ASK KOLAT: What Makes Russian Wrestlers So Dominant?

Systematically Sound
On this episode of Ask Kolat, Cary Kolat answers the question "Why do you think Russia has been so dominant for so many years on the World and Olympic stage?" Kolat says a part of it is their lifestyle. Not only is wrestling a part of their roots as a country but also in places like Dagestan where many of the worlds best wrestlers come from, you don't always have a hot shower or a grocery store full of any food you want. When you grow up in a tough environment it translates to success in a tough sport like wrestling. Beyond the toughness, the way they teach, coach, and practice all play a part in their success. Kolat speaks about how Russians have a great system for developing wrestlers that doesn't kill the athlete's creativity. They also keep the same coach from when they're young so that coach to athlete connection is extremely strong.
Lifestyle Changes
You see similarities in other combat sports such as boxing. Most world champion boxers come from a tough situation growing up. Not only does that harden them but to some extent, there also might be more of a drive to get out of that situation and environment and literally fight to better themselves and their families. Kolat uses the example of the Cuban national wrestling team. If you're on the team you're guaranteed three meals a day, a place to sleep, and the ability to travel around the world. You're also regarded as a celebrity when you come back victorious. Those are extremely motivating factors to be the best.
#AskKolat
Submit all ASK KOLAT questions here: therudis.com/askkolat/
Cary Kolat is wearing a Sly Fox Shirt. Shop the Sly Fox Collection here: therudis.com/product-category...
Follow Wrestling: therudis.com/wrestling-news-m...
Stay connected with RUDIS:
Website: therudis.com/
Instagram: / the_rudis
Twitter: / the_rudis
Facebook: / rudiswrestling
The Way: A RUDIS Wrestling Podcast: therudis.com/wrestling-news-m...
Subscribe to the RUDIS newsletter here: therudis.com/my-account/

[@kallepikku4991]

Because wrestling is not an equipment sports. It's the poor man's sport. You don't need to be rich to be able to train. The more expensive it is to do something as a hobby, the more likely you see rich western countries dominating the sport. But with with non-equipment sports, it's a fair gain for anyone with the right culture and mindset.

[@institorisinstitoris959]

Triathlon could be the best example for that imo. Great sport but very expensive one, tailored for rich people with an extra time...

[@brownjatt21]

@W. George how doesn't it explain that? Schools and programs in America can afford all the equipment needed for football. In other poor countries they simply wouldn't be able to provide the stuff needed.

[@JohnMcMahan5]

In youth wrestling you need monthly training fees, weekly tournament fees, gas, and even hotel in some cases. It can definitely be expensive if you want to be competitive. I see what you are saying compared to other youth sports like AAU baseball, but no youth sport is for a poor man these days.

[@Rantofthings.]

Like women’s professional soccer and The U.S. Look at France footballl team. Their top players were from Africa.

[@Daniel-yj1fb]

Makes sense.

[@kallepikku4991]

It's a cultural thing. Iran, Dagestan, Chechnya, Ossetia, Georgia, Azerbaijani, West Turkey.... that area around Caspian sea is a real hot bed for wrestling. Something like 80% of world champions come from that small area.

[@multiklamer]

Facts!

[@ouziou1]

They always use illegal substances. Remember of Russia in sotchi 2014? They were busted with an incredible amount of doped athletes. And there pee was violet.

[@sambo_smesh4226]

also syria, turkey, egypt

[@exocet8834]

@@sambo_smesh4226 Turkey yes, but Syria and Egypt not really.

[@sambo_smesh4226]

@@exocet8834 the only reason why there is no wrestling in syria is because of the war going on. but look up joseph attiyah. he was a syrian who one gold in the olympics. there are very talented people there. just don’t have the opportunity. also very tough people come from the middle east. caucuses.

[@calripson]

Also the Soviet mentality was to train people to be the best in any area: athletics, music, math, chess or whatever. Kids were screened and selected and put on a course early on.

