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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.
There are many kinds of wrestling, but just a few are displayed at the Olympics, including Greco-Roman and Freestyle wrestling. At first glance, the two look similar, but there are actually some very important differences. Freestyle wrestlers, for instance, are allowed to takedown a foe using their legs and they are also can hold and grab opponents below their waist. Neither of those moves, however, is allowed in the realm of Greco-Roman wrestling.
Another difference is that freestylers can throw an opponent down and then apply some type of hold, but Greco Roman wrestlers must stay in contact with their opponent during the takedown and then place their opponent in a hold. If they fail to do this, the hold will not count. While it would be wrong to say that freestyle wrestling is easier than Greco-Roman, freestyle wrestlers do tend to have more options available to them while Greco-Roman wrestlers tend to rely more on upper body force and strength.
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.
There are many kinds of wrestling, but just a few are displayed at the Olympics, including Greco-Roman and Freestyle wrestling. At first glance, the two look similar, but there are actually some very important differences. Freestyle wrestlers, for instance, are allowed to takedown a foe using their legs and they are also can hold and grab opponents below their waist. Neither of those moves, however, is allowed in the realm of Greco-Roman wrestling.
Another difference is that freestylers can throw an opponent down and then apply some type of hold, but Greco Roman wrestlers must stay in contact with their opponent during the takedown and then place their opponent in a hold. If they fail to do this, the hold will not count. While it would be wrong to say that freestyle wrestling is easier than Greco-Roman, freestyle wrestlers do tend to have more options available to them while Greco-Roman wrestlers tend to rely more on upper body force and strength.
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 mixed martial arts benefits. For additional information about San Diego wrestling lessons or to find a San Diego martial arts gym, click here now.
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