How to Greco Roman Wrestle

Greco Roman wrestling is one of the two Olympic wrestling styles, the other being freestyle. Greco Roman wrestling utilizes a lot of throwing, and no leg attacking at all. Unlike freestyle, leg attacks are illegal in Greco Roman style. Other than that, the rule set is basically the same. Greco has roots as an extremely violent style. In the 1900s, submissions, gouging and head butting were all legal.

Instructions

    • 1

      Take your stance. Ideally, you want a staggered stance. This not only allows you to be mobile in all directions, it provides more stability as opposed to a squared stance. Also, a squared stance gives your opponent a better chance of executing a double leg takedown.

    • 2

      Know that once the match begins, your goal is to defeat your opponent, which will be done by either pinning him or winning by points. A match consists of three two minute rounds, and points are awarded for the following:Reversal – when the man on bottom reverses his position and achieves the dominant positionTakedown – when a wrestler takes his opponent to the mat from a standing position. This may be awarded 1, 3 or 5 points, depending on the throw involved. A typical takedown is one point. A takedown resulting in an exposure is three points and high amplitude throws are five points.Exposure – turning your opponent’s shoulders to the mat, a position of danger. Points are no longer awarded for escapes. An escape occurs when a wrestler maneuvers away from the bottom position and gets back to his feet, facing his opponent.

    • 3

      Be aware that a pin occurs when both of a wrestler’s shoulders are held on the mat. A pin will instantly end the match.

    • 4

      Know that illegal holds, fleeing contact and fleeing the mat will result in a penalty. Points may be given to your opponent in these situations. The following are illegal in the Greco Roman style: biting, pinching, gouging, striking, joint locks, chokes, leg locks spiking (slamming an opponent head first onto the mat. Other slams are legal, but none which drive the head into the mat) and genital grabbing.