When you hear about wrestling, you may envision a roped ring containing maniacal characters with bulging veins who smash each other's heads with steel chairs. Though wildly popular, that's professional wrestling, which is far more soap opera than competitive sport. Amateur wrestling, however, is a real and challenging sport with roots that date back as many as 15,000 years. Like any other competitive sport, it comes with its own unique set of rules and fundamentals.
Wrestling matches are held between two opponents on a cushioned mat and inside a circle drawn at least 28 feet in circumference. Matches consist of three two-minute periods, with the clock stopping only when the wrestlers go out of bounds for injury or when the referee determines there's a stalemate. A wrestler wins a match in one of in two ways: by outscoring his opponent or by pinning him. A pin occurs when a wrestler forces both of his opponent's shoulder blades to the mat for two seconds. The match is then over, and points earned become null and void.
Scoring System
When neither wrestler manages to pin his opponent, the winner is determined by points. Wrestlers can earn points in a variety of ways. Two points are awarded for taking down your opponent. Similarly, two points can be earned by engineering a reversal, in which you go from being in a controlled position to gaining control of the other wrestler. When a wrestler escapes his opponent's control and is able to turn and face him, he earns a point for an escape. Wrestlers can also earn back points, which are given in near-fall situations, when one contestant holds the other in a near-pin position for multiple seconds.
Illegal Holds
Mat wrestling is a far cry from the anything-goes professional version. The most notable difference, aside from the lack of props and weapons, is that you cannot power-slam your opponent to the mat with excessive force. Headlocks are permitted, but only when the aggressor also has an opponent's arm in the lock. Choke holds are illegal. Competitors also may not grab individual fingers, twist opponents' knees or use any other hold aimed solely at inflicting pain, rather than gaining position.
Other Specifics
Wrestlers are classified by weight classes ranging between 103 pounds and heavyweight. While some wrestlers will "wrestle up" one weight class to avoid a dominant opponent, they may not wrestle in a class below their designated weight. In dual matches and tournaments, teams earn six points for a pin, five points for a technical fall -- earned when a wrestler earns a 15-point lead, thus ending the match -- four points for a major decision of 8 to 14 points and three points for a victory via points, also known as a decision.
Member Comments