Freestyle wrestling

This article is about freestyle wrestling. For the style of wrestling practiced in American high schools and colleges, see Collegiate wrestling.

Two men in the U.S. military, one from the Navy and one from the Marine Corps compete in freestyle wrestling.

Freestyle wrestling is a form of amateur wrestling that is practiced throughout the world. It is, along with track and field, one of the oldest sports in history.

According to the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA), freestyle wrestling is one of the four main forms of amateur competitive wrestling that are practiced internationally today. The other three forms of wrestling are Greco-Roman, judo, and sambo. American high school and college wrestling is conducted under different rules and termed Collegiate wrestling.

History

Freestyle wrestling has been in the Olympic Games since the 1904 Olympics in Saint Louis, Missouri.

Freestyle wrestling, according to FILA, is said to have originated in Great Britain and the United States by the name of "catch-as-catch-can" wrestling. "Catch-as-catch-can" wrestling had a particular following in Great Britain and the variant developed in Lancashire had a particular effect on freestyle wrestling in particular. "Catch-as-catch-can" wrestling gained great popularity in fairs and festivals during the 19th century. In catch-as-catch-can wrestling, both contestants started out standing and then a wrestler sought to hold his opponent's shoulder to the ground (known as a fall). If no fall was scored, both wrestlers continued grappling on the ground, and almost all holds and techniques were allowable. A Scottish variant of Lancashire wrestling also became popular, that began with both wrestlers standing chest to chest, grasping each other with locked arms around the body, and if no fall was made, with a match continuing on the ground. Catch-as-catch can was the style performed by at least a half dozen U.S. presidents, including George Washington, Zachary Taylor, Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, Ulysses S. Grant, and Theodore Roosevelt.

Because of the widespread interest in and esteem of professional Greco-Roman wrestling and its esteem in many international meets in nineteenth century Europe, freestyle wrestling (and wrestling as an amateur sport in general) had a tough time gaining ground on the continent. The 1896 Olympic Games had only one wrestling bout, a heavyweight Greco-Roman match. Freestyle wrestling first emerged as an Olympic sport in the Saint Louis Olympics of 1904. All 40 wrestlers who participated in the 1904 Olympics were American. The 1904 Olympics sanctioned the rules commonly used for catch-as-catch can, but imposed some restrictions on dangerous holds. Wrestling by seven weight classes (47.6 kg, 52.2 kg, 56.7 kg, 61.2 kg, 65.3 kg, 71.7 kg, and greater than 71.7 kg) was an important innovation since wrestling competitions took place in a unique category.

Since 1921, the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA), which has its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland has set the "Laws of the Game", with rules for scoring and procedures that govern tournaments such as the World Games and the competition at the Summer Olympics. These were later adopted by the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) for its freestyle matches. Freestyle wrestling gained popularity in the United States after the Civil War. By the 1880s, tournaments drew hundreds of wrestlers. The rise of cities, increased industrialization, and the closing of the frontier provided the environment for amateur wrestling, along with boxing to increase its popularity. Amateur wrestling clubs soon emerged, including the New York Athletic Club, which had its first tournament in 1878. Professional wrestling also developed (not like today's "sports-entertainment" form), and by the 1870s, professional championship matches offered allowances of up to $1,000.

In the 20th century, time limits were set for matches, and a scoring system emerged that determined the winner in the absence of a fall. The championship matches of the 19th century (particularly in Greco-Roman, where holds below the waist use of the legs are not allowed) often lasted for hours. By 1996, before a major overhaul of FILA rules, an international freestyle match consisted of two three-minute periods, with a one minute rest between periods. Today, wrestlers from the former Soviet Union, Japan, Turkey, Iran, Sweden, Finland, and the United States have had the strongest showings. Alexandr Medved of Russia won 10 world championships and three Olympic gold medals, in the period of 1964-1972. Gold medalist from the United States include: Doug Blubaugh, Ben Peterson, John Peterson, Dan Gable, and John Smith, who in 1988 won first place in the Summer Olympics as well as winning six world championships in the period of 1987-1992. Many collegiate wrestlers have moved on to freestyle competition, particularly internationally with much success.

Weight Classes

Main article: Wrestling weight classes

For Men's Freestyle:

Currently, international men's freestyle wrestling is divided into four main age categories: schoolboys, cadets, juniors, and seniors.

Schoolboys (young men ages 14-15; or age 13 with a medical certificate and parental authorization) competing in freestyle wrestling do so in one of the following weight classes:

• 29 to 32 kg
• 35 kg
• 38 kg
• 42 kg
• 47 kg
• 53 kg
• 59 kg
• 66 kg
• 73 kg
• 73 to 85 kg

This freestyle wrestler locks the limbs of his opponent in order to take him down to the mat.

