FREE ESSAY ON HISTORY OF WRESTLING

HISTORY OF WRESTLING

The forms of wrestling we know today as Greco-Roman, Folkstyle, and Freestyle found their
origins in the lands on the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea. These lands are where
the Ancient Greeks resided, and developed the art of wrestling. The Greeks influenced the
styles and skills of wrestling of today.
The sport of wrestling has been highly developed for over five thousand years, and it is
believed to have begun part of the soldiers training, The Ancient Greeks and The sport of
Wrestling stated. Proof of this lie on the walls of the tomb in Beni Hasan in the form of
pictures. These pictures are about five thousand years old and show holds from both the
standing positions and the ground positions. From that time to the present wrestling
turned from military skill to a sport skill. (The Ancient Greeks and The sport of
Wrestling,7-2)
During this time wrestling was also developed in other cultures, like that of ancient
Greeks. Wrestling to the Greeks was not only part of the soldier's training, but was also
a part of everyday life. Youth did not only learn grammar, art of speech, and
mathematics, but young men also went through physical training, which consist of dancing
and the art of wrestling. The Greeks saw wrestling as a development of grace and an
activity that demands a high skill and physical fitness. (The Ancient Greeks and The
sport of Wrestling,7-3)
Greek literature points out this skill of wrestling was used by gods and kings, as well
as by soldiers and private citizens, in their efforts to overcome evil and brute force.
Most of the heroes of Greek mythology were considered skillful wrestlers. Their view of
skill most likely led to its introduction as a major sport in the Olympic Games in the
year 704 B.C. (The Ancient Greeks and The sport of Wrestling,7-4)
Wrestling was a major sport in most Greek festivals, including the Olympic Games. In
these festivals sports other than wrestling, such as foot races, chariot-races, throwing
of the discos and javelin, and boxing, were also included. These events with variations
and additions made up the program of the athletic festivals of Greece through the whole
history. The events of the Olympic Games survived even through the rise and the fall of
the Roman Empire. With the conquering of the Greece by the Romans, the Greek form of
wrestling began to lose popularity, since, the Romans didn't have the same sense of grace
and skill, stated The Ancient Greeks and The sport of Wrestling. The Romans were also not
interested in brute strength and violence. (The Ancient Greeks and The sport of
Wrestling,7-5) 
One last thing that brought the decline of Greek wrestling, is the participation of many
more countries in the Olympics. This was due to The Romans allowing other countries in
the Olympics. The Greek spectators became tired of seeing their local wrestling heroes
being defeated by competitors from the East. The success of the Asian wrestlers and
others help along the decline of Greek Wrestling. (The Ancient Greeks and The sport of
Wrestling,7-5)
Wrestling technique has changed very little, and many of the modern holds were derived
from the sport as it was practiced in ancient Egypt, in 704, included wrestling. Evidence
that matches were increasingly being fixed and competitors rigged, however, cut short
popularity of the sport, and it lay dormant for hundreds of years, stated the Concise
Encyclopedia of Sports. (Concise Encyclopedia of Sports, 7-3)
During the 19th century, Freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling regained popular interest.
Circuses and carnivals in the United States sponsored wrestling matches, and this
activity led directly to the revival of wrestling. William Muldon was declared the first
American Champion. Following World War I, fixed professional wrestling matches threatened
to discredit wrestling, but the Federation International des Luttes Amateur founded in
1921, saved the sport. This governing body codified rules, set standards, and organized
competitions for all amateur 7 freestyle and 6 Greco-Roman weight divisions, an increase
from only having one weight division in the 1904 Olympics. (Concise Encyclopedia of
Sports, 7-3) 
In the Olympic and international completions wrestlers compete against others
approximately the same weight. Ten weight classifications exist from 15.8 pounds too more
than 220.4 pounds. Competitors must wear tight-fitting one-piece singlets. The wrestling
mat is a raised platform, 6-8 meters square. A match is scheduled for three rounds, each
period lasting three minutes, with 1-minute rest periods between them. Matches are won
either by pinning an opponent's shoulders to the mat and holding them for one second or
by accumulating the greater number of points during the match. A referee, judge, and a
mat chairman decide on the awarding of penalty points. Wrestlers are not allowed to pull
hair, kick, punch, grip the edge of the mat, use head locks, and bend an opponent's arm
more than 90 degrees or use any hold that may endanger the physical well-being of the
opponent. (Sports and Games, 5-4)
There are many different styles of wrestling. One of the most popular that is used in
high school and college in the United States is folkstyle. This style developed in the
United States as a modified form of the European Freestyle with variations influenced by
the American Indian and early pioneers. In fact several history references indicated that
both George Washington and Abe Lincoln were good Folkstyle wrestlers. (Rules of the Game,
4-2)
Folkstyle concentrates on control and the execution of moves, with points awarded for
successfully executing a move to gain control or escape your opponents' control. The
wrestler on top must constantly work towards a pin while the wrestler on bottom must
continually try to escape or reverse. In some aspects, Folkstyle is similar to Freestyle
terms of wrestling technique used, however the rules influence the selection of attacks
and the conduct of the match. (Rules of the Game, 4-2) 
Another popular style of wrestling is Freestyle. Freestyle is used in the Olympic games.