[@dewtifer]

steroids

[@futurergd]

Please. Here goes that dumb excuse. There's steroids everywhere here in the US. All the high level athletes are on steroids

[@futurergd]

@@dewtifer All combative training was always free back in USSR and still is today. That's how they get so many dudes training. It wasn't done for business like it all is here in the US. So GTFOH with that sour shit

[@calripson]

Soviet and Russian sports often utilize gymnastics training for kids from a very young age across all sports. Even the world record female pole vaulter Isinbayeva was a gymnast.

[@hollismallory2757]

That’s true, Cary. The Soviet block system established great tradition in Russian wrestling programs.

[@pfossful]

One of the toughest human beings on the planet.

[@JS45678]

Fabulous podcast! In my opinion, a combative tough grinding sport such as wrestling flourishes, in general, where mankind suffers most.

[@dirtroller_3948]

A lot of the factors you mention directly or indirectly drive participation rate. The USA doesn’t have to mimic Iranian or Russian methods exactly, but they need to establish a system which gets more kids wrestling at a young age to increase the talent pool and which incentivizes the better guys to continue wrestling throughout their prime. Part of the problem is that in the USA wrestling competes major pro sports for the best natural athletes. Ultimately, you have to get more guys like Lebron, Barry Sanders or Christian McCaffrey to wrestle instead of choosing Basketball or Football. Not all the top natural athletes but more.

[@darbyheavey406]

These are not the same athletes….a wrestler at 105 is not playing in the NBA. In the 1970s after college there was very few places a competitive wrestler could go…college or HS coaching. Now we have the UFC pipeline.

[@billybud9557]

Good points.....not so many fluffy distraction sports that compete either. You're a credit to the sport, love the comments. keep 'em up. thanks cary.

[@channi58]

Ussr had free training sports centre's, parents would drop their kids off and kids would train in whatever sport they liked. All free. Plus they really looked into technique as opposed to Americans attitude of blast an attack. Even ussr exercise was very technical.

[@mach7rs]

Tips for cutting water weight; how do you manipulate your diet and water intake in the 2-3 days leading up to a competition (specifically for college wrestling)?

[@grawakendream8980]

1:31 this! "they have a way of doing things, it's systematic. and when i say systematic, it's not in a way that they kill creativity. they'll a guy who's got something unique and try to build on where he's strong..."

[@cornellglenn238]

Great speech man...I love to wrestle

[@michaelpetrovich5353]

How to toughen up American youth. Remove their damn smartphones. forcing them to walk everywhere instead of taking the car or buss. Force them to shower in cold water. Don't give them hot food. After that, you give them strict Eastern training regimes.

[@tristanmorton1057]

Michael Petrovich please shut the fuck up😂

[@davezanin1863]

Well I mean the hot food part is a little too much but everything else sounds about right

[@michaelpetrovich5353]

@@davezanin1863 ok but no fast food and no suger.

[@michaelpetrovich5353]

@@tristanmorton1057 to hard for you little marshmello? Its ok, not everyone can be victor in life.

[@davezanin1863]

Michael Petrovich now we’re talking

[@marcedwards2464]

Love videos

[@randallwebb569]

What was you take on Mark Ironside. How do you feel that match went and what did you take from that match that possibly helped you become better. That was a fun match to watch. Thanks Cary

[@blahizake]

Cultural, historical, and statist/geopolitical factors. Same with Olympic lifting, gymnastics, etc.

[@t_d_j_g_7238]

Would it be good for me to condition from 6 45am to 7 20am then do wrestling practice from 3pm to 5 30pm and lift from 8pm to 9pm

[@eliaswile1623]

How do you think Yianni would do at the 2019 world championship after his performance at Yasar Dogu

[@Garfield0123]

I liked your comment about a house cat vs. a cat living in a barn catching his own food.

[@eliaswile1623]

What do you think of a potential cox vs Snyder match up and who wins? If cox were to win how do you think he fares with sadulaev?