Cadets (young men ages 16-17; or age 15 with a medical certificate and parental authorization) competing in freestyle wrestling do so in one of the following weight classes:

• 39 to 42 kg
• 46 kg
• 50 kg
• 54 kg
• 58 kg
• 63 kg
• 69 kg
• 76 kg
• 85 kg
• 85 to 100 kg

Juniors (young men ages 18 to 20; or age 17 with a medical certificate and parental authorization) competing in freestyle wrestling do so in one of the following weight classes:

• 46 to 50 kg
• 55 kg
• 60 kg
• 66 kg
• 74 kg
• 84 kg
• 96 kg
• 96 to 120 kg

Seniors (men ages 20 and up) competing in freestyle wrestling do so in one of the following weight classes:

• 50 to 55 kg
• 60 kg
• 66 kg
• 74 kg
• 84 kg
• 96 kg
• 96 to 120 kg

For men, there is also a special category for some freestyle competitions, "Veterans", for men ages 35 and older, presumably featuring the same weight classes as seniors. Also, all of the men's age categories and weight classes can be applied to Greco-Roman wrestling.

Compared to collegiate (or folkstyle) wrestling, the main style done in U.S. high schools, colleges, and universities, freestyle wrestling involves a greater emphasis on explosive action by both wrestlers, as opposed to one wrestler's dominance and control of the other.

For Women's Freestyle:

Women currently compete in freestyle wrestling in one of four age categories on an international level: schoolgirls, cadets, juniors, and seniors.

Schoolgirls (young women ages 14-15; or age 13 with a medical certificate and parental authorization) competing in freestyle wrestling do so in one of the following weight classes:

• 28 to 30 kg
• 32 kg
• 34 kg
• 37 kg
• 40 kg
• 44 kg
• 48 kg
• 52 kg
• 57 kg
• 57 to 62 kg

Cadets (young women ages 16-17; or age 15 with a medical certificate and parental authorization) competing in freestyle wrestling do so in one of the following weight classes:

• 36 to 38 kg
• 40 kg
• 43 kg
• 46 kg
• 49 kg
• 52 kg
• 56 kg
• 60 kg
• 65 kg
• 65 to 70 kg

Juniors (young women ages 18 to 20; or age 17 with a medical certificate and parental authorization) competing in freestyle wrestling do so in one of the following weight classes:

• 40 to 44 kg
• 48 kg
• 51 kg
• 55 kg
• 59 kg
• 63 kg
• 67 kg
• 67 to 72 kg

Seniors (women ages 20 and up) competing in freestyle wrestling do so in one of the following weight classes:

• 44 to 48 kg
• 51 kg
• 55 kg
• 59 kg
• 63 kg
• 67 kg
• 67 to 72 kg

Different nations may have different weight classes and different age categories for their levels of freestyle competition.

The Match

A match is a competition between two individual wrestlers of the same weight class. In freestyle wrestling, a team of three referees is used. The referee controls the action in the center, blowing the whistle to start and stop the action. The judge sits at the side of the mat. The mat chairman sits at the scoring table and keeps time. To award points, assess penalties, or call a pin, two of the three officials must agree.

Victory Conditions in the International Styles

A match can be won in the following ways:

• Win by Fall: A fall, also known as a pin, occurs when one wrestler holds both his opponents' shoulders on the mat simultaneously. In freestyle and Greco-Roman, a pin must be held long enough for the referee to "observe the total control of the fall" (usually about one or two full seconds). Then either the judge or the mat chairman concurs with the referee that a fall is made. (If the referee does not indicate a fall, and the fall is valid, the judge and the mat chairman can concur together and announce the pin.) A fall ends the match entirely regardless of when it occurs. In the United States at least, for the Kids freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling division (wrestlers ages 8 to 14) in competitions sponsored by USA Wrestling and in the Tots, Bantam, Midget, and Junior divisions (wrestlers ages 5 to 12) in competitions sponsored by the Amateur Athletic Union, it is specified that a pin must be held for two full seconds.

The freestyle wrestler in the blue singlet scores points over the wrestler in the red singlet to win by decision.

• Win by Technical Fall (Also called Technical Superiority): If one wrestler gains a six-point lead over his opponent at any point, scores a five point throw (a throw where the persons feet go directly above their head, also called a throw of grand amplitude), or two three point takedowns (taking an opponent from their feet to their back or sides so that there is shoulder exposure), the current period is declared over and he is the winner of that period.
• Win by Decision: If neither wrestler achieves either type of fall, the one who has gained more points during the period is declared the winner. If the score is tied at zero at the end of a period, the wrestlers go through an overtime procedure called The Clinch in which wrestlers are required to enter the clinch position and wrestle till a point is scored, or until one of the wrestlers breaks the clinch.
• Win by Injury: If one wrestler is injured and unable to continue, the other wrestler is declared the winner. The term also encompasses situations where wrestlers bleed uncontrollably. If a wrestler is injured by his opponent's illegal maneuver and cannot continue, the wrestler at fault is disqualified.
• Win by Disqualification: If a wrestler is assessed three Cautions for breaking the rules, he is disqualified. Under other circumstances, such as flagrant brutality, the match may be ended immediately and the wrestler removed from the tournament.