It is similar folkstyle wrestling in terms of technique, but the rules and scoring are
different. Anyone who wrestles folkstyle can wrestler freestyle. Because of the rules
there are additional moves that can be don such as the gut wrench and leg lace. Matches
are usually on five-minute period in the open and high school divisions and two periods
with short break between for the younger age groups.
Wrestlers start on their feet, and points are accumulated by taking the opponent to the
mat and exposing his back. Points are given for back exposure without having to hold your
man down on his back for a certain period of time. Your opponents' back does not have to
touch the mat, just be exposed towards the mat for a fraction of a second. A pin is
accomplished by bringing both of your opponents' shoulders or scapula in contact with the
mat at the same time, according to Rules of the Game.
Since the emphasis in Freestyle is on attack and exposure, just controlling the opponent
from the top with no continuos back exposure is considered a stalemate, and both
wrestlers are brought to their feet after a short time in order for the bout to continue,
stated in Rules of the Game. Also, a wrestler can easily score points or pin himself by
exposing his own back unless he is very careful how he performs his movements. There are
no points for escapes and you can stall on bottom after you are takedown. Your objective
on bottom is to gain a stalemate and to be restarted from the neutral position.
Attempting an escape may only give your opponents points if you expose your back to the
mat. You can score 1 point for a reversal from the defensive position. However, you may
give up points if you expose your back while attempting a reversal. (Rules of the
Game,4-3)
Another important points about both Freestyle and Greco-Roman is that there is no penalty
for failed throws. If a wrestler attempts a throw and ends up being taken down by his
opponent, his opponent does not score points and wrestling is restarted from the neutral
position. Also, either wrestler can lock his hands at any time. 
Wrestling is an old sport, it is extremely popular in ancient Greek and Roman societies.
When the Romans conquered the Greeks, their two styles of wrestling gradually merged and
created the internationally popular style of wrestling named Greco-Roman. Although other
styles of wrestling are more popular in the United States, Greco-Roman is very popular in
many other parts of the world.
The unique characteristics that makes Greco-Roman so different from other styles of
wrestling is the fact that holds or attacks below the waist are not permitted. For this
reason, upper body throws are the norm. (Rules of the Game, 4-4)
Like Freestyle, Greco-Roman concentrates on taking your opponent to the mat and exposing
his back, without using or attacking the legs. Points for takedowns and exposures are
nearly identical between Freestyle and Greco-Roman, so long as the legs are not used.
Both Freestyle and Greco-Roman, in addition to judo, are recognized Olympic sports.
(Rules of the Game, 4-4) 
In addition to these styles there are many other styles of wrestling. In the national
style of Ireland, collar-and-elbow wrestling, the competitors wear short jackets with
strong collars and grasp each other's collar behind the left ear with the right hand. The
position of the hands cannot be changed until the fall is secure. Changing the position
of the hands is a foul and loses the fall. Two shoulders and one hip or both hips and one
shoulder must touch the floor at the same time for this fall.
Wrestling in Japan dates more than 2,000 years. Two styles are popular: sumo and jujitsu.
Sumo is the national style. Weight is the main factor, and so most Japanese sumo
wrestlers are very large. The methods are similar to those of Greco-Roman, but touching
the floor with any part of the body except the feet or leaving the mat loses the fall. A
similar sport is popular in India, but both shoulders must be pinned to the mat at the
same time. (Encyclopedia of World Sports, 3-2)
Jujitsu was introduced into Japan from China many centuries ago. For ages it was a secret
art, guarded jealously by the nobility, stated the Encyclopedia of World Sports. Now it
is known not only throughout Japan many other countries. During World War II and there
after all United States combat troops learned judo, which is similar to jujitsu, as means
of fighting without weapons. (Encyclopedia of World Sports, 3-3)
The art of falling without injury is the first principle of jujitsu. Often an expert will
fall purposely in order to trap an unwary opponent into a dangerous position. This is
called conquering by yielding.
Another type of wrestling, called sambo, was recognized in 1964 by the International
Federation of Amateur Wrestling. Developed in the Soviet Union in the 1930s, it is
popular today in Russia and also in Bulgaria and Japan. Based on regional wrestling
styles, sambo resembles both jujitsu and Greco-Roman.
There are many different variations of the sport of wrestling but they all still carry
the tradition that the early Greeks started many years ago. This tradition is hard work,
discipline and grace.
Bibliography
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Brosch, R. How Did Sports Begin? New York: David McKay company, Inc., 1970
Carson, Ray. The Ancient Greeks and the Sport of Wrestling. New Jersey: Barnes and Co.,
1974.
Lewinson, David, Christensen, Karen. III Encyclopedia of World Sports. California:
ABC-CLIO, Inc., 1996.
Sports and Games. California: Sydney, 1997.
The Consise Encyclopedia of Sports. USA: Grolier Incorporated, 1970.
Rules of the Game. USA: Paddington Press LTD, 1974.
Wrestling. Comptors Encyclopedia. 1995 ed.