What Is Pin Style Wrestling?

Although the word "wrestling" is usually associated with the collegiate and freestyle competitions you see in high school and colleges, it can also mean any kind of grappling competition. In the days before mixed martial arts, "pin wrestling" described one sort of grappling, and was used in contrast with styles like "catch as catch can" and "no holds barred."

Pins and Submissions

The core definition of "pin wrestling" is that pin wrestling styles end a match when one wrestler holds another on his back for a defined period of time. When that happens, the match ends and the wrestler who scored the pin wins. Other styles of wrestling usually use a submission to end the match. In those styles, a painful hold or lock, or a choke, will force one wrestler to surrender and end the match.

Definition of a Pin

In most cases, a pin is defined as holding the opponent's shoulder blades flat to the mat for a set number of seconds. Exactly how long may vary from style to style, but three seconds is a common standard. Some styles of wrestling also define the kinds of hold you may use to hold a wrestler on his back. For example, collegiate wrestling allows a wrestler to clasp his hands together in a pin only if they are wrapped around two or more limbs.

Examples of Pin-Style Wrestling

Collegiate wrestling, the style used in most high school and college wrestling competitions, is one of the most common examples of pin-style wrestling. Freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling are other examples, and appear in the Olympics and similar international competition between adults. Judo can also be considered pin-style wrestling, as a 25-second pin is one way to end a match with a win.

Submission Wrestling

Submission wrestling is the other main category of wrestling competition, and includes any style that allows a wrestler to use pain compliance or chokes to force an opponent to give up. Some examples of submission wrestling styles include Brazilian jujitsu, traditional jujitsu, pankration and modern mixed martial arts. Judo is also a submission style, since chokes and joint locks can also be used to win a match.