execute push-ups, sit-ups, squats, and runs for an extended time. Injuries in young athletes are on the rise, and a portion of this is partly due to “sports specialization” at an early age. Sports specialization at an early age causes imbalances in athletes as they adopt sports-specific movements. The Strong Life Podcast hosted by Zach Even-esh on Sept 27 covers this exact topic. It is worth listening to him as he is one of the leading instructors in the State regarding best practices in everything involving strength and conditioning.

The Diesel Wrestling Academy focuses on making your child a well-rounded athlete who understands the basics of nutrition and strength exercises to lead a healthier life; I also teach the children to find evidence-based information to grow their understanding of their bodies and minds.

Mind and body connection is the key to meaningful longevity.

The Wrestlers also have a basic level of expertise that needs to be met before being considered a level 1 wrestler or, for the purposes of The Academy, a Cadet. Anyone who enters The Academy is a Troop until they meet the essential physical fitness and wrestler level 1 assessment standards.

The wrestling standards are based on the USA Wrestling curriculum. The assessment serves as a meaningful direction for wrestlers to study their craft and for parents to present study habits at home. The minds of our children would be better served by having them commit to excellence in academics and physical fitness. The striving towards being our most excellent self pushes our children to understand their bodies and minds more, positively affecting mental health. You can find a link to the wrestler’s assessment here:

Folkstyle Fundamentals: Level 1 (Diesel Wrestling Academy Assessment)

Within the document, wrestlers can click on the document's title to find videos of each movement, as shown by USA Wrestling.

Troops and Parents reading,

Remember, only 7% of student-athletes compete in college, and 1% compete in D1 programs. The reasons you are coming to a program differ. Still, fun, the mind-body connection, academics, resilience, and discipline are solid humanist personal growth endeavors that help you win in life and on the mat. I am here to help you with well-researched methods tailored to your needs. Think about your and your child's goals for personal growth in fitness and life because starting the journey together is fun and rewarding.

The whole child matters.

- Coach Cabrera, Nicolas

   Owner/Founder Diesel Wrestling Academy

   Veteran and Educator Owned

   (732) 318-2678

Instagram: @dieselwrestlingacademy

Facebook: Diesel Wrestling Academy 

Substack: Nicolas Cabrera

“Toughness is the ability to perform at your ‘Ideal Competitive State’ no matter what the competitive circumstances are.”- Mike Chapman (Wrestling Tough)