Wrestling at the Olympics
Wrestling is a combat sport that involves grappling, or the use of physical force and techniques to overcome an opponent. Wrestling has been around for thousands of years and is one of the oldest forms of martial arts.
Today, there are many different types of wrestling, some of which have evolved into new martial arts such as judo and sambo. In addition to being used for self-protection and combating opponents, wrestling is also practiced at the Olympics as a combat sport. Olympic wrestling was first included in the Olympic Games in 1904, and it remains one of the most popular events there.
What Makes a Martial Art a Martial Art?
Martial arts are physical practices and disciplines from around the world that can be used for self-protection and combating opponents. Martial arts have been around for thousands of years and have evolved over time. Each style has its own set of techniques and skills to learn.
You might be wondering, how can wrestling be a martial art? Martial arts have been around for thousands of years, but wrestling is one of the oldest forms of martial art. Today, we think of wrestling as a sport that people either love or hate: but it's widely recognized as a traditional martial art by many countries and cultures around the world.
In fact, the roots of modern-day mixed martial arts (MMA) competitions can be traced back to freestyle and folkstyle wrestling competitions dating back to ancient times. Wrestling is one of only three Olympic sports that originated in Ancient Greece (the others being boxing and pankration).
Different Styles of Wrestling
There are many different styles of wrestling, some of which have evolved into completely new martial arts. Long ago, wrestling was practiced by the ancient Greeks and Romans. The most common form of wrestling generally involves two people who try to pin each other down in order to gain points or win the match altogether.
Some of the other styles developed from wrestling include Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling (also called folkstyle).
Difference Between Greco-Roman and Freestyle
Sumo and Catch Wrestling
We've all heard of Sumo wrestling, but you could say that catch wrestling doesn't get the attention it deserves. There's none better than Josh Barnett to explain catch wrestling and how it differs from other styles.
Each style has its own set of rules for competition and may vary depending on where they're being held. If you're competing, it's important to know what sort of competition you're entering before you sign up! The Olympics for example, use a freestyle wrestling ruleset.
On the opposite end, if you show up to a catch wrestling tournament expecting freestyle rules, you'll be in for a rude awakening.
Wrestling For MMA
In tournaments or matches today, there are various styles and techniques used by wrestlers depending on what style they choose to follow (freestyle, Greco-Roman, and catch). These styles differ in terms of what kind of hold they allow when trying to pin down an opponent – whether only certain parts can be held onto during grappling or if all areas are fair game.
As a form of martial arts, wrestling provides a variety of styles, techniques and skills to learn. It doubles as both a combat sport and self-defense "system" that requires physical strength, endurance and mental focus. If you want to add another element to your self-protection training, wrestling can be practiced with the use of weapons.
While some forms are arguably less combative than others (e.g., collegiate wrestling), all of them require participants to engage in physical contact with each other while attempting to gain some sort of advantage over their opponent(s).
Wrestling Is Effective In Sport and Self-Protection
Experienced grapplers can have a pretty steep advantage over someone who doesn't have any wrestling (or grappling) training. This is especially true if the wrestler has any kind of size advantage.
The principles and techniques involved in wrestling (no matter which style you practice or prefer) enhance your ability to put yourself in an advantageous position during a competition or real-life encounter. Martial relates to war and and wrestling could most certainly help someone survive during hand to hand combat.
