Celebrity Wrestling Mania Sweeps the UK

Not quite. You need to be physically and mentally prepared for the fight and ready to anticipate your opponent's moves:

DO Limber up before your first bout with a few stretches. Get fit to fight by jogging and sidestepping around the arena.

DO psyche yourself up. Focus on winning and visualise yourself emerging victorious from the ring. When you come to face your opponent, eyeball them to make sure they feel the fear!

DO practice 'safe falling'. Hitting the mat is a core part of wrestling culture. Physios know it is also a common cause of injury. If you lose your balance, DON'T resist the fall - go with it. You are less likely to hurt yourself if you relax into the fall.

SAFE FALLING TIPS:

Create a fall friendly environment by padding out your arena with cushions Take the lead from skaters and wear protective elbow and wrist guards Practice - you'll soon figure out what works best for you! DON'T enter the ring with pre-existing injuries. If you've recently sustained an injury, or suffer from back problems, you'd be safer to watch from the sidelines. Why not take on the role of the ref?

The role of the referee

Fair play is important, so a strong referee is a must. It is important that the contenders respect you from the start, so point out that you won't take any bad language or foul play and that your decision is final.

Now.Let the games begin!

Get into character

Give your opponent a 'rude-awakening' by entering the arena displaying your alter ego! Go wild with glitz and glamour, capes and caps, masks and make-up. Finish it off with a stage name like Tigress, Sapphire or Billy the Kid and holler it as you enter your arena - tonight, Robert becomes Bob the Basher!

Bring it on!

While some of the wrestling action you see on TV should remain strictly in the studio, some of the games can be adapted safely to play at home. Avoid any games that involve falling from height or dealing heavy blows to your opponent. Focus on games like Rip Wrestling or Fully Charged. With a bit of creativity and imagination, the whole family can have fun and get fit safely. Here's how:

Rip wrestling: Contenders wear additional clothing over the top of their wrestling costume. On the ref's whistle both contestants attempt to rip the opponent's additional clothing off.

At home: use old, ripped clothing or bed linen to make yourself outfits that will fall apart easily.

The Batons: On the show, contestants use sticks that look like giant cotton buds to push their opponent out of the ring.

At home: Use pillows instead. Try to zone out your opponent with short, sharp blows. Ref's should disqualify any family member who aims for their opponent's head. A low blow to the legs can be an effective tactic!

Fully charged: Contestants wear globes of red or blue light on their costume. Opponents then attempt to punch each other's lights out. The first person to have all their lights put out loses.

At home: Lights look great in a darkened TV studio, but you don't need them at home. Instead, buy a pack of blue and red stickers and stick them onto your costume, taking care not to apply any directly onto skin. Contestants should then battle to remove each other's stickers until one person has no stickers left on their costume.

Cool Down

When your explosive match come to a close, don't just sit back and enjoy your victory, or wallow in the misery of your loss. Warm down properly to help ward off next day stiffness. You should combine gentle stretching exercises with jogging around the garden until the heart rate returns to normal.

On a serious note:

This guide is intended to be light-hearted and fun, but there is a serious side too. Before taking up any new fitness regime or sport, you need to consult with a GP to check that you are medically fit. If your new fitness programme causes you to feel any discomfort, stop immediately and seek expert advice.

To find a chartered physiotherapist, speak to your GP for a referral to your local physiotherapy service or visit www.physio2u.org.uk Click To Linkfor a list of private practitioners in your area

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