One of the oldest and the most widely played sports, wrestling involves two contestants trying to throw each other to the ground. Besides being an exciting sport, it is also excellent exercise. It requires the use of all the muscles from head to toe.

Playing area and equipment

The playing area is generally covered with a mat. The standard wrestling mat used in collegiate competition in the United States is 2 to 4 inches thick. It has a wrestling area of 32 square feet. Circular rings are 32 feet in diameter. The wrestling area is bordered on all sides by additional matting about 5 feet in width.

Rules

The basic rules of wrestling are the same for every style. The object of the sport is to secure a fall by pressing the opponent on his back or pinning both shoulders so that they touch the mat at the same time. This only needs to occur for an instant. A continuous roll across the shoulders is not considered a fall. The competitors start by taking holds in a standing position.

A match is usually seven minutes long. It is made up of a single 3-minute session followed by two 2-minute sessions. If a fall takes place in the first period then the match is over. If no fall occurs, the referee stops the match at the end of the first session. The second session begins with a choice of position given to one of the players. If no fall occurs in the second session then the referee again stops the match.

The third session starts with the choice of position offered to the second player. If no fall occurs throughout the match, then the winner is declared on the basis of points scored. The referee awards the points for maneuvers, skill, and aggressiveness. Besides a referee the other officials involved in the game are a timekeeper and scorers.

Techniques

The competitors make use of various techniques in a match. While standing, they strive to bring each other to the mat with a series of maneuvers. These are known as takedowns, and they involve lifting, throwing, twisting, tackling, and tripping. When attacked, a wrestler applies counterattacks to convert the situation to his advantage. If the wrestlers go down on the mat without a touch-fall, they proceed to grapple, seizing each other with various grips and counter grips to work toward a fall. Quickness and good physical condition are far more important than strength.

Styles

Wrestling is conducted in various styles with contestants either upright or on the mat. The three basic types of wrestling contests are the belt-and-jacket, catch-hold, and loose styles.

In the belt-and-jacket style, the clothes provide the main way of taking a hold of the opponent. The catch-hold style requires the contestants to take a certain hold before the contest begins. This grip must be maintained throughout the struggle. In modern contests, the loose style of wrestling is played. It begins with the wrestlers separated and free to use any grip that they choose except those that are forbidden.

Amateur competitions

In international amateur competition, three styles of wrestling are used. These are Greco-Roman, sambo, and freestyle.

Greco-Roman wrestling allows holds to be made only above the waist and does not permit wrapping the legs about an opponent when the wrestlers go down. In the sambo style of wrestling, a wrestler wins by throwing the opponent on his back. Almost all holds are permitted in the freestyle. The only tactics forbidden are those that can harm or cause permanent injury to the player.

There are eight weight classes in Olympic and international events. Wrestlers may compete in only one class in any one contest.

Organizations

There never has been a serious effort to organize professional wrestling in the Western world. In the early 19th century amateur wrestling organizations were local and national. Regional competition began only in the late 19th century. In 1911 the Fédération Internationale de Lutte Amateur (FILA; International Amateur Wrestling Federation) was formed.

The FILA regulates international competitions including the Olympic Games. It has also organized world championships in Greco-Roman wrestling from 1950 and in freestyle from 1951.

In the United States, wrestling teams from colleges began to arrange contests in about 1900. College teams meet in an annual tournament under the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). In 1928 the NCAA adopted the collegiate style of wrestling as a national sport.

History

Works of art and written documents dating back to 3000 BC suggest that wrestling as a sport existed in Babylonia and Egypt. From 776 BC wrestling was a part of the Olympic Games.

A Japanese belt-wrestling style, Sumo, was popular as an entertainment sport. By the 17th century, it became a professional sport in Japan, and it is still extremely popular there today.

Professional wrestling steadily declined in seriousness in the 20th century. At the same time significant improvements occurred in amateur wrestling. With matches being shown on television, the sport has regained its popularity.