[@williamcastilla1963]

If you had to choose one exercise for wrestling -would it be pullups or pushups? And why?

[@oscarlara2804]

It seems like wrestling is very big in the state of Oregon but when I look at the ncaa d1 tournament not many make it to the level. Except for 2019 where there were two wrestlers from oregon. Why is that?

[@mauvin_]

@@iramswrestlinghighlights1164 LMFAOOOO

[@justinwaynesmith3477]

Justin Wayne Smith band I was wondering if Ben is feeling off ,because of the way that Three Piece and a Soda has made it feel

[@lorenzoserna3961]

What is your approach to teaching kids moves that like the knee touch takedowns along with the kids who feel more comfortable with snatch singles or raked downs that don’t involve hitting a knee to change levels. I’m really trying to help my youth wrestlers but I don’t want to leave anyone behind

[@vikramadityahindu8591]

I don't know much about the American mentality.Here in India,Iran, Central Asian countries to be a good wrestler is considered as honourable.They make less money to western atheletes.But the respect and love they get from the society is huge and beyond any amount of money.

[@AdobadoFantastico]

Not having a hot shower is an understatement. Even when you can have a hot shower you have to wait for a boiler to heat it up. It's such a reward to get home and have hot water at the ready, haha.

[@bpnk5237]

Also a lot countries give good prizes for winning olympic gold like cash, cars, apartments.

[@frankiecal3186]

The real reason is because they don't do folkstyle wrestling their whole life they do freestyle wrestling.

[@bobklein1665]

Yes Frankie, this is the best freestyle wrestling team since the 84 Olympics which the Russians did not participate. My point is that we need to implement freestyle into folkstyle so that we can get better in freestyle as the years go on and maybe do away with folkstyle so we can compete with the Russians at all times. USA is getting up there and the world knows it. 💪

[@frankiecal3186]

@@bobklein1665 hell no!!!!Freestyle is boring af to watch!!!!!And it has insainly stupid rules.Folksty is superior in every way and could be made to be more "fan friendly" as they say....I hate freestyle but I only watch because it has the best athletes in Folkstyle Wrestling to get a gold.

[@bobklein1665]

@@frankiecal3186 I wrestled high school and college in the 70s and I love folkstyle because coming from the state of Missouri back then we didnot know anyting about freestyle. Folk style is mainly a control style of wrestling in freestyle is like anything goes and that is what Russia Knows.in freestyle you have got to constantly know your positioning or get rolled on your back for easy points. I agree freestyle is funky but in order for us to keep up with the Russians we have got to get a little bit better which I think we are doing. Can't wait for the 2020 Olympics.

[@frankiecal3186]

@@bobklein1665 so true.

[@jeremyslone416]

Make naia or something freestyle but leave folk style alone. I love folk style so much more. I think we need professional folk style that is dual format only. If it could be marketed right it would be successful. But I rather watch ncaa nationals over the olympics every time.

[@cej3940]

I think one of the most monumental things to change my mindset (that I found easy to start for me) is simply to walk everywhere I walk to work regardless of the weather, and here it can get as low as -50'C in December going to January, it made everything "easier" for me, working out outside, rucking, fasting or changing what I eat It's a pride point too (kinda) where I can simply slip on my boots, slap on my gaiters and pull over my hoodie and poncho and walk for a couple hours when it's a blizzard, bone chilling cold, scalding hot or storming Helped drive me to do more and more challenging things and cope with minor setbacks or slacking off into getting back on track

[@arturogotti3790]

Im a non-russian from russia and living in the US. Honestly, anyone from Russia is tough as hell. I know because my people here dominate in street fighting, wrestling, bodybuilding, boxing, even in basketball

[@brownjatt21]

Russians Dominate where in America? Cuz that's not true at all lol.

