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Wrestling is a popular sport having millions of fan following worldwide. Every wrestling game features two contestants with each contender trying to force the other player's shoulder to touch the floor thereby winning the game.
Wrestling has been on the maps since as far back as 708 B.C. when the game first featured in the Greek Olympics. Initially wrestling was a highly violent sport comprising of two variations namely
- Upright and Proper Wrestling (Orthia pale) - Each wrestler tried to throw his opponent to the floor. The player who succeeds in flooring the opponent three times is declared as winner.
- Ground Wrestling (Kato Pale) - The game gets completed only when one of the wrestlers concede defeat.
Today there are typically three styles of amateur wrestling - Collegiate-style, Freestyle and Greco-Roman style. Collegiate-style wrestling is played at high schools, athletic clubs, colleges and universities and is popular mainly in North America. Freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling are highly popular and are contested both on national and international levels.
There is also Professional wrestling which though originated from amateur wrestling is significantly different in the sense that it is more media hyped and entertainment oriented compared to amateur wrestling. In professional wrestling contenders engage in simulated matches that are scripted and rehearsed previously, in a manner that appeals to the audiences. Professional wrestling matches are contested in a wrestling ring and are mainly conducted by promoters in huge arenas accommodating thousands of people. There are no hard and fast rules to govern matches and often during wrestling the contenders get exited and games end on violent notes.
Youth Wrestling Tournaments
youth restling tournaments and competitions are held after obtaining sanction from respective organizations. Two of the largest wrestling organizations are USAW that is the national governing body for wrestling in US and AAU, which is the oldest athletic organization.
Olympic wrestling, World Championship wrestling and all other important wrestling competitions are played in freestyle and Greco-Roman style. All wrestling tournaments are held on wrestling mats. Wrestling mat is a nine-meter circular area bound by a protection border running 1.2 to 1.5 meters. Normally for international matches there are three officials supervising the competition - Referee, Chairman and Judge.
Wrestling Rules & Scoring (Freestyle and Greco-Roman Wrestling)
The FILA (Fédération Internationale des Luttes Associées or International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles) recognises Freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling styles, which are played in international tournaments and in Olympics. These two styles differ based on the type of holds permitted. Greco-Roman wrestlers can hold only above he opponent's waist whereas in freestyle wrestling there is no such restriction.
Scoring in wrestling matches is as follows (both Greco-Roman and Freestyle)
Takedowns - from a neutral position gaining control of your opponent - Reversals - from defensive position gaining control of your opponent
- Escapes - dodging from opponent's control
- Exposure - exposing opponent's back to the wrestling mat
- Lifting - lifting the opponent in defensive position and exposing his back
You can win a wrestling match in the following ways:
- Win by Fall - You win when you pin both shoulders of your opponents' on the mat
- Win by Technical Fall - You win the game if you gain a ten-point lead over your opponent
- Win by Decision - If neither you or your opponent achieves a Fall or Technical Fall then one who gains most points in the match is declared winner
- Win by Major Decision - If the scores are within four points of each other
- Win by Technical Knock Out (TKO) - You will win if you knock out your opponent and he is unable to wrestle
Wrestlers Compete in Weight Classes
In freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling (the two Olympic styles of wrestling) tournaments are held according to weight classes and age groups. Athletes are assigned to similar age group and weight class to ensure impartial competition.
Take a look at International and Open age weight divisions:
52 kg
57 kg
62 kg
68 kg
74 kg
82 kg
90 kg
100 kg
100 - 130 kg
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