We live in a society that makes us want some sort of instant gratification. As technology expands, we tend to get spoiled. We want things now. However, it is important that we separate that kind of mentality from wrestling.
If you recall, jumping levels represents a constant growth. You are putting in the work all of the time. You need to constantly be looking to improve regardless of your level of success, and if you don’t, people are going to surpass you.
Cael Sanderson, the legend himself, said, “Unless you continually work, evolve, and innovate, you will learn a quick and painful lesson from someone who has.” That is the mentality that you have to have in order to wrestle.
Getting better will not happen over night, and while you are continually growing, you may not always be able to see the fruits of your labor. It may take patience to actually start to see that the work you are putting in is paying off.
However, being patient to improve can be a frustrating thing to do considering we are in a society where we are constantly looking for a fast solution. Well, in wrestling, that fast solution does not exist. But, don’t be discouraged because it is all a matter of perspective when it comes to the work that you are doing. While you could view it as discouraging or annoying that you have to spend so much time and do so many repetitions in order to improve, you could view it as an great opportunity that you get to do all of those repetitions and spend that time.
For example, it is not that you have to drudge through hundreds and thousands of shots, set-ups, escapes, etc, it is that you continually get to work at fine tuning your shots, set-ups, escapes, etc. so that you can be confident in a match.
Wrestling has to be a passion of yours. It is too difficult of a sport to expect to notice growth without being all in. You are always able to improve. You are always able to jump to that next level, and that should be a source of inspiration.
If wrestling is a passion of yours, you should not view the time it takes to get better as annoying or even something that you have to do. When you start to think of wrestling as something that you get to do, it will be easier and maybe even natural to constantly want to put in that necessary hard work to improve.
Don’t look for that quick fix and cut corners. Be passionate, patient, and enjoy the progression!