[@arturogotti3790]

@@brownjatt21 anywhere where theres a lot of people from ex soviet countries

[@brownjatt21]

@@arturogotti3790 Yea maybe in other countries but in the US they don't really dominate In sports at all. But yes I know what you mean ex soviet countries produce some of the best wrestlers, boxers, MMA dudes around.

[@arturogotti3790]

@@brownjatt21 yeah I wouldnt say we dominate in the US because theres no big names out there yet, but on the low levels like highschool sports we do really good, like we had 1st year wrestler winning tournaments and even our jv guys competing in varsity tournaments and placing. Were still new here but still going hard

[@yul9961]

@@arturogotti3790 not russians, more like dagestan etc

[@razorramon1391]

I could be honest and say that they do things there we want scrutinize so much. Wrestling skills are designed by nature growing up with only freestyle. In the states is geared towards collegiate wrestling. But some things I know that happens is strength coming from enhancements that were not ever really looked at. Recovery time is faster and not natural. The poverty level in many countries is definitely a precursor to a great hearted wrestler and knowledge of where they come from. But over many years of watching the strong wrestlers like yourself I found that wrestling outside of USA is different. It is more of a business and livelihood..But being skilled versus getting strong faster than that if by true hard work and no enhancements are very different.. I know that we want to believe Russia is the best but I believe it to be a different and definitely not all skill but strength to do thingS that are not apart of training. Cutting from 170 to 125 in a matter of weeks. Naturally is as tough if not tougher than any sport to do. But to still have strength is another..

[@lashajavakhishvili8735]

Dont forget (my country georgia, was connected to the Byzantinian empire, which also was connected to the Greek empire) we (caucasians) are practicing it for centuries

[@kallepikku4991]

Greeks didn't start wrestling. LoL. They adapted it from Persians and other people living around Caucasus.

[@lashajavakhishvili8735]

@@kallepikku4991 i didnt say that, wrestling wasnt even "started", it has been part of every culture since the beginning. Our region just has been practicing it in a more intense way.

[@24989]

youtube recommend this 2021

[@40acresandatractor]

Most of the best athletes go into other sports in America🎯

[@vickythakur1121]

Randy ortan ??

[@bangnguyen8365]

the other day i just found out that japan won the second most medals in international wrestling competition, and the most gold medals. can someone explain this?

[@Jamie-zs8ok]

Japan has a ton of grapling styles, Judo,Jujutsu Sumo and other stuff they loved Wrestling over there

[@nickyork2137]

Antonio Inoki

[@mariosoto3000]

even Cary Kolat seems to be of Russian descent, due to the name of Balkan origin

[@Flbari]

Balkan is not Russia

[@ironfront9573]

Cold War never got a mention. Two of the world's biggest superpowers who both place cultural / societal importance on sport. Had horns locked from the end of WW2 till 1990. Both powers used sport as a means of soft power, to continually show their prowess and dominance of the other. Bulgaria, Cuba, China, PRK and Iran were also all of or are still of the communist "axis". China never did very well in wrestling but all others have been dominant. Bulgaria, Iran, Russia and for the past 15 years China & PRK too have however all been dominant in weightlifting. Which is something the USA stopped having any real prospects in since 1970s. Most likely because weightlifting makes a very poor high school sport, whereas track, field and pool forms several excellent high school sports. So the USA has always been in the top of track and swimming. Where Russia has not. I am not even from the USA but it is quite clear the reasons/angles governments take on choosing to fund sports. Western European governments fund and promote sports for physical health and mental wellness. Even sports in school and university are never truly about competition, not remotely in the same way US sport is. Countries like US, Russia, China, Iran, PRK and even Egypt - fund and promote sport for nationalistic purposes. Which is why a high school sports facility in the USA looks better than a national Olympic facility in western Europe.

[@kallepikku4991]

LoL, you lost me there by placing Iran in the "communist axis". LMAO, the two sides can't hate each other more! 😂 Mate, you need to know your geography before writing stories.

