Patent Application
20070254790
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a wrestling training device.
2. Background
In the classical sport of wrestling, two participants compete with one another in a contest in which each of the two opponents struggles hand to hand in an attempt to achieve physical dominance over the other. The goal is to force each other's shoulders to the floor, thus scoring a fall and winning the match. Points are awarded for various holds and techniques during the bout, and if neither wrestler can score a fall within the time limit, the competitor with the most points wins.
Wrestling is popular throughout the world. There are three basic styles of amateur wrestling, namely Freestyle, Greco-Roman and Collegiate-style. Freestyle is the most popular wrestling style in the world. The rules of freestyle wrestling permit an athlete to use the entire body in competition. Greco-Roman wrestling is especially popular in Europe, but it is practiced throughout the world. The distinctive features of Greco-Roman wrestling are that contestants must apply all holds above the waist, and that the use of the legs in scoring or defending is prohibited. Accordingly, tripping, tackling, and using the legs to secure a hold are not permitted. Collegiate-style wrestling, also known as folkstyle or scholastic, is a form of wrestling that developed in North America. This style of wrestling is practiced in high schools, colleges and universities, and many wrestling clubs. One feature that makes collegiate-style wrestling different from freestyle is that a wrestler must hold the opponent's shoulders to the mat for one second to earn a fall.
In order to train wrestlers will lift weights, do conditioning exercises such as running and cross training, drill with a partner, drill by themselves, drill on manufactured equipment and wrestle live with a partner.
The best type of training regimen, however, will include practicing various wrestling maneuvers and techniques with a training partner, who may be another wrestler or a coach. There are, however, a number of drawbacks associated with practicing with a training partner, including the obvious drawback—namely needing a training partner. It is sometimes difficult to find suitable training partners for an individual to practice with, and even if a training partner is available finding a partner who is the right size, strength and experience level presents another challenge. The fact that it is difficult to find training partners causes the wrestler to spend limited amounts of time actually working on and improving skills associated with defending against an attack. Another significant drawback associated with practicing with a training partner is injury. The more one participates in the sport of wrestling, even in simulated or training sessions, the more likely it will be that the wrestler will suffer injuries. Still another drawback is that even when a training partner is available, the insertion of a partner into the equation normally slows down training because the training partner, who is normally on the receiving end of maneuvers, will require greater periods of rest and recuperation, thereby slowing training.
Therefore, what is needed is a wrestling training device that does not suffer from the aforementioned problems, and which helps wrestlers or individuals involved in other combative sports, work on skills that will improve their ability to defend against someone attacking one or both legs, provides a more consistent pattern of leg attacks for an individual to train against, will allow the person training to do more precise defensive training drills in a shorter period of time, is designed to help individuals improve conditioning, reaction time, speed, ability to anticipate and counter attacking skills, eliminates the necessity for a human partner to do the attacking, and which at least cut down and potentially eliminate the risk of a human partner suffering injuries while serving as the attacking partner.
The present invention advantageously fills the aforementioned deficiencies by providing wrestling training device which helps wrestlers or individuals involved in other combative sports, work on skills that will improve their ability to defend against someone attacking one or both legs, provides a more consistent pattern of leg attacks for an individual to train against, will allow the person training to do more precise defensive training drills in a shorter period of time, is designed to help individuals improve conditioning, reaction time, speed, ability to anticipate and counter attacking skills, eliminates the necessity for a human partner to do the attacking, and which will eliminate the risk of a human partner suffering injuries while serving as the attacking partner.
The present invention is shaped in the form of the upper body of a wrestler initiating a single or double leg tackle. The main body of the device is preferably made of some type of rubber, plastic or latex (although other materials safe for the intended purpose can be used, such as leather, canvas, vinyl and other fibrous materials) and it is inflated with air or other gas (although it could be filled with a myriad of other materials safe for the intended purpose, including but not limited to feathers, foam, water, fabric, cotton, pillow material, paper or other fibrous materials).
The training device is preferably about the same height off the ground as a person would be if he or she were attacking at the lower thigh area of another person's legs. Of course, the height may vary according to the size of the upper body portion, and as is necessary to match the height needs of the wrestler using the device as a training tool. The chest area of the upper body of the training device, which can be made into different sizes, is facing toward the floor surface it is being used on.