Period Format

In freestyle and Greco-Roman, the format is now three two-minute periods a wrestler winning the match when he has won two out of three periods; for example if one competitor were to win the first period 1-0 and the second period 1-0, the match would be over. However, if the other competitor were to win the second period then third and deciding period would result. Only a fall or disqualification terminates the match; all other modes of victory result only in period termination. One side effect of this format is that it is possible for the losing wrestler to outscore the winner. For example, periods may be scored 3-2, 0-4, 1-0, leading to a total score of 4-6 but a win for the wrestler scoring fewer points.

Two United States military servicemen grapple in a freestyle wrestling championship match.

Scoring

In freestyle, points can be scored the following ways:

• Takedowns: Gaining control over your opponent from a neutral position, worth from one to five points.

5- A throw of grand amplitude, throwing your opponent so that their feet go directly above their head

3- taking your opponent from their feet to their back or side such that their shoulderblades are exposed to the mat

1- taking your opponent from their feet to their stomach or side such that their shoulders are not exposed to the mat

• Reversals: Gaining control over your opponent from a defensive position, worth one point.
• Exposure: Exposing your opponent's back to the mat at an acute angle (less than 90 degrees), worth two points. An additional hold-down point may be earned by maintaining the exposure continuously for five seconds.
• Penalty Points: Under the 2004-2005 changes to the international styles, a wrestler whose opponent takes an injury time-out receives one point unless the injured wrestler is bleeding. Any wrestler stepping out of bounds while standing in the neutral position during a match is penalized by giving his/her opponent a point. Other infractions (striking your opponent, acting with brutality or intent to injure, using illegal holds, etc.) are penalized by an award of points, a Caution, and choice of position.
• Out-of-Bounds: Whenever a wrestler places his foot on or over the boundary line, the match is stopped and a point is awarded to his opponent.

Classification points are also awarded, which give most points to the winner and in some cases, one point to the loser depending on the outcome of the match and how the victory was attained.

The full determinations for scoring are found here on pages 34 to 40.

Scores no longer rewarded in Greco-Roman and Freestyle wrestling

In 2004, FILA radically changed the format and scoring of the international styles. Part of this involved eliminating two ways of scoring which are possible from the par terre, or 'on the mat,' position.

• Escapes: Escaping your opponent's control.
• Lifting: Successfully lifting an opponent in the defensive position and exposing his back.

Team Scoring

In an international wrestling tournament, teams enter one wrestler at each weight class and score points based on the individual performances. For example, if a wrestler at the 52.0 kg weight class finishes in first place then their team will receive ten points. If he were to finish in tenth place then they would only receive one. At the end of the tournament each team's score is tallied and the team with the most points wins the team competition.

Dual Meets

A dual meet is a meeting between teams in which individual wrestlers at a given weight class compete against each other. Points are awarded to each team depending on the result - for example, a wrestler winning by pin scores four points for his team, and his opponent scores none, while a win by decision scores three points for the winning wrestler and one or zero for the loser depending on whether he scored points during the match. The team with the most points at the end of the matches win the dual meet.

Equipment

• A singlet is a one-piece wrestling garment made of spandex that should provide a tight and comfortable fit for the wrestler. It is made from nylon or lycra and prevents an opponent from using anything on the wrestler as leverage, although it is not required. One wrestler usually competes in a red singlet and the other in a blue singlet.
• A special pair of shoes is worn by a wrestler to increase their mobility and flexibility. Wrestling shoes are light and flexible in order to provide maximum comfort and movement. Usually made with rubber soles, they help give the wrestler's feet a better grip on the mat.
• A handkerchief, also called a bloodrag is carried in the singlet. In the event of bleeding, the wrestler will remove the cloth from their singlet and attempt to stop the bleeding or clean up any bodily fluids that may have gotten onto the mat.
• Headgear, equipment worn around the ears to protect them, is optional in freestyle. This is done at the participant's own risk, as there is the potential to develop cauliflower ear.

Two women wrestlers competing in a freestyle match.

Women's wrestling

Freestyle is the only style used for international competition in women's wrestling, possibly because of there being more strength usage in Greco-Roman. The rules for women's freestyle wrestling, with some modifications, are largely the same as that for the men. Women wear a special singlet, so that they will not simply have to wear a male's singlet with a T-shirt underneath. Some small U.S. College clubs wrestle freestyle against Canadian universities mostly because of the limited number of wrestling programs in the United States, and none of the U.S. organizations such as the NCAA sponsor women's wrestling, while the Canadian Interuniversity Sports Association does. Internationally, women compete in four age categories: schoolgirls, cadets, juniors, and seniors. The period lengths are the same, with a 30 second break between two periods.

See also

• Amateur wrestling
• Folk wrestling
• Greco-Roman wrestling
• Collegiate wrestling

References

Poliakoff, Michael (1996), "Wrestling, Freestyle", in Christensen, Karen (ed.), Encyclopedia of World Sport: From Ancient Times to the Present, vol. 3, Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, Inc., pp. 1189–1193

External links

• Website of the film 'Catch - the hold not taken', a documentary on the history of freestyle Wrestling
• USA Wrestling
• International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles, Hall of Fame