Wrestling School Directory

Please email us if your school is missing

So you want to be a professional wrestler, huh? Despite the fact that I am just a “fan” of wrestling with no wrestling experience or knowledge of backstage policies, I still get asked this very simple question more often than you’d probably guess. I feel like I have been a fan long enough to understand the grueling nature of the business and I also understand that it takes a lot of time and effort to develop the maturity that it takes to prepare yourself for a life of bumps and bruises – and if you survive the physical aspects then you have to deal with the psychological ones. I am not a wrestler, nor am I a trainer, but here is my solid advice for you, the wrestler wannabe.

For starters, I suggest you work hard at school and graduate high school and go to college if you have the opportunity. Join any aggressive sports teams your school might offer like amateur wrestling, football, basketball etc. — it might sound silly but you should also join any drama clubs or improvisation classes so that you can get used to working in front of crowds and also how to magnify your voice and manipulate an audience. Last but certainly not least, buy the book shown to the left (click it for more information) and read it over and over and over and treat it like it is your bible..

Inside that book you will learn the important basics of pro-wrestling, the history, tips on diet and training, demonstrations of all the basic moves, and a lot more valuable information like where the best wresting schools are and how to conduct yourself in the locker room. Further advice can be found by contacting the wrestling schools listed below — Good luck to you!

- Brad Dykens

School Name / Operator Location / Contact Website / Email
Boogie’s Wrestling Camp
Run by Jimmy Valiant
Shawsville, Virginia Website
Buddy Wayne Wrestling School
Run by Buddy Wayne
Everett, Washington Website
Email
Chaotic Training Center North Andover, Massachusetts
(978) 685-7173
Website
Email
Chikara/CZW Wrestle Factory
Trainers: Mike Quackenbush, Skayde & Chris Hero
Pennsylvania Website
Eddie Sharkey Edina, Minnesota Website
Email
E W A’s: The Pain Factory
Trainers: Derek Frazier & Stevie Riggs
Baltimore, Maryland
(443) 858-2755
Website
FWA Training
Run by Mark Sloan
United Kingdom Website
The Funkin’ Conservatory
Run by Dory Funk Jr.
Ocala, Florida
(352) 854-8855
Website
Email
Hard Knocks Wrestling Academy
Trainer: CJ Conners
Trainer: Neil Faith
Daytona Beach, Florida
and Deland, Florida
(386) 986-7738 (Anna)
Cell: (386) 383-0265
Email
ICWF Universal Bumps N Bruises Training Center
Head Trainer: Dave “Mac Robo” Olah
Berwick, Pennsylvania
(570) 951 2471
Website
Independent Pro Wrestling Training Center
Head Trainer: Frankie Reyes
Trainer: Anthonio Merced
Trainer: Dustin Holifer
Gibsonton, Florida
8017 Gibsonton Dr.
(813) 249-0171
Email
International Grapplers Alliance
Head Trainer: “The Grappler” Lynn Denton
Portland, Oregon
2333 SE Lee Lane
Portland, OR 97233
(503) 544-9298
Email
“Killer” Tim Brooks
Run by Tim Brooks
Dallas, Texas
(972) 221-9988
Website
Email
Kyda Pro Training School
Trainer: Jimmy Z.
Manassas, Virginia
(703) 330-8063
Website
Email
Lima Wrestling Academy
Trainer: Flavio Moran & Carlos Roman & Otto Vidal
Lima, Peru Email
The Monster Factory Training Facilities
“Pretty Boy” Larry Sharpe
Westville, New Jersey
(856) 456-5000
(856) 456-2229 -fax-
Website
Main Stage Wrestling Dublin, Ireland
100 Tyrconnell Rd.
Phone: 0851986734
Email
The Monster Factory Training Facilities
“Pretty Boy” Larry Sharpe
Washington, D.C.
(202) 966-1111
(301) 933-7512 -fax-
Website
New York Wrestling Connection Training Academy
Head Trainer: John Mair (Formerly of Malenko School of Wrestling)
435-13 Brook Avenue
Deer Park, New York 11729
(631) 667-NYWC (6992)
Website
Email
NY Wrestling School
Run by Johnny Rodz
Brooklyn, NY
(917) 524-5076
Website
Team Vision Dojo
Trainer: Larry Zbyszko
Trainer: Chasyn Rance
Trainer: Scott Hall
Orlando, Florida
6923 Narcoossee Rd
(407) 334-2200
Website
Email
ROH Wrestling School
Head Trainer: Delirious
Pennsylvania Website
Email
Ron Hutchison Professional Wrestling Academy
Run by Ron Hutchison
Toronto, Ontario
At Sully’s Gym
Website
Santino Bros. Wrestling Academy
Head Instructor: Kaos (WSX, XPW)
PO BOX 1531
Montebello, CA. 90640
(323) 896-3017
Website
Email
School Of Hard Knocks Wrestling School
Run by Jesse Hernandez
San Bernardino, California
(909) 886-5201
Website
Scottish School of Wrestling Scotland Website
Email
Team 3D Academy of Professional Wrestling
Trainers: Brother Devon
Kissimmee, Florida
(321) 242-7701
Website
Email
Ultimate Championship Wrestling Training Center
Trainer (Wrestling): Frankie Reyes
Trainer (MMA): Prince Iaukea
1418 E. Busch Blvd.
Unit 203
Tampa, Florida
(813) 323-7272
Website
Email
Venus Fighting Essence
De La O Jiu Jitsu Training Center
8381 Katella Ave. -Unit F
Stanton, California 90680
Website
Email
Wild Samoan Pro Wrestling Center
Trainer: Wild Samoan Afa
Whitehall, Pennsylvania
(610) 435-1666
Website
World All-Star Wrestling
“School of Hard Knocks”
Trainer: Irish Mickey O’Doyle
Michigan & Wisconsin
(906) 282-1382
Website
Email

Funk’s Corner – Choosing a Wrestling School

Professional Wrestling is a highly competitive sport and working at the top in the wrestling business is every bit as rewarding as you might think from watching wrestling on television.

Professional Wrestlers at the top are mainstream superstars in America. For example imagine being the main event on Wrestlemania. The payoff for the main event for Mr. McMahon and Donald Trump was said to be 4,000,000 dollars which they will donate to charity. (At the Funking Conservatory, we train wrestlers, promoters, writers, managers and all wrestling related jobs)

That is a chunk of change and that is what wrestling superstar billionaires get paid.

Wouldn’t we all like to be Mr. McMahon or Donald Trump or Stone Cold Steve Austin, Jeff Jarrett, Hulk Hogan, Kurt Angle, Ric Flair, Edge, Lita, Mickie James, Christian, Matt Hardy, Jeff Hardy, Rhino, Chris Sabin? How did they get there? Through hard work, determination and sacrifice and the same is true for any professional wrestling superstar you may want to be like.

According to Rob Van Dam, the only way to learn the wrestling business is to get instruction from someone in the business as he did. (RVD and Sabu were trained by The Original Sheik)

Some things to consider when choosing a wrestling school

What will I receive in return for the money?

What is the track record of the owner of the school?

How long has the training school been in business?

Who has trained under the owner now in the wrestling business?

How strong is the marketing arm of the school to help the talent?

What is the safety record of the school?

How extensive is television used for training?

Is there a television show associated with the school?

How soon will I have a real match on television?

How clean and safe is the facility?

What alternate training programs are offered?

For the answers to these and other questions, visit our website at www.dory-funk.com. Click on Frequently Asked Questions or you may call 352-895-4658

Dory Funk Jr. – Coach of the Funking Conservatory.