Our Mission

Full Armor Wrestling exists to develop athletes of character, courage, and purpose through the sport of wrestling.

We train boys and girls to compete with discipline, lead with integrity, and live with a deeper sense of identity. Through high‑level technique, intentional mentorship, and a faith‑driven foundation, we prepare athletes not only for competition — but for life.

We help developing wrestlers become elite, and we help elite wrestlers sharpen the details that separate good from great.

Wrestling is more than a sport.

It’s a tool for shaping strong minds, strong bodies, and strong hearts.

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Programs

Full Armor Wrestling offers year‑round training for athletes of all ages and experience levels. Our programs are designed to build fundamentals, sharpen advanced skills, and develop the mindset needed to compete with confidence.

Youth Development (Ages 6–11)

A fun, high‑energy introduction to wrestling.

Focus: fundamentals, movement, discipline, confidence.

Middle School Training (Ages 11–14)

Skill‑building and match development for athletes preparing for competitive wrestling.

Focus: hand fighting, takedowns, mat awareness, toughness.

High School Training (Ages 14–18)

High‑intensity sessions modeled after college‑level training.

Focus: pace, pressure, chain wrestling, match strategy, mental preparation.

Girls Wrestling

We proudly train girls at every level.

Focus: empowerment, technique, confidence, and competitive development.

Private Lessons

One‑on‑one or small‑group sessions tailored to the athlete’s goals.

Clinics, Camps & Seminars

Specialized training events throughout the year covering:

• Hand fighting

• Takedown systems

• Scramble defense

• Top pressure

• Mindset & leadership

• Pre‑season prep

• Summer camps

• Holiday mini‑camps

Core Values

1. Discipline

We train athletes to show up, work hard, and stay committed — on and off the mat.

2. Integrity

We compete honestly, lead humbly, and treat others with respect.

3. Courage

We face challenges head‑on, embrace adversity, and grow through struggle.

4. Faith

We believe identity and purpose come from something greater than ourselves.

5. Excellence

We pursue mastery in technique, mindset, and character.

6. Brotherhood & Sisterhood

We build a family environment where athletes support, challenge, and sharpen one another.

Head Coach/Founder

Kevin O'Brien, or "Coach OB", is the Head Coach of the University of South Carolina Wrestling Club and the founder of Full Armor Wrestling. His coaching blends high‑level technique, relentless pace, and a deep commitment to developing athletes holistically — physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Kevin wrestled collegiately for Alma College, an NCAA Division III program, under the leadership of Todd Hibbs and Jerimiah Tobias — two respected coaches known for building disciplined, high‑character athletes. He later continued his career at Grand Canyon University Club Wrestling, training under Michael Hatcher, a highly respected technician and program‑builders in the coaching world with that signature Iowa-Style.

These coaches shaped Kevin’s philosophy:

clarity, intensity, discipline, and purpose.

After surviving a life‑threatening heart event, Coach O'Brien rebuilt his life through faith, discipline, and a renewed mission: to train athletes to be warriors on the mat and leaders in life.

He has coached youth, high school, college, and senior‑level athletes, and is known for his ability to connect with wrestlers of all ages and help them unlock their potential.

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Volunteer Coaches

Full Armor Wrestling is supported by volunteer athletes from the University of South Carolina Wrestling Club — young men who train and compete at a high level and serve as role models for the next generation.

Our volunteer coaches bring:

• College‑level technique

• High‑energy drilling

• Leadership and mentorship

• A positive, encouraging

Our volunteer coaches bring:

• College‑level technique

• High‑energy drilling

• Leadership and mentorship

• A positive, encouraging presence

• Real experience from national‑level competition

They help create a training environment that is competitive, supportive, and inspiring for every athlete who walks through our doors.

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Speaking Engagements

At Full Armor Wrestling, our mission goes beyond the mat — and so does Coach Kevin’s. As the Head Coach of the University of South Carolina Wrestling Club, founder of Full Armor Wrestling Academy, and a man who rebuilt his life after a life‑threatening heart event, Kevin brings a message of resilience, purpose, and faith that resonates with athletes, companies, churches, and communities.

Coach O'Brien is an articulate, passionate communicator who speaks with the same intensity and clarity he coaches with. His story — from adversity to leadership, from survival to service — has become a powerful platform to encourage, challenge, and equip others.

Signature Talks

1. The Resilient Competitor: How to Fight When Life Hits Hard

Audience: Companies, teams, schools, leadership groups

A high‑energy, practical message on overcoming setbacks, rebuilding identity, and developing a mindset that thrives under pressure. Kevin shares his own comeback story — surviving a heart event, rebuilding his life, and returning to competition and coaching — and teaches the principles that helped him rise again. Perfect for organizations that want to inspire grit, unity, and mental toughness.

2. Full Armor Faith: Wrestling and the Christian Life

Audience: Churches, youth groups, FCA, men’s ministries

Drawing from Ephesians 6 and his own journey as a follower of Jesus, Kevin shows how wrestling mirrors the spiritual battle every believer faces. He speaks on identity, discipline, perseverance, and putting on the “full armor of God” to stand firm. This message is raw, relatable, and deeply encouraging for young people and adults alike.

3. Building Champions: Coaching the Whole Person

Audience: Parents, coaches, athletic departments, camps

A talk focused on culture, leadership, and developing young people beyond wins and losses. Kevin shares how he coaches athletes holistically — physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually — and how families and coaches can build environments where young people thrive.

4. The Comeback Blueprint: Turning Pain Into Purpose

Audience: Any group seeking hope, direction, or motivation

Kevin unpacks the lessons he learned through adversity: humility, discipline, gratitude, and the courage to start again. This talk is ideal for communities, recovery groups, schools, or anyone who needs a reminder that their story isn’t over.

5. Faith in the Fire: Living for Christ in the Real World

Audience: Churches, youth groups, FCA, Christian schools, men’s ministries, college ministries

A bold, practical message about what it means to live out your faith outside the church walls. Kevin challenges the idea that only pastors or missionaries do “real ministry,” showing how God calls believers to be a light in the workplace, in education, in athletics, and in the marketplace of ideas.

Drawing from his own journey as a follower of Jesus, a wrestling coach, a nonprofit leader, and a man rebuilding his life after a major health crisis, Kevin shares how faith shapes his decisions, his leadership, and the way he loves and serves people daily.

This talk equips Christians to:

• Stand firm in their convictions with humility and courage

• Represent Christ in secular environments

• Integrate faith with work, relationships, and purpose

• See their career as a calling, not a compartment

• Engage culture without losing their identity

Booking Kevin

Whether you’re a business leader looking to motivate your team, a pastor wanting to inspire your congregation, or a coach seeking to strengthen your athletes, Kevin brings a message that connects. His blend of wrestling expertise, real‑life resilience, and faith‑driven purpose makes him a powerful voice for any audience.

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