osakarob's blog
Barriers to Entry
In the business world, a barrier to entry is an obstacle that prevents a new business from entering a market and competing with existing businesses. (Ex. money for start-up costs, legal or regulatory hurdles, etc.) Our wrestling world has barriers to entry as well - certain things that might prevent an aspiring wrestler from gaining opponents and experience. Fortunately, they aren't insurmountable.
COST: Not a high barrier to entry initially. Basically find an opponent and lock up! No need for expensive equipment or training.
However, if you want to embrace your new found hobby safely and enjoyably, the costs add up quickly! Depending on your fight style preferences, you might need a singlet, a rashgard, wrestling shoes, pads, mats, or even a ring! (And each one of those comes with secondary costs: maintenance, storage, etc.)
Naturally, nobody wants to just be a wrestling poser. So buying loads of gear ultimately leads to the notion that "I need to get better at this. I need to take some lessons, join a club, or attend a group gathering." Which leads to the second barrier to entry.
TIME: We are all blessed with the same 24 hours a day. Investing in training will require time since nobody can become proficient with just a few lessons. Grinding it out week after week practicing at the dojo after work or scheduling matches on the weekends with MF friends might be the biggest barriers to entry because most guys have other obligations or demands on their time.
MOTIVATION: Proficiency takes more than just time. It takes focus and attention in the form of consistent motivation and pushing oneself to seize opportunities - and that too can be a barrier to entry. Even if your hobby isn't serious enough that you are attending weekly practices, it takes time and effort to set up occasional matches. It often feels overwhelmingly difficult because prospective opponents appear to live too far away or circumstances won't permit it.
CONFIDENCE: Perhaps the least acknowledged barrier to entry is psychological. Many of us initially don't seize match opportunities because we live in fear: ashamed of how our bodies look, concerned we don't have the strength or stamina, or worried that our wrestling interest isn't pure enough for actual combat (the wrestling may be more of a sexual fetish or kink instead of a pure desire for competition) and we fear the implications of that.
A number of websites over the years have tried to tear down or reduce some of these barriers to entry by helping aspiring wrestlers connect virtually but none have done so quite as successfully as Meetfighters. So we certainly are all grateful to this website for the service that it provides!
Are there other barriers to entry? Physical or mental disabilities might be one. And I suppose that even after beginning a 'wrestling journey' that new barriers to entry might pop up (ex. blacklisted from a dojo for bad behavior, etc) What do you think? Have you identified and overcome any other barriers to entry in your wrestling experience?
BamaJDon41 (10 )
vor 6 StundenCovers all the bases very nicely! I might add the possible barrier of unrealistic expectations. Waiting for that ideal match instead of taking what's available.
JW130kgYYC (4 )
vor 5 StundenI’ll speak from someone who participates in freestyle wrestling events and trains at a club. By and by, the barriers you mention are the same, whether for sport, or whether for a hobby. The rationale given is again, more or less the same. Here are some other ones:
STIGMAS: In my world, despite some well organized and structured events, adult wrestling is perceived as deviant or perverse. You’re looked upon as an oddity, and some would label any adult who wrestles as a queer.
Inside the wrestling community, stigmas still exist, and largely phobic ones. It’s kind of ridiculous, and as a large man, it hits twice because society has painted huskier men as being slobs, dirty, or kinky because no matter what, minimalist gear doesn’t cover everything and between a man with six pack and or a man with flab, the six pack abs win out.
ABILITY: This is more for those who wrestle on the regular, and have had the privilege of doing it for years. If someone doesn’t fit the mould of a traditional wrestler, or lacks abilities but yet claim to be a wrestler, you’re blackballed and ostracized. It happened even to me not that long ago.
On the competitive side, there’s a lot of preconceptions that exist and generational behaviours taught that make the sport feel like an old boys club. For some not blessed with that same chance due to these barriers and potentially more, you’re judged and dealt with based on status.
These are just some I’d add. It’s also why I’m here. I know I don’t fit a conventional mould in either world, but want to be a bridge for both. I want hobbyists to know there’s a place for them in the mainstream, and I want the mainstream to give up some of these biases and stigmas that keep people out.
Hope this adds value to the conversation.
BamaJDon41 (10 )
vor 3 Stunden(In Antwort dazu)
You add some great points! If something isn't commonly done, it is by its nature uncommon and thus suspect. People have questions but don't really want answers. They just want their suspicions and doubts. I think most people would be surprised to learn there are men in their 30's on up into their 70's that still like to wrestle.
JW130kgYYC (4 )
vor 1 Stunden(In Antwort dazu)
100% this. And they’d be surprised that there are MANY countries who send wrestlers between 35 and 60 to a world championship every single year.
And for the Americans here, the US team are 2x Freestyle Team Champions. They’re tough as nails, but a lot of them are very inclusive and open to anybody giving it a go.