[@BURGAWMMA]

Their athletes are literally paid by the government and even sent to special government schools based around Athletics

[@williamoleary9330]

We need to do away with folk style. None of these other countries do it & it’s not done on the World level Until we wake up & do it we’ll never be able to dominate

[@mikefoley4964]

Dominating on "the world stage" is not the be all and end all. Folkstyle is the American style for a reason. In Folkstyle the emphasis is on winning by fall,so control is the focus. While you can win by fall in Freestyle the focus is on points. The w4edtlersxsre barely allowed to wrestle once it goes to the ground. After 10 seconds thecref blows the wistle and restarts them. Once it goes to the ground in freestyle you rarely see an escape attempt from the bottom wrestler. His job is to avoid getting turned forcwhst,for what, to folkstyle,are easy exposure points. To the American wrestler,freestyle is unappealing because of the focus on points rather than winning by Fall,the easy 90° rather than the 45° criteria for exposure, the huge amount of involvement by the Refferee in the match,the existence of judges,and the emphasis on flash over control. Nope,we can keep our American cultural form of wrestling and just give our ere s tlers more experience in Freestyle. I also would not do away American Football in order to focus on soccer.

[@AdobadoFantastico]

That's silly, folkstyle is a great tradition. Why should Americans abandon their own cultural practice to beat someone else at their cultural practice?

[@williamoleary9330]

Ask Kolat that. You’re probably the guy that wants the participation medals. Smh

[@mookie449]

As tough as selling tools?

[@justinsnider1451]

I thought communist athletes were hand selected in their youth and state sponsored from then on... Basically, they are paid to wrestle. Quick story, my freshman year in college in Missouri we had an exhibition duel with the Russian national team. We wrestled folk style. This wasn't their world team or Olympic team or anything. I think this was their version of the globe trotters. Long story short, I got my ass handed to me be a twelve year old. Granted, this kid was ranked #1 in the world in his age group but he still looked like a boy. I realized that these wrestlers are on an entirely different level.

[@oleoleolelololo1254]

Do you know that most Russian MMA fighters are of Ukrainian origin? as well as a large number of Russian boxers, these are also Ukrainians either fully or half

[@georgedemochka11yearsago12]

Oleoleole lololo My origins is mostly Ukrainian, even though none of my parents were born in Ukraine, but my grandparents are from there. Just to explain, I have to say that Ukrainians and Russians are very closely related, and proper Russian people are Ukrainian and Belarus. It’s because all of us were the same people and were in a same country since we exist. When our tribes were united we all had same genetics. Since then only in 20 century Ukrainians appeared, and became only slightly culturally different from Russians, and now Russians(Rus people, not everyone who are people from Russian Federation), are genetically same as Ukrainians. Of course I mean ethnic people, because even African person can live in Ukraine. But you made a good point, as it is true most ethnic Russians have a lot of Ukrainian blood, and sadly Ukrainians are much more pure than most Russians.

[@mariusastier8138]

90% of russian fighters (and 100% of russian wrestlers) are from kavkaz, chechnya daghestan..

[@georgedemochka11yearsago12]

HL SSP well that’s a lie. Only most wrestlers are from Caucasia, but still 20% are Russian. And fighters are even more. Russians are most fighters in Russia, and probably 20% is Caucasus. Caucasian people just do more wrestling, but overall Russians do as much martial arts. For example boxing is unpopular among Caucasus people, but among Russians it is, just like any other martial art except wrestling.(some kinds of wrestling are more popular for Russians)

[@mariusastier8138]

George Dëmochka Yes maybe because pure boxing is haram in islam. (Mma too for some) As far as mma you are wrong www.ufc-fr.com/combattant-Russia.html on all russians fighters 32 fighters are from caucasus and around 12 actual slavics name (maybe 1-2 armenians/georgia in it). And it is a list from the creation of ufc so when caucasus was in war and wouldn’t provide fighters. And if you take their skills into account it is even worst as causasus fighters are dominating. I take ufc for exemple because it is the biggest organisation. (Didnt take women into statistics because its forbidden for muslim women of course) And the difference will be even bigger as big stars emerge from Daghestan and invest in formation of sportmen and slavic russia become more decadent

[@mariusastier8138]

George Dëmochka and the actual best russian boxer is chechen btw (Beterbiev)

[@ouziou1]

Free from drug testing. They are tremendous athletes but they juice up. Whent thiago santos ufc fighter went in russia to his surprise he was not tested for like 4 weeks.

