PROJECT BY – Mihir Khabiya

Class – 12 B
Topic - Wrestling
 Wrestling – Overview
Wrestling is a physical combat sport. It is one of the most exhausting sports, both
mentally and physically and probably this is the reason why that moment gives
immense pleasure when you win a bout in this match. This game demands not only
sound physical f itness but also an unbreakable conf idence and character that def ine
true sportsman spirit.

A Brief History
The ancient drawings on the caves trace back the game to 3000 BC. Wrestling was
introduced into the Olympic Games in 708 BC. During early nineties, f reestyle f ormat
was introduced into wrestling where an individual is allowed to hold his opponent above
or below his waist by using his arms and legs. The game got immense popularity in
United States and Great Britain.

Just like f reestyle, Greco-Roman was another style of wrestling that was equally
popularized but unlike f reestyle, the wrestlers could use their arms and upper bodies
and could hold only those parts of their opponents. Earlier ten categories were used to
present in Greco-Roman style. Later in 2004 Olympic Games, modif ication was made
that conf ined 8 categories.

Wrestling – Objective
The objective of each wrestler is to pin the opponent and establish own superiority
without violence. While doing so, the wrestlers perf orm various techniques such as
taking down, joint locks, pins, and grappling holds.

The judges award points f or each successf ul move to pin down your opponent. The
team having maximum points at the end of the match is declared as winner.

Wrestling – Regulating Bodies

An international governing body named United World Wrestling (UWW) is f or the sport
of wrestling. It was f ormerly known as International Federation of Associated Wrestling
Styles or in French, Fédération Internationale des Luttes Associées (FILA).

It oversees wrestling at the Olympics. It presides over international competitions for

various f orms of wrestling, including Greco-Roman wrestling and f reestyle wrestling for
men and women. UWW sets rules and regulations and holds international competitions
in the f ollowing wrestling styles:

• Greco-Roman Wrestling
• Freestyle Wrestling (Men’s and Women's)
• Grappling
• Beach Wrestling
• Amateur Wrestling
• Weight Throwing
• UWW conducts a f lagship event named Wrestling World Championships.
 Wrestling – Equipment
Wrestling is the low key game as f ar as the number of special equipment are concerned.
The wrestlers compete in the area which can take the shocks of their actions. The
wrestlers enter the game area hands-f ree.

Wrestling Mat
Wrestling mat is the primary equipment required in the game. The mat is designed such
that it protects the wrestlers and enf orces the rules f or each style. The wrestling mats
come in various versions such as High-school mats, Practice mats, and International
Mats.

International Regulation Wrestling Mats

The dimensions of mats must be unif ormed and adhere to the International Federation
of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA) guidelines.

• Mats may not be used f or more than one year

• An of f icial must approve every mat bef ore a competition.

• The thickness of mats must be between 5 and 7 centimeters with a core made
of high- density, shock-absorbing f oam.

• The surf ace of the mat must be of a non-abrasive vinyl material that can easily
be cleaned and prevents slipping.

• Square-shaped mats must be 12 meters X 12 meters.

• Octagonal-shaped mats should have a diameter of 15 meters.

Wrestling Singlet
Wrestling singlet is a garment of one piece that covers the torso of the wrestler. For
protection of the shoulders, straps are provided over it.

Singlet is made of Lycra or Nylon. It is mandatory to wear if the wrestler is participating

in tournaments. A particular team wears singlet of a single color.

Wrestling Headgear
Wrestling headgear is not an essential item, but it is necessary enough to wear a
headgear if you are playing in a higher level match where it can get more physical.
There is a single size head gear available that can f it all with adjusting straps.

Headgears are designed to protect the wrestler 's ears. Without headgears, a wrestler
may suf f er f rom "caulif lower ear" which occurs af ter someone gets repeated hits to the
ear. Wrestlers are likely to have caulif lower ear because their ears may be hit while
they're in a match. These blows can damage the shape and structure of the outside of
the ear.
Wrestling Shoes
The shoes need to be very sof t and lightweight. This is because the wrestler needs to
be f eel light during the match. Unless you are playing f or very long hours, this is also
not a mandatory item to invest in.

