If you have followed my plan to build the best Greco-Roman wrestling nation in the world you know I don’t talk about getting every wrestler in the U.S. to focus on Greco.
I know in this country we have so many great athletes that wrestle. I believe we can become the best wrestling nation in the world with III%.
III% was enough to win the American Revolution. Greco-Roman is like the American Revolution, not everyone believes in the cause. Only 3% of the colonist actively fought the British for a chance to be an independent free nation.
There was another 10% that actively supported the cause. In addition to these revolutionaries there were perhaps another 20% who favored the cause but did little or nothing to support it.
A third of the population sided with England and another third that didn’t give a shit. By the end of the war there were more Americans fighting for the King than were in the field fighting to be free.
History, for good or ill is made by determined minorities.
In this country Greco-Roman is the minority. Everyone is so focused on the folk-style. A style of wrestling that is contested in high school and college that no other nation in the world competes in. Yippee! We are the best folk-style wrestlers in the world.
I would love to see folk-style eliminated so we can focus on the international styles of wrestling like every other county in the world. I know I’m not the only one who feels this way.
This is not realistic. The powers that be have invested too much in their precious folk-style.
Coaches would have to learn and grow to be able to teach international style and not every coach out there is willing to do that. These are like the men that fought with the King or the ones that don’t give a shit.
I’m not even proposing we eliminate folk-style. What I am proposing is, if you want to win at the international level let the other kids play folk-style and focus on international wrestling. Be a patriot like the III% that fought for this nation’s independence.
A role model of mine, Jesus, lead a team of twelve disciples.
Rather than trying to preach to the greatest number of people, Jesus focused the majority of his effort on a small group of twelve men. Jesus taught his disciples about the Kingdom of God and how they must learn to truly love; "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:35).
Jesus intensely taught his twelve closest disciples, he taught so they would be prepared to serve in the Kingdom of God:
"Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them...and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19-20). Jesus provided a model for effective ministry. This model can be followed in building the best Greco-Roman team in the world.
In my last blog I wrote about juniors and cadets forgoing opportunities to compete in big folk-style tournaments and instead head overseas to represent the United States. These young athletes have bigger goals than winning a state title or earning a scholarship to wrestle folk-style in college. These young men are dreaming of representing their nation, the greatest nation, USA in the Olympic games, competing for world and Olympic gold.
I’m looking for the III% of athletes that dream big about representing USA on the biggest athletic stage in the world. I’m also looking for the 10% that support what these young men are doing and I’m looking for my 12 disciples (Coaches) that are willing to serve and build up the III%. We are all blessed with different gifts and different opportunities to serve these young athletes that are brave enough to follow the Greco path and chase their dreams of winning world and Olympic gold.
I’m also looking for 12 Greco disciples, some to be evangelists, teachers and supporters to build up the III% to teach and lead them. The focus of a disciple is always to serve.
If you are willing to be a disciple let me know, I am ready to get you the tools to serve in whatever capacity you are lead to serve.