Not all wrestling books are the same. We’ve seen too many that are confusing or downright damaging for fighters and frustrating for coaches. The best colleges, high school programs, and Olympic-level coaches rely on only a handful of the best wrestling books for their training. Here are some things these books cover that can give you the winning edge at your next encounter.

# 1 A visual, step-by-step method to help you learn the moves. It may seem obvious, but many fighting books don’t make it clear. If every move is not laid out in detail, how can fighters have a sentence to learn complex takedowns and counterattacks correctly? The diagrams available in the best fighting books will help guide you through every move, until they literally become a reflection. Research at the high school and college level shows that a visual approach, one that takes you step-by-step through each movement, is the fastest way to learn.

# 2 Diet and nutrition information, based on real science. In wrestling, what you eat matters. It is important for building strength and muscle mass, it makes a difference in how you will perform in a match, and it is important for maintaining your weight class. The best wrestling books will be up-to-date with the latest science-based sports nutrition information to help you differentiate yourself from your competition.

# 3 Authors know how to win matches, Y they have the ability to teach you how to win through their writing. Some coaches and trainers are excellent one-on-one teachers, but that’s not the same as passing those ideas down in a book. On the other hand, some authors are good writers, but they don’t have enough inside knowledge when it comes to being a winning fighter. The best wrestling books have both.

# 4 How to use sports psychology to your advantage and develop a winning mindset. This is a big one, and many books miss it completely. The best wrestling books can teach you how to develop a championship mentality, which will allow you to perform at your best when it really matters. And this can make the difference between winning and losing.

Look for wrestling books that cover these things in depth, whose authors have real credentials, and explain things in a way that makes sense to you. After that, you will be ahead of 90% of your competition and well on your way to success. See you on the mat.