Wrestling Kneepads and Mouth Guards

Kneepads are used f or the protection of knees. During the shooting process most of the
wrestlers get hurt on their knees, so this is an essential item.

On the other hand, mouth guards are used to protect the teeth of the wrestler during
the match. These are like braces that the wrestler wears inside of his mouth.

Wrestling Bands
Generally, two types of bands are used in a match: red and green. One wrestler is given
red band and other is given a green one. These are needed to be placed on the ankle
of the wrestler.

Bands make the identif ication and scoring of the wrestler easier f or the ref eree. The
ref eree has these two types of bands with him wrapped on his wrists.
 Wrestling – Important Terms
Bef ore you start playing this game, you need to understand its f requently used terms.
Let us discuss some of the basic terms that we are going to encounter f requently in a
wrestling game.

• Action: It is ref eree's command to the wrestlers to begin wrestling.

• Arm control: Controlling the opponent's arms.

• Arm throw: A move in which a wrestler throws his opponent over his shoulder
by holding the opponent's arm.

• Base: It is a good wrestling position where the wrestler lays on his hand and
knees instead of back or belly.

• Bridge: This is a position the wrestler prevents his back f rom touching the mat.

• Bridge out: This move is used to escape the opponent. The wrestler rolls onto
a stomach f rom a bridge.

• Breakdown: This is move where one wrestler tries to put another wrestler on
the mat upon his stomach or side.

• Bout: A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two (occasionally

more) competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a
superior position.

• Clamping: This is a process of interlocking the arms around the opponent. The
opponent must control his arms, hands, and wrists f rom clamping.

• Default: This is a process of announcing the winner when the opponent is

injured so badly that he cannot play the match or he does not appear f or the
bout when his name is called upon.

• Decision: This term signif ies winning of a match in 1-7 points.

• Disqualification: If any wrestler breaks the rules of the match, he is

disqualif ied.

• Escape: By creating a neutral position, if a wrestler who is being controlled by

another f aces the opponent, then the process is called escape. Sit out and stand
up are two common types of escapes that are used popularly.

• Pin: The process in which one f orces other’s shoulders blade to the mat.

• Reversal: This is a move in which the wrestler who is underneath of another,

gains control over his opponent. This type of move f etches the wrestler two
points.
• Stalemate: When such a situation arises that none of the wrestler can improve
their positions, the match again gets started f rom the starting line. This is called
stalemate.

• Freestyle: It is a type of wrestling where the wrestler is allowed to hold his

opponent above or below his waist level by using their arms, bodies and legs.

• Folkstyle: The process is same as f reestyle with more f ocus is given on the
control.

• Greco-Roman: A very popular style of wrestling in which the wrestler can use
his upper body and arms to hold or attack his opponent’s same part.

• Illegal hold: At any point of the match if one wrestler pushes another with
much f orce that is beyond tolerable limit or perf orms any action that hampers
the normal breathing process of the opponent, then it is called an illegal hold.

• Major Decision: This is a process of winning a match by 8-14 points.

• Near fall: It is a position where one shoulder of the wrestler touches the mat
and another is past 45-degree angle, or if both the shoulders are positioned
within the 4 inches’ area of the mat.

• Neutral position: It is the position where both the wrestlers have lost their
controls. Hence; f rom this position the wrestlers try to takedown each other.

• Takedown: To gain the control by putting down your opponent on the ground
f rom a standing position is termed as takedown. This action f etches the wrestler
two points.
 Wrestling – How to play?
Wrestling is the combat game of power as well as strategy. The wrestlers need to
anticipate the f orthcoming moves of the opponent and answer them with equally
powerf ul move. Wrestlers enter into the playing area and go into the center circle
marked on the mat. Let us see a f ew basic moves the wrestler’s employee while playing:

Half Nelson and Crotch

This is one of the simple yet important moves of the wrestling. The main part of this
move is the crotch that is barred in Greco-Roman Wrestling. Here is how you do it:

• Initially, put your hand on the back of your opponent. Jerