RhodyRaybo's blog

I am approaching my 300th match since I began wrestling in July 2011. I have thoroughly enjoyed most of them, very happy to report. Though there were a few that came close to making give the sport up completely. But, in chatting with a guy I have never met nor wrestled recently, I got to thinking, does the WAY you wrestle each guy indicate if you like a certain wrestler more or less than others? I've wrestled close to 70 guys in all that time. Each opponent is different with his own style, his own personality, and his own chemistry. And each match, if the chemistry is right, sometimes just takes a course all its own.

Example, I had the privilege of wrestling two of my favorites this week, "Ron" and "Kevin". I hadn't seen Ron in a few months because of schedule conflicts, illnesses, and a very tough winter with one snowstorm after another. He's my best jobber. When I went to see him, I thought of possibly taking some pics of us. Because of the absence we had of each other, I began attacking him and just went at him for 2 hours, just beating up this jobber with long, intense holds. Didn't get a chance to do much else. Later in the week, I went to see "Kevin". He's more competitive and I was very different with him than I was with Rob. More intense, longer breaks, more conversation. Did that mean I like one more than the other? It simply meant I have different friends that I play with differently on the wrestling mats. Going through a "checklist" can really take the spontaneity and the fun out of a match. I say, let's just enjoy the matches, enjoy each others' friendships and not worry about what we do with the other guys we wrestle. Peace out!!!

After having been sick off and on for a a few weeks, AND having match after match cancelled from illness and snow, I had an unusual wrestling week. I actually wrestled 3 guys from outside my immediate area that I had never met before all in the same week.

Last Sunday, after a cancellation, I went to "open mats" at the garage of a wrestler in Providence. I was told a guy from the New York area was passing through and looking to wrestle. It was a good thing I was able to come. The guy did show up, he weighed about the same as I do and the only other guy to show up for open mats was a smaller guy who does not wrestle anyone over 200lbs. The host in Providence would have really been spreading himself thin between these guys had I not been there. The guy from New York really knew how to scrap, and was specialized in knowing how to use his weight to his advantage.

Monday I took the day off to wrestle another guy from the Albany area who was not too far away due to his work. We both went to the home of MAwrestler who graciously let us wrestle for over 2 hours. But Mawrestler and I did do some wrestling before the guy from Albany arrived. It was quite the blast. 2 plus hours of rolling around, getting sweaty, and maneuvering in and out of his grasps. Who could ask for a better time?

Then today, a guy from the Hartford area came to wrestle. Big guy, fairly inexperienced, but quite strong and has great instinct! When he is able to build up his stamina, this guy is going to be a very desirable wrestler. But the icing on the cake was that one of my semi regulars whom I have previously called "Stanley" was able to join us, so we took turns wrestling each other. It was the first time in over a year and a half I was privileged to host a group match.

Man, why can't more guys do this?

Today I took the day off to wrestle, which I have been known to do in the past. I was very anxious to meet a wrestler from out of state, and he was agreeable to wrestle me sometime at the home of mawrestler. So, I went early to get an hour in with mawrestler. Fun time as always, but then when wrestlesweat0077 showed up, mawrestler allowed us to just go at it while he did some of his personal business in his office.

Needless to say, the whole time was just pure chemistry. Oh, he was stronger than I was and he had me in one hold after another. But we went at it for almost 2 and a half hours, and we had never met before, though we had chatted online many times. But he nailed me, we chatted while we in holds, I had him in a few holds, but it was mostly him nailing me. But we wrestled like we had done it many times. It's not often that I get that great an experience with an out-of-towner, but it is just so special when it does happen.

And I especially want to thank mawrestler for allowing us to go at it. He wasn't out of the picture. He was in the doorway chatting with wrestlesweat while he had me pinned, but I really, really do appreciate his hospitality. You're a good friend dude. And wrestlesweat0077 does not disappoint, he DOES sweat.

My matches lately have taken an interesting turn, more and more of my matches are at my opponents' homes including my last 3 matches. But I have noticed something interesting about my last 3, something I like....we wrestled part or all of the time in dim light (they were evening matches)

Last Friday evening I met a friend for our 4th match, our second at his place. We wrestled in his room with the mattress on the floor with very dim lighting in a rustic decor. It was awesome! Last night (Sunday), I went at the last minute to a guy's apartment. It was only our second time wrestling, first time was here. I get to his apartment, he has the furniture pushed back, blankets on the floor and candles lit for our match. Very nice. Then tonight I met "Kevin" (see my favorites) at his place and he dimmed the lights for the last half hour of our match.

What is it about dim lighting that makes a match more interesting? I really don't know. I don't do anything "romantic", I'm straight and happily married. Maybe it's just something about wrestling in the dark that increases the bonding. Maybe it's not being able to see everything that's going on, but relying on other senses. I don't really know.

But I do suggest that if you haven't tried it yet, when wrestling, dim the lights or kill them altogether. It really does add to the effect.

I really want all the guys reading this to know that in wrestling, both off and on the mats there is a lot of "talking" that goes on. Talking, first of all, by those who only talk about wrestling. They say they want to meet, promise they will meet, but either refuse to nail a date when asked or cancel with no real reason. They need to beware because of the other type of "talking" that happens. It happens among the wrestlers. Those of us who actively wrestle do compare notes. We tell each other what type of experience we have had with other members of this and other sites. We recommend guys to each other and warn each other to steer clear of some guys.

So guys, if you're just one who talks about getting together but haven't actually done any wrestling, chances are you're reputation will precede you. This is not aimed at those who cannot host or have very demanding schedules that hinder them. I'm talking about those who make promises, make plans, but never keep them.

Guys, what you want the others on here to think of you, is entirely up to you. I've had a few matches because of recommendations from my semi regulars and I have steered clear of a lot of guys because of their reps.

But...I do always look forward to the challenge of persuading a guy to meet with me. Sometimes it takes a lot of persuading, but I'm willing to do it if I think there's a glimmer of hope. And if it takes months before we meet...so be it. Anticipation is a wonderful thing.