About the Different Types of Wrestling

Wrestling is considered one of the first organized competition sports. Variations in wrestling have been performed throughout the world for thousands of years. Wrestling involves two competitors in a ring pitting their strength against each other to determine the better athlete. Wrestling rules vary by wrestling type and level of competition. In all types of wrestling, a win is usually determined by certain criteria including points for technique and pinning an opponent.

  1. Function

    • Wrestling involves timed matches with wrestlers pitted against each other by weight class and division. Strict rules for equipment are enforced at the collegiate and international level including wrestling mats, singlets or uniforms, protective headgear, and approved shoes.

    History

    • The sport of wrestling can be traced back to early Egyptian, Greek, and Roman cultures. Wrestling has been a mainstay sport in the Olympic Games since ancient times. The oldest known form of wrestling is closely related to modern freestyle wrestling.

    Types

    • Collegiate wrestling is a free form style of wrestling at the amateur level. This popular form of wrestling is performed at high school and college levels in the USA. Collegiate wrestlers start in one of three positions. In a neutral position, both contestants face each other while standing. Defensive and offensive positions are where one wrestler is on his hands and knees with the other competitor kneeling above him with one knee touching the mat.

    Types

    • Freestyle wrestling is one of the wrestling techniques performed at the Olympic level. Modern freestyle wrestling originated in the United States and Great Britain. This form of wrestling has fewer restrictions than other types of wrestling techniques at the international level. These techniques include using the legs to trip or otherwise subdue an opponent. An exception to using the legs in freestyle wrestling is the scissor-hold.

    Types

    • Greco-Roman wrestling is another wrestling type permitted at the Olympic level. Greco-Roman wrestling is unique in that using the legs to hold, subdue, or even grabbing below the waist is prohibited. Contrary to popular belief, the term Greco-Roman in wrestling was not popularized until the 19th century.

    Types

    • Professional wrestling is considered a non-competitive sport. Most matches are scripted, with an emphasis on entertainment as well as athletics. Early professional wrestling bouts were often performed at traveling sideshows to entertain the public. Today, professional wrestling is a highly popular form of entertainment televised worldwide. Professional wrestling rules are much more lenient than any other type of wrestling.