Wrestling is an ancient sport and has been practiced in one form or another for many centuries. The earliest Olympic Games included wrestling as have all the modern Olympics, although the International Olympic Committee did try to eliminate the sport from the 2016 Summer Games. Fortunately, the protest was strong enough that the IOC reinstated wrestling and it will remain for now.
While there are many different types of wrestling, one of the types you see during the Olympics is Greco-Roman wrestling. The other type of wrestling displayed at the Olympic Games is freestyle wrestling. These two types of wrestling have some key differences. Holds below the waist are not allowed in Greco-Roman wrestling, but they are part of freestyle wrestling. Freestyle wrestlers are allowed to use their legs to takedown an opponent, while Greco Roman wrestlers cannot.
Freestyle wrestlers also can apply a throwdown maneuver and then a hold after their opponent is on the ground. In Greco-Roman wrestling, the wresters must remain in contact with the opponent during the entire takedown or the hold is not legal. Greco-Roman wrestlers basically must use only their arms and upper body to overcome an opponent, and while Freestyle wrestling certainly isn't easy, the wrestlers do have a few more options than they do with traditional Greco-Roman techniques.
In 1896, the first Olympic games of the modern era were held. These games included all of the ancient sports as well as some more modern additions such as cycling. However, there was one notable exception. The sport of pankration, which had been a part of the ancient games, was not included. This combat sport, which was no doubt a precursor to mixed martial arts, is a sort of anything-goes type of sport that included many wrestling elements as well as boxing, kickboxing, striking and a variety of chokes. Actually, fighters really could do just about anything they wanted in order to win the fight. You couldn't bite nor could you gouge someone's eyes, but pretty much everything else was fine. While it is not an Olympic sport, the world's main wrestling organization, FILA, recognizes the sport.
Another type of wrestling that has many similarities to MMA is FILA grappling, although in this combat sport, striking is not allowed. Elements of wrestling, sambo, Judo, Jiu-Jitsu and American folk wrestling are all seen in FILA grappling, which has two categories, No-Gi or Gi, depending on what the fighters wear. The emphasis on grappling stresses the importance of strong groundwork skills and fighters spend a great deal of their time perfecting submission holds, such as chokes and joint locks.
This is really just the tip of the iceberg as most countries and cultures have their own ancient forms of wrestling or folk wrestling. A few of the other well-known types of wrestling include sambo and oil wrestling. Sambo was created in Russia during the time of the Soviet Union and includes elements of Greco-Roman wrestling, Judo and freestyle. Oil wrestling is the Turkish national sport and opponents cover themselves in oil prior to the bout, which makes things both messy and quite difficult.
While there are many different types of wrestling, one of the types you see during the Olympics is Greco-Roman wrestling. The other type of wrestling displayed at the Olympic Games is freestyle wrestling. These two types of wrestling have some key differences. Holds below the waist are not allowed in Greco-Roman wrestling, but they are part of freestyle wrestling. Freestyle wrestlers are allowed to use their legs to takedown an opponent, while Greco Roman wrestlers cannot.
Freestyle wrestlers also can apply a throwdown maneuver and then a hold after their opponent is on the ground. In Greco-Roman wrestling, the wresters must remain in contact with the opponent during the entire takedown or the hold is not legal. Greco-Roman wrestlers basically must use only their arms and upper body to overcome an opponent, and while Freestyle wrestling certainly isn't easy, the wrestlers do have a few more options than they do with traditional Greco-Roman techniques.
In 1896, the first Olympic games of the modern era were held. These games included all of the ancient sports as well as some more modern additions such as cycling. However, there was one notable exception. The sport of pankration, which had been a part of the ancient games, was not included. This combat sport, which was no doubt a precursor to mixed martial arts, is a sort of anything-goes type of sport that included many wrestling elements as well as boxing, kickboxing, striking and a variety of chokes. Actually, fighters really could do just about anything they wanted in order to win the fight. You couldn't bite nor could you gouge someone's eyes, but pretty much everything else was fine. While it is not an Olympic sport, the world's main wrestling organization, FILA, recognizes the sport.
Another type of wrestling that has many similarities to MMA is FILA grappling, although in this combat sport, striking is not allowed. Elements of wrestling, sambo, Judo, Jiu-Jitsu and American folk wrestling are all seen in FILA grappling, which has two categories, No-Gi or Gi, depending on what the fighters wear. The emphasis on grappling stresses the importance of strong groundwork skills and fighters spend a great deal of their time perfecting submission holds, such as chokes and joint locks.
This is really just the tip of the iceberg as most countries and cultures have their own ancient forms of wrestling or folk wrestling. A few of the other well-known types of wrestling include sambo and oil wrestling. Sambo was created in Russia during the time of the Soviet Union and includes elements of Greco-Roman wrestling, Judo and freestyle. Oil wrestling is the Turkish national sport and opponents cover themselves in oil prior to the bout, which makes things both messy and quite difficult.
About the Author:
Rod Bourgoine likes writing about MMA benefits. For additional details about San Diego wrestling lessons or to find a San Diego martial arts gym, click here now.
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