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Fernandez practice several holds on him. The look of pain on the student's face is replaced with a smile as Fernandez realizes his dream could be getting closer to being a reality. "These guys put in a lot of effort," said Valladez. "It's hard, and it takes up most of your time. You have to get around work or school to train, but if you want it bad enough, you'll figure out a way. You need to give 110% and train as hard as you can. If you get into the ring and fool around, you're not going to get anywhere."
Herberto Rodriguez, who is from the South Bronx area, is ready for the challenge. "I usually start by stretching, and then I jump rope for ten minutes to increase my jumping ability," he said. "Then I will do an exercise like running back and forth on the ring ropes and jumping over a heavy bag. I do that and all other exercises over a 100 times each until it becomes second nature to me. I do this three days a week for up to four hours each time."
Jorge Huertas, Jr. and Jose Diaz, two brothers from Pelham Parkway often compete with each other over who can do more in the ring, crediting Lagerstrom's teaching with their work ethic. "I've seen other places and they are not nearly as well prepared as this one," Huertas said. "This place has been a Godsend. I have never felt in better condition in my life."
"Ben's very thorough and doesn't work us too quick," said Diaz. "He is not the type of trainer who takes your money. What we do out there is a reflection of ourselves and his training." Diaz's girlfriend, Edna Rodriguez, stands outside the ring and watches her boyfriend train hard. "It is hard for me to watch him get thrown around like that," she said. "He gives me a little smile to let me know he's ok. I believe he can make it. He believes in himself and I believe in him."
No matter how confident the students, their girlfriends or their parents are that they will make it to the big time, Lagerstrom promises them nothing but training. "It's a very tough business," he said. "There are no guarantees and some people will be lucky to even get one match. Some trainers will charge them $1,000, promise them a job, and then the student will only get one match at a local independent show. I don't make any promises. I focus strictly on training the wrestlers."
Lagerstrom is vehemently against people who choose not to train in a gym like his and instead compete in dangerous backyard wrestling matches. "It's illegal and it's dangerous," he sad. "They should take parents who let their kids do that and lock them up in jail. If parents knew their children well enough, they would not let their kids get hurt in backyard wrestling and then blame the business for what happens. They think the business is just about working shows and then they break their neck. Backyard wrestling is a disgrace to the business."
Lagerstrom will hold some of his students back from going for their license to wrestle for at least a year and only if he feels they are ready will he allow them to go and test. He urges anyone with an interest in wrestling to come to his school. Parents must sign a release for their children if they wish to compete, but everyone who does can expect some grueling, but rewarding training. "Students will learn from the professionals that I allow to use our facilities," he said. "They will learn how to be tough in the ring, and they will learn how to deal with situations in the ring in a safe environment." Lagerstrom states that he has already received a tremendous response from people and hopes to add a second ring to the gym so more Bronx residents can learn the ropes, are safe and stay out of trouble. "I have lived here all my life and this is my gift back to the Bronx," he said.
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