[@captainramius790]

Not gonna lie. This wont sound good but it's something I believe is true. Over the last 70- 80 years, and their was probably many unknown fighters / wrestlers before that. I think the elite of the elite of combat sports athletes are almost always black men. I know theirs a ton of incredible white fighters and wrestlers who you could argue might be the best. But to make it short, guys like Ali, tyson, Frazier, foreman, deontay wilder. Then wrestlers like Burroughs. Mma fighters like Jon jones ( steroids or not I think hes the best ever), Anderson Silva, demetrius johnson, kamaru usman, kevin lee.. and many others. I just think the truly great fighters are usually black. BUT the russians might rival them. Khabib, fedor emilianemko, the hundreds of russian wrestlers, most recently the russian wrestler sidakov who beat jordan burroughs twice, gennady golovkin, vladimir klitschko. Like I said I know this comes across sounding ignorant but I think the edge goes to the black fighters when it comes to the greatest of the great. But maybe the white russian fighters are just as good ? I just find it interesting that their can be so many very good white fighters, but they usually get beat by the best black fighters. Except for the russians.... it just makes me wonder how russia can keep creating these freak warriors but who make it to the very top... Im a white guy as well.

[@ouziou1]

@Neil P. jordan was hurt in his knee. It was a fresh injury from his previous opponent and he couldn't recover. Plus hordan beat him twice. Yes we are all human brother.

[@ouziou1]

You forgot Daniel cormier. And francis ngannou for the revenge over stipe.

[@yul9961]

@My Penis is incredibly small but, No, they have longer legs which is bad for wrestling so they get beat up by wrestlers in UFC

[@class1sportzers337]

You left out Mijain Lopez and Aleksandr Karelin respectively. ;)

[@anasmohd000]

Khabib..

[@behroozmozaffari9454]

Iran is land of wrestling all of best russian wrestlers are frome dagestan and that area is iran land for thosands years before russian invasion we know all best wrestlers comes frome iran or lands must have to be iran

[@ouziou1]

When you are in russia, even for ufc you barely get tested. I mean everyone is doping but russia got busted soooo many times for incredible amount of banned substances. Their athletes pie blue or violet in the flake. Nothing against them they are tough people. And i think dagestanis are even tougher but let's be honest here, there state are all in doping over national pride. Everytime you think about russian athletes your mind goes to doping.

[@FromTskhinval]

Too much productless theorizing. There is no such thing as "russian wrestling". All that you call "russian wrestling" actually consists of two major freestyle wrestling schools of Caucasus: Ossetian and Daghestanian. These two schools/regions produce approximately equal quantities of olympic and world champions for russian team. However Ossetian school has 5 times smaller talent pool (700 thousands of ossetians VS 3.5 mln of daghestanians), that is why should be considered as a more efficient.

[@tonydehaven4557]

Admit u lost to bono

[@tonydehaven4557]

In high school now that I coach Navy hope u stopped drinking better academia because u coach college kids

[@tonydehaven4557]

I like the house cat comparison out in the barn I like that God bless you man tough love just trying to get everyone better here in the US and all over the world and you did get cheated for your medal we wrestle the match but still you got to understand Mark Schultz has got to be talking about Dave Schultz rudis like how is Dave Schultz the face for rudis and Mark Schultz has nothing to do with it makes no sense

[@Fatboy00000]

Iran, Chechens, Dagestanis, Uzbeks etc...are muslim states of the former Sovjet union but not by choice...they are not Russians...