Wrestling

Wrestling consists of physical engagement between two people in which each wrestler strives to get an advantage over, or control of, the opponent. Wrestling is considered one of the first organized competition sports. Variations in wrestling have been performed throughout the world for thousands of years. Today there are a wide range of styles with varying rules as Catch wrestling, Amateur wrestling, Arm wrestling, Collegiate wrestling, Freestyle wrestling, Submission wrestling, Beach wrestling etc. There are two wrestling styles in the Olympics: Greco-Roman and Free Style. In the Greco-Roman style wrestling, holds are only allowed from the waist up. In Free Style wrestling holds are allowed on the entire body. Bouts in both styles consist of two, three-minute rounds, with 30 second interval in-between rounds. Physical techniques used, include clinching, holding, locking, application of leverage and takedowns.

Wrestling involves timed matches with wrestlers pitted against each other by weight class and division. 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.

Weight categories

In the Olympics athletes will be divided into and compete in the following weight categories: Weight categories in men's wrestling will drop from 16 to 14, so both Greco-Roman and Free Style wrestling will have 1 less weight category then there have been in past Olympics. Womenís Wrestling made its debut in the 2004 Olympics in four weight categories in the Free Style method.

Men's Greco-Roman and Men's Free Style

55 Kilograms - 121 pounds
60 Kilograms - 132 pounds
66 Kilograms - 145 pounds
74 Kilograms - 163 pounds
84 Kilograms - 184 pounds
96 Kilograms - 211 pounds
120 Kilograms-264 pounds

Women's Free Style

48 Kilograms - 106 pounds
55 Kilograms - 121 pounds
63 Kilograms - 139 pounds
72 Kilograms - 158 pounds

Before each bout, wrestlers must have medical tests performed on them. After the medical tests they will weighed and then a lottery is used determine which athletes will be wrestling against each other.

  1. Collegiate wrestling

    2. 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.

  2. Freestyle wrestling

    3. 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.

  3. Greco-Roman wrestling

    4. 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.

  4. Professional wrestling

    5. 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.

  5. Beach wrestling

    6. Beach wrestling is standing wrestling done by wrestlers, male or female, inside a sand-filled circle measuring 6 meters (20 ft) in diameter with only two weight categories, heavy and light. The objective is to throw an opponent or take the opponent to their back. The wrestlers wear swimsuits rather than special wrestling uniforms. Wrestlers may also wear spandex or athletic shorts.

Penalties
There are certain holds that are not allowed in wrestling along with actions that could cause injury to a wrestler, which of course are also not allowed. These include but are not limited to the following:

  • There is no talking during a bout.
  • Having long fingernails that could scratch an opposing wrestler.
  • No jewelry can be worn during a match
  • Punching, biting or pulling your opponents hair, skin, ears, singlet or grabbing in the groin area
  • Stepping on an opposing wrestler foot is against the rules
  • Twisting an arm more than 90 degrees, which would include behind the back
  • Holding or gripping the throat
  • It is illegal to apply a forearm lock
  • Touching an opposing wrestler's face between their mouth up to their eyebrows
  • Putting an elbow or knee into your opponents stomach
  • Holding an opponent's head with two hands
  • Breaking a bridge by pushing down in the direction of the opposing wrestlers head
  • Using a scissors grip hold with the legs to hold an opponent’s head or body
  • Any strangulation holds or holds that could lead to a joint being dislocated are not allowed
  • Brutality is defined as being any act using unnecessary roughness that will intentionally injure an opposing wrestler. Wrestler can and most likely will be disqualified if they are guilty of brutality
  • Any un-sportsmanlike conduct including arguing with the referee or an opposing wrestler is severely punished.
 
 
Combined Cadet Force |