And Why Some Kids Love It While Others Struggle
Let’s get real.
Some kids walk into a wrestling room and fall in love with the grind. Others? They wrestle like there’s a 100-pound weight on their back, and not just from cutting.
So what gives?
Why does wrestling feel like a burden to some and a passion to others?
Here’s the truth.
Most Kids Don’t Actually Know Why They’re Wrestling.
They focus on how hard it is.
- The early mornings.
- The losses.
- The weight cuts.
- The constant pressure.
But they haven’t been taught how to fall in love with the outcome, with the final destination, as I call it in the Wrestling Parent Masterclass.
The kids who stick with it? The ones who thrive in the storm? They’re not focused on how hard practice was that day.
They’re focused on why they do it.
They’re emotionally attached to the result. Not the process. That’s the difference.
Laziness Isn’t the Problem. Lack of Vision Is.
If your kid is being “lazy,” you’re not dealing with a motivation issue. You’re dealing with a clarity issue.
No clear goal = no urgency. No urgency = no fire.
Kids won’t fight for something they don’t truly want or understand. You can’t want it for them.
You have to lead them to want it for themselves, and that starts by helping them define a vision of success that matters to them.
Here’s How You Fix It:
1. Start with WHY.
Ask your wrestler why they want to wrestle, and don’t stop at the first answer.
Ask 7 layers deep. That’s where the emotional connection lives.
2. Define the Final Destination.
Set the GPS. You wouldn’t get in your car and say “just drive.” Same thing with wrestling.
FDF: Final Destination First.
3. Build Habits That Serve the Future.
Don’t fight about practice. Make it a lifestyle. Make the decision once, and stop negotiating with your kid every day.
4. Focus on Systems, Not Feelings.
Success doesn’t come from how you feel. It comes from the systems you follow.
Kids don’t rise to the level of their goals, they fall to the level of their habits.
Make Wrestling Make Sense, Emotionally.
When a kid has a vision, a clear purpose, and the right habits, wrestling becomes the vehicle to get there.
The grind doesn’t feel like suffering anymore. It feels like progress.
If You’re a Wrestling Parent Struggling With This.
You’re not alone.
But you are responsible for leading your kid toward that vision, without burning out your relationship along the way.
That’s exactly what I built the Wrestling Parent Masterclass for.
We teach you:
- How to inspire real motivation without yelling.
- How to build mental toughness without breaking your kid.
- How to create structure, systems, and habits that make your child resilient, for life.
Don’t let your kid tap out on their potential.
Join the Masterclass now: www.wrestlingparent.com/opt-in
Be The Best… always! (on and off the mat)
Georgi I. Ivanov
Olympian | Mentor