by Dan Chandler   Silver Level Coach    Here are four common attacks in Greco-Roman wrestling.  Most coaches are surprised to see how easily transferable Greco techniques are to folkstyle wrestling.  When coaches learn more about Greco-Roman wrestling they often learn how to coach kids in folkstyle and freestyle more effectively.      Click to view the Greco-Roman attacks.    Arm Drag Inside Step  Arm Drag Outside Step  Duckunder  Reach Around    **If you would like to learn more Greco-Roman Wrestling techniques, please purchase USA Wrestling's Coach's Syllabus.  A four tape set which focuses on both freestyle and Greco-Roman techniques available through the Merchandise Department at USA Wrestling by calling (719) 598-8181.**    Even though the USA is widely recognized as a world power in wrestling, it is no secret that if we have a weakness, it is upper body wrestling.  The vast majority of our wrestling coaches, from youth coaches to collegiate coaches, are afraid to touch Greco Roman for fear of the unknown.  And in the United States, upper body techniques are pretty much just that, unknown.  However, listening to a cross-section of athletes that know how to utilize their upper body skills will lead the average wrestler into pursuing Greco-Roman wrestling.   Wrestlers will see how Greco-Roman technique can benefit them.      Dan Gable is the Dean of all Coaches.  His success as competitor and coach is legendary.  When Gable became a college coach, his influence changed the sport.  College wrestling became more physical than it ever had been in the past due primarily to the Iowa style that swept across the nation.    Dan Gable loves to talk wrestling, and he is very enthusiastic about Greco and upper body wrestling.  He considers upper body skills crucial to being able to execute the basic folkstyle and freestyle leg attacks.  His Iowa teams always did a tremendous amount of pummeling to create openings for lower body attacks.  Dan's concept was to control your opponent with constant movement and skills that force your opponent off balance.    As an athlete, Dan wrestled as many matches as he could whether they be folkstyle, freestyle or Greco Roman.  From his perspective the goal was always the same, pin the other guys shoulders to the mat.  "I noticed that the more freestyle and Greco Roman wrestling I did, the better my folkstyle got."  No matter what specific style you are wrestling, key elements of the different styles are incorporated.  It's all wrestling."     Kevin Jackson is our National Freestyle Coach.  Kevin has won Olympic and World freestyle gold medals.  Not too many know it, but he was also a Junior National Greco Roman champion.  Kevin emphasizes the importance for young wrestlers to try all styles to become well-rounded wrestlers.  "You may not be able to see the effects early in your career, but later you will."      Kevin also recognized the importance of Greco to complete the basic skills.  "Where else will you learn to control tie up situations and to defend upper body attacks?  It is vital for a wrestlers development to be put in those situations."    Steve Fraser is the National Greco Roman Coach for USA Wrestling.  He was an Olympic champion in Greco Roman and a National Freestyle Champion in the same year.  Coach Fraser sang the praises of learning how to pummel.    "Learning how to pummel was probably one of the biggest benefits I gleaned from wrestling Greco.  Pummeling enables you to set your opponent up for upper body or lower body attacks.  Pummeling enables you to get your opponent tired and to destroy your opponent's offensive attack.  Pummeling enables you to control your opponent and burn seconds off the clock while still being aggressive.  Pummeling enables you to break your opponents mental and physical conditioning.  Pummeling allows you to get in great position and keep your opponent in poor position.  Pummeling enables you to set the pace of the match and allows you to get momentum going in your favor, or to stop his momentum.  All in all, pummeling is the actual wrestling of wrestling!  It is the fight of wrestling!"    Marty Morgan is the Head Assistant Coach at the University of Minnesota.  As an athlete he was an NCAA Champion and a National Greco Roman champion.  He also represented the United States in the World Championships twice.  "Although Greco Roman is commonly known for spectacular throws, it really is more about hand fighting and basic positioning.  Greco Roman can offer a freestyle or folkstyle wrestler a chance to learn how to utilize his upper body, use under hooks, arm ties and snap downs.  These techniques can enhance a wrestlers' hand fighting ability, which can greatly improve any style of wrestling."  Morgan also stresses the importance of the parre terre position.  "Greco can also enhance a freestyle wrestlers par terre defense as well.  The ever-important gut wrench and gut wrench defense are cornerstones of Greco Roman wrestling.  Strengthening these par terre positions will add a distinct advantage to a freestyle wrestler in the top or bottom position."    Dan Russell is one of only two American wrestlers to ever win the prestigious Podubny Cup in Russia.  He has also won numerous Junior National titles in freestyle and Greco Roman.  Wrestling for Portland State, Dan won four NCAA Division ll titles.  Taking advantage of Oregon's outstanding international youth programs, Dan started to learn Greco at an early age.  "To have the Greco knowledge that I had at an early age was a tremendous advantage.  I had a very aggressive, offensive upper body style.  My Greco skills made me very unorthodox for my opponents to wrestle."    Garrett Lowney won a bronze medal in Greco Roman Wrestling at the Sydney Olympics.  He was a five-time Junior National champion (3 in FS, 2 in GR), a Greco Junior World Champion and a 3-time Wisconsin State HS Champion.  Garrett is currently a freshman at the University of Minnesota with a 12-0 record.  "I am a firm believer that young wrestlers should experience all styles of wrestling, especially Greco.  Because I was exposed to so many different styles and situations when I was young, I feel comfortable under any circumstance that occurs on the mat.  I didn't like Greco much as a kid, but it always taught me things that I can draw from when a match is on the line.  Wrestling Greco in the Olympics gave me the tools I need to reach a whole new level for my college wrestling."     Matt Nagel is a senior at Frazee High School in Minnesota.  Nagel recently made Minnesota High School Wrestling history by becoming the first ever five time state champion.  During the spring and summer, Matt stays involved in Minnesota/USA Wrestling programs.  He has won 2 Greco Roman Junior National championships and one Cadet Greco Roman Junior National Championship.  He will attend the University of Minnesota next fall.  "Greco Roman wrestling has done nothing but good for me.  It keeps me active in the off-season, and gives me the chance to see the best competition from other states.  I also have been able to work with many outstanding coaches.  I believe that Greco has taught me a lot about keeping good position at all times which has helped me often in folkstyle."     Where can coaches go to learn more?   USA Wrestling has a variety of outstanding programs for coaches looking to gain more information.  The national Greco Roman coaching staff is made up of Steve Fraser (National Coach), Ike Anderson (National Developmental Coach) and Anatoly Petrosian (Olympic Training Center Resident Coach).  You can learn more skills through videotapes and on site programs available through USA Wrestling and their staff.  You may also contact your state junior coaching staff to acquire additional information on these programs.  Wrestlers who like to participate in an intensive Greco-Roman program while attending college should contact Gordy Morgan, at Northern Michigan University at gmorgan@nmu.edu.  Also,