Teaching rythm on the mat
By approaching wrestling as an effortless dance, we find clarity, fall back in love with the sport, and remember that its greatest reward is the character it builds.
Today, I realized just how much I truly love teaching. As a little girl, I always knew I wanted to be a teacher and go to the Olympics. I never knew exactly what form that dream would take, but it’s crazy how life takes off when you follow your heart and your path.
When I think about why I wrestle, it is definitely for these girls. It felt so good today getting back to my private sessions. Andrea is certainly one of them, and watching her grow up and figure things out has been a true blessing in my life, through both the easy and the hard times. Watching these athletes absorb everything—eager to learn, work hard, and strive for the same goals as me—and being able to do it hand-in-hand alongside them is the coolest thing ever.
I loved just listening to Andrea today and helping her connect the dots. I was reminding her, just like I journaled about last week, that it's the little things that win the day. Watching her slowly build confidence, put the pieces together, and smile through the process reminded me of what I really love about wrestling.
For those who know me, they know how much I love dancing. The reason I love teaching wrestling so much is because it truly is like a dance. Once you find your rhythm and discover who you are, it becomes an effortless dance from there.
It’s not the outcome, the wins, the notoriety, or the big tournaments. It’s those moments of watching someone grow, find clarity, and genuinely love the sport. So often, we are so tortured by the grind of wrestling, focusing heavily on our disadvantages and challenges, that we forget to fall back in love with it.
I love watching these girls rediscover that joy and become their best selves. At the end of the day, we sometimes forget that wrestling is simply there to build character and make us better people.