'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. Freestyle wrestling, like its American counterpart, collegiate (also known as scholastic or folkstyle) wrestling, has its origins in
catch-as-catch-can wrestling and both have the prime victory condition of the wrestler winning by pinning his opponent on the mat.
History
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.
[1] "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.
[2] "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.
[2] Also, there was the
Irish collar-and-elbow style, where wrestlers started out on their feet with both wrestlers grasping each other by the collar with one hand and by the elbow with the other. If neither wrestler then achieved a fall, the contestants would continue both standingand on the ground until a fall was made. Irish
immigrants later brought this style of wrestling to the United States, where it soon became widespread, especially because of the success of the wrestling champion of the
Army of the Potomac,
George William Flagg from
Vermont.
[2] 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.
[1]
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.
[2] 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.
[1]
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.
[2]
Nineteenth century wrestling matches were particularly long, and the Greco-Roman bouts could last as many as eight to nine hours, and even then, it was only decided by a draw.
[9] In the 20th century, soon time limits were set for matches.
[10] For more than forty years into the twentieth century, freestyle and its American counterpart collegiate wrestling did not have a scoring system that decided matches in the absence of a fall. The introduction of a point system by
Oklahoma State University wrestling coach Art Griffith that gained acceptance in
1941 influenced the international styles as well. By the
1960s international wrestling matches, freestyle and Greco-Roman were scored by a panel of three judges in secret, who made the final decision by raising colored paddles at the match's end.
Dr. Albert de Ferrari from
San Francisco who became vice president of FILA, lobbied for a visible scoring system and a rule for "controlled fall", which would recognize a fall only when the offensive wrestler had done something to cause it. These were soon adopted internationally in freestyle and Greco-Roman.
[11] 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.
[12] 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 medalists 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.
[13]
Weight Classes
Main articles: Wrestling weight classes
Currently, international men's freestyle wrestling is divided into four main age categories: schoolboys, cadets, juniors, and seniors.
[14] 
This freestyle wrestler locks the limbs of his opponent in order to take him down to the mat.
Schoolboys (young men ages 14-15; or age 13 with a medical certificate and parental authorization) wrestle in 10 weight classes ranging from 29 to 85 kg.
[14] Cadets (young men ages 16-17; or age 15 with a medical certificate and parental authorization) wrestle in 10 weight classes ranging from 39 to 100 kg.
[14] Juniors (young men ages 18 to 20; or age 17 with a medical certificate and parental authorization) wrestle in eight weight classes ranging from 46 to 120 kg.
[14] Seniors (men ages 20 and up) wrestle in seven weight classes ranging from 50 to 120 kg.
[14] 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.
[14] Also, all of the men's age categories and weight classes can be applied to
Greco-Roman wrestling.
[14]
Women currently compete in freestyle wrestling in one of four age categories on an international level: schoolgirls, cadets, juniors, and seniors.
[14] Schoolgirls (young women ages 14-15; or age 13 with a medical certificate and parental authorization) wrestle in 10 weight classes ranging from 28 to 62 kg.
[14] Cadets (young women ages 16-17; or age 15 with a medical certificate and parental authorization) wrestle in 10 weight classes ranging from 36 to 70 kg.
[14] Juniors (young women ages 18 to 20; or age 17 with a medical certificate and parental authorization) wrestle in eight weight classes ranging from 40 to 72 kg.
[14] Seniors (women ages 20 and up) wrestle in seven weight classes ranging from 44 to 72 kg.
[14] Different nations may have different weight classes and different age categories for their levels of freestyle competition.
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.
[14]
★ A special pair of '
shoes' is worn by a wrestler to increase his 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.
[14]
★ A 'handkerchief,' also called a 'bloodrag' is carried in the singlet. In the event of bleeding, the wrestler will remove the cloth from his singlet and attempt to stop the bleeding or clean up any bodily fluids that may have gotten onto the mat.
[14]
★ '
Headgear', equipment worn around the ears to protect the wrestler, is optional in freestyle. This is done at the participant's own risk, as there is the potential to develop
cauliflower ear.
[14]
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.
[14]
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.
[14] 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[32] 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.
[33]
★ '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 person's feet go directly above his head, also called a throw of grand amplitude), or two three point takedowns (taking an opponent from his 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.
[14]
★ '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.
[14]
★ '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.
[14]
★ '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.
[14]
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.
[14]
The freestyle wrestler in the blue
singlet scores points over the wrestler in the red singlet to win by decision.
Scoring
In freestyle, points can be scored the following ways:
★ 'Takedowns': A wrestler gaining control over his opponent from a neutral position, worth from one to five points.
::5- A throw of grand amplitude, a wrestler throwing his opponent so that his feet go directly above his head
::3- A wrestler taking his opponent from his feet to his back or side such that his shoulders are exposed to the mat
::1- A wrestler taking his opponent from his feet to his stomach or side such that his shoulders are not exposed to the mat
★ 'Reversals': A wrestler gaining control over his opponent from a defensive position, worth one point.
★ 'Exposure' also called the 'Danger Position': A wrestler exposing his 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 opponent a point. Other infractions (striking the 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': A wrestler escaping his opponent's control.
