A Skill-Based Training Approach to Improve Takedown and Defense Techniques in Beginner Wrestlers

This study examined whether a structured skill-based training program improves takedown and defense performance in beginner wrestlers compared with traditional training. Twenty-four novice male wrestlers (18–22 years) from an extracurricular university program were randomly allocated to an experimental group (n = 12) or a control group (n = 12). The experimental group completed a four-week progressive program grounded in motor-learning principles (technique decomposition, progressive drilling from blocked to variable practice, and feedback using coach cues and video replay). The control group continued the team's routine training (general conditioning, repetitive drills, and live sparring) without a structured progression plan. Takedown and defense performances were assessed pre- and post-intervention using validated rubric-based tests scored independently by two certified coaches with video-supported review (ICC = 0.87–0.91). Within-group changes were analyzed using paired t-tests, and between-group post-test differences were examined using Welch's independent t-tests with Cohen's d effect sizes. The experimental group showed large improvements in takedown and defense scores (both p < .001; very large effects), whereas the control group demonstrated smaller gains (p < .05). At post-test, the experimental group outperformed the control group for both outcomes (p < .001). These findings indicate that a structured, feedback-supported, and progressively designed skill-based approach is more effective than conventional repetitive training for accelerating foundational takedown and defense skill acquisition among novice wrestlers in a university setting.