The ancient Olympics featured far fewer sports than we have today, but one sport that has remained constant throughout the centuries is wrestling. While wrestling has been part of the games since the first games, the sport was nearly eliminated from the docket for the 2016 games. Fortunately, enough protest was made so that Olympic committee put it back into the schedule.
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.
When the modern Olympic Games came into existence in the 1890s, all of the ancient sports were included in the new games with the exception of pankration. This sport, which combines elements of wrestling and boxing, is quite similar in many ways to today's mixed martial arts. Those practicing this combat sport could grapple, punch, kick, strike, throw an opponent down, employ chokeholds and just about anything they wanted in order to overwhelm an opponent. Only biting, nail scratches and eye gouges were not allowed. While it is not part of the modern games, pankration is recognized by FILA, the main governing body for all forms of wrestling.
FILA grappling is yet another type of wrestling, which is similar in many ways to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Judo. It is basically a hybrid of the two aforementioned martial arts as well as wrestling and sambo. Again, it is quite similar to MMA, but striking is not allowed, nor is kicking and as the name suggests, the emphasis is on grappling skills. There are two styles of FILA wrestling, Gi and No-Gi, which simply means that either the fighters wear the Gi or they don't.
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.
When the modern Olympic Games came into existence in the 1890s, all of the ancient sports were included in the new games with the exception of pankration. This sport, which combines elements of wrestling and boxing, is quite similar in many ways to today's mixed martial arts. Those practicing this combat sport could grapple, punch, kick, strike, throw an opponent down, employ chokeholds and just about anything they wanted in order to overwhelm an opponent. Only biting, nail scratches and eye gouges were not allowed. While it is not part of the modern games, pankration is recognized by FILA, the main governing body for all forms of wrestling.
FILA grappling is yet another type of wrestling, which is similar in many ways to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Judo. It is basically a hybrid of the two aforementioned martial arts as well as wrestling and sambo. Again, it is quite similar to MMA, but striking is not allowed, nor is kicking and as the name suggests, the emphasis is on grappling skills. There are two styles of FILA wrestling, Gi and No-Gi, which simply means that either the fighters wear the Gi or they don't.
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 blogging about mixed martial arts benefits. For additional information about San Diego wrestling classes or to discover a San Diego martial arts gym, click here now.
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