★ 'Lifting': A wrestler 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 his team will receive ten points. If he were to finish in tenth place, then the team 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.
[14]
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.
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 United States college wrestling 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. The period lengths are the same, with a 30 second break between two periods.
[14] Women's wrestling made its Olympic debut at the
2004 Olympic Games in
Athens,
Greece.
See also
★
Amateur wrestling
★
Folk wrestling
★
Greco-Roman wrestling
★
Collegiate wrestling
Notes
1. Freestyle Wrestling
2. "Wrestling, Freestyle" by Michael B. Poliakoff from ''Encyclopedia of World Sport: From Ancient Times to the Present'', Vol. 3, p. 1190, eds. David Levinson and Karen Christensen (Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, Inc., 1996).
3. "Wrestling, Freestyle" by Michael B. Poliakoff from ''Encyclopedia of World Sport: From Ancient Times to the Present'', Vol. 3, p. 1190, eds. David Levinson and Karen Christensen (Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, Inc., 1996).
4. "Wrestling, Freestyle" by Michael B. Poliakoff from ''Encyclopedia of World Sport: From Ancient Times to the Present'', Vol. 3, p. 1190, eds. David Levinson and Karen Christensen (Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, Inc., 1996).
5. Freestyle Wrestling
6. "Wrestling, Freestyle" by Michael B. Poliakoff from ''Encyclopedia of World Sport: From Ancient Times to the Present'', Vol. 3, p. 1190, eds. David Levinson and Karen Christensen (Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, Inc., 1996).
7. Freestyle Wrestling
8. "Wrestling, Freestyle" by Michael B. Poliakoff from ''Encyclopedia of World Sport: From Ancient Times to the Present'', Vol. 3, p. 1190, eds. David Levinson and Karen Christensen (Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, Inc., 1996).
9. "Wrestling, Greco-Roman" by Michael B. Poliakoff from ''Encyclopedia of World Sport: From Ancient Times to the Present'', Vol. 3, p. 1196, eds. David Levinson and Karen Christensen (Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, Inc., 1996).
10. "Wrestling, Freestyle" by Michael B. Poliakoff from ''Encyclopedia of World Sport: From Ancient Times to the Present'', Vol. 3, p. 1191, eds. David Levinson and Karen Christensen (Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, Inc., 1996)
11. The Oldest Sport
12. "Wrestling, Freestyle" by Michael B. Poliakoff from ''Encyclopedia of World Sport: From Ancient Times to the Present'', Vol. 3, p. 1191, eds. David Levinson and Karen Christensen (Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, Inc., 1996).
13. "Wrestling, Freestyle" by Michael B. Poliakoff from ''Encyclopedia of World Sport: From Ancient Times to the Present'', Vol. 3, p. 1193, eds. David Levinson and Karen Christensen (Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, Inc., 1996).
14. International Wrestling Rules: Greco-Roman Wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling, Women's Wrestling
15. International Wrestling Rules: Greco-Roman Wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling, Women's Wrestling
16. International Wrestling Rules: Greco-Roman Wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling, Women's Wrestling
17. International Wrestling Rules: Greco-Roman Wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling, Women's Wrestling
18. International Wrestling Rules: Greco-Roman Wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling, Women's Wrestling
19. International Wrestling Rules: Greco-Roman Wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling, Women's Wrestling
20. International Wrestling Rules: Greco-Roman Wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling, Women's Wrestling
21. International Wrestling Rules: Greco-Roman Wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling, Women's Wrestling
22. International Wrestling Rules: Greco-Roman Wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling, Women's Wrestling
23. International Wrestling Rules: Greco-Roman Wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling, Women's Wrestling
24. International Wrestling Rules: Greco-Roman Wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling, Women's Wrestling
25. International Wrestling Rules: Greco-Roman Wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling, Women's Wrestling
26. International Wrestling Rules: Greco-Roman Wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling, Women's Wrestling
27. International Wrestling Rules: Greco-Roman Wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling, Women's Wrestling
28. International Wrestling Rules: Greco-Roman Wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling, Women's Wrestling
29. International Wrestling Rules: Greco-Roman Wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling, Women's Wrestling
30. International Wrestling Rules: Greco-Roman Wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling, Women's Wrestling
31. International Wrestling Rules: Greco-Roman Wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling, Women's Wrestling
32. International Wrestling Rules: Greco-Roman Wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling, Women's Wrestling, modified for USA Wrestling
33. 2005 Wrestling Handbook, Part XVI:International Rules and Regulations (FILA)
34. International Wrestling Rules: Greco-Roman Wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling, Women's Wrestling
35. International Wrestling Rules: Greco-Roman Wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling, Women's Wrestling
36. International Wrestling Rules: Greco-Roman Wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling, Women's Wrestling
37. International Wrestling Rules: Greco-Roman Wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling, Women's Wrestling
38. International Wrestling Rules: Greco-Roman Wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling, Women's Wrestling
39. International Wrestling Rules: Greco-Roman Wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling, Women's Wrestling
40. International Wrestling Rules: Greco-Roman Wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling, Women's Wrestling
References
★
★
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
العربية
中国
Français
Deutsch
Ελληνική
हिन्दी
Italiano
日本語
Português
Русский
Español
