Greco-Roman wrestling
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Greco-Roman wrestling is a form of amateur wrestling practiced throughout the world. It is one of three styles contested in the Olympic games and one of the base styles of Real Pro Wrestling.
According to the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA), Greco-Roman wrestling is one of the four main forms of amateur competitive wrestling practiced internationally today, the other three being judo, Freestyle wrestling and sambo.
Colloquially referred to simply as 'Greco,' this style of wrestling forbids attacks below the waist. As a result, throws are encouraged as the opponent cannot avoid being thrown by simply hooking or grabbing his opponent's leg. Otherwise, the sport is identical to freestyle.
This form of wrestling was believed to have adapted from the Ancient Greek style of wrestling and to have been practiced mostly by Roman soldiers throughout the empire. In fact, it is derived from a 19th Century French form of show-wrestling popular for its high throws. Real ancient wrestling was quite different; see pankration.
Famous practitioners include the Russian Alexander Karelin and the American Rulon Gardner; a popular story holds that Abraham Lincoln was in a Greco match when he was informed that he had been elected President of the United States.
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[edit] The Match
A match is a competition between two individual wrestlers of the same weight class. In Greco-Roman wrestling, a team of three referees is used. The referee controls the action in the center, blowing the whistle to start and stop the action. The judge sits at the side of the mat. The mat chairman sits at the scoring table and keeps time. To award points, assess penalties, or call a pin, two of the three officials must agree.
[edit] Victory Conditions in Greco-Roman Wrestling
A match can be won in the following ways:
- Win by Fall: A fall, also known as a pin, occurs when one wrestler holds both his opponents' shoulders on the mat simultaneously. In Greco, a pin must be held long enough for the referee to count '21, 22' in French (vignt-et-un, vingt-deux), about one second. A fall ends the match entirely regardless of when it occurs.
- Win by Technical Fall: If one wrestler gains a six-point lead over his opponent at any point, the current period is declared over and he is the winner of that period.
- Win by Decision: If neither wrestler achieves either type of fall, the one who has gained more points during the period is declared the winner. If the score is tied, the wrestlers go through an overtime procedure called The Clinch.
- Win by Injury: If one wrestler is injured and unable to continue, the other wrestler is declared the winner. The term also encompasses situations where wrestlers bleed uncontrollably. If a wrestler is injured by his opponent's illegal maneuver and cannot continue, the wrestler at fault is disqualified.
- Win by Disqualification: If a wrestler is assessed three Cautions for breaking the rules, he is disqualified. Under other circumstances, such as flagrant brutality, the match may be ended immediately and the wrestler removed from the tournament.
[edit] Period Format
In Greco, the format is now three two-minute periods a wrestler winning the match when he has won two out of three periods; for example if one competitor were to win the first period 1-0 and the second period 1-0, the match would be over. However, if the other competitor were to win the second period then third and deciding period would result. Only a fall or disqualification terminates the match; all other modes of victory result only in period termination. One side effect of this format is that it is possible for the losing wrestler to outscore the winner. For example, periods may be scored 3-2, 0-4, 1-0, leading to a total score of 4-6 but a win for the wrestler scoring fewer points.
[edit] Scoring
In Greco-Roman wrestling, points can be scored the following ways:
- Takedowns: Gaining control over your opponent from a neutral position, worth from one to five points.
- Reversals: Gaining control over your opponent from a defensive position, worth one point.
- Exposure: Exposing your opponent's back to the mat at an acute angle (less than 90 degrees), worth two points. An additional hold-down point may be earned by maintaining the exposure continuously for five seconds.
- Penalty Points: Under the 2004-2005 changes to the international styles, a wrestler whose opponent takes an injury time-out receives one point unless the injured wrestler is bleeding. Any wrestler stepping out of bounds while standing in the neutral position during a match is penalized by giving his/her opponent a point. Other infractions (striking your opponent, acting with brutality or intent to injure, using illegal holds, etc.) are penalized by an award of points, a Caution, and choice of position.
[edit] Scores no longer rewarded in Greco-Roman wrestling
In 2004, FILA radically changed the format and scoring of the international styles. Part of this involved eliminating two ways of scoring which are possible from the par terre, or 'on the mat,' position.
- Escapes: Escaping your opponent's control.
- Lifting: Successfully lifting an opponent in the defensive position and exposing his back.