The training device preferably has a human shaped head and arms that are reaching as if they were reaching out to grab the legs of another person. The training device also has a push cart that attaches to the body portion of the device, preferably at the rear end of the upper body portion and is use to push the training device toward a person working on defending against someone attacking one or both legs. It is preferred that the push cart be made from some type of plastic but any type of material that would work for the intended purpose can be used, including but not limited to aluminum, metal or wood.
In one particular embodiment of the present invention, the first part of producing the invention is getting the upper body portion made. The upper body portion is preferably a balloon, or at least made out of a balloon-like material that provides flexibility and durability, which is important because the upper body portion should be capable of the stresses that will be present while in use. PVC is the preferred material for the upper body portion, however, other materials may be used. A durable plastic is the preferred material for the push cart but other rubber type materials can also be used. The durability of the material used for the push cart must be able to withstand the stresses that will be in place while the invention is in use. Once a suitable mold to produce the push handle is complete, the handle will be ready for mass production. The handle will preferably be made by using an injection mold process or any process that will achieve the specifications needed for the push cart. Of course, it is not necessary to make a custom handle, although that is preferred. It should, however, be clear to those of skill in the art that in place of the push cart devices such as a hand truck or appliance dolly could be used. The wheels are preferably attached to the push cart, fastened to the axle that fits in a hole at the bottom of the push cart. Once the wheels are attached to the push cart, the entire push cart will be attached to the upper body portion.
In one particular embodiment of the present invention, the invention works by having one person push the invention toward a person who is working on his defensive skills. The person pushing the invention should preferably be a distance of 2-3 feet from the person who will react to the invention when it is pushed toward him or her. The person reacting to the attacking invention will work on skills such as a sprawl (which means sprawling the legs back away from the invention as it attacks), working on reaction time as the invention attacks, working on one's ability to anticipate the attack and working on counter attacking skills. As soon as a specific reaction or skill is performed on the invention, the invention can be and indeed should preferably be pulled back and readied for another attack. This will continue until the intended purpose of the training session is complete. Because there is no recovery time necessary for the invention the person training using the device can repeatedly (and quickly) train for as long as they wish.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide wrestlers a piece of equipment that will allow them to work on skills that will improve their ability to defend against someone attacking one or both legs.
It is another object of the present invention to provide wrestlers with a more consistent pattern of leg attacks for an individual to train against.
It is a further object of the present invention to allow the wrestler to do more precise defensive training drills in a shorter period of time, thereby allow for improved conditioning, reaction time, speed, ability to anticipate and counter attacking skills.
It is still further an object of the present invention to eliminates the necessity for a human partner to do the attacking, and which will eliminate the risk of a human partner suffering injuries while serving as the attacking partner.
The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are intended to be read in conjunction with both this summary, the detailed description and any preferred and/or particular embodiments specifically discussed or otherwise disclosed. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of illustration only and so that this disclosure will be thorough, complete and will fully convey the full scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
The present invention is directed to a wrestling training device. It should, however, be clear to those of skill in the art that this device is capable of being used not only by wrestlers, but also by others who are in need of training in hand-to-hand combat.
The figures discussed below utilize various reference numerals. These reference numerals include:
With respect to
As shown in
In order to use the present invention it would require one person to push the invention and another person who would be on the receiving end. The person receiving the invention would react to it by using what is commonly referred to in the sport of wrestling as defensive takedown skills.
The receiving person can work on any number of defensive skills that might be used to defend against someone attacking one or both legs. Some of the defensive skills that might be employed are wrestling skills commonly referred to as the sprawl, a skill called the snap and spin, a skill called arm drag and spin, a skill called the head shuck and spin and a skill called the back hand go behind. These are names of some of the skills that are familiar to many who are involved in the sport of wrestling. However, there are other combative areas that can be worked on such as conditioning, agility exercises, speed exercises, balance and coordination exercises.
In the preferred embodiment the person pushing the invention would pull the invention back and reset it each time that the receiving person performs a skill. The person pushing the invention could do it over and over until the desired result is obtained for each workout session with the invention.
While the present invention has been described above in terms of specific embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind of those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains, and which are intended to be and are covered by both this disclosure and the appended claims. It is indeed intended that the scope of the invention should be determined by proper interpretation and construction of the appended claims and their legal equivalents, as understood by those of skill in the art relying upon the disclosure in this specification and the attached drawings.
This application claims the benefit of earlier priority based upon the filing of a provisional application—Ser. No. 60/744397.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60744397 | Apr 2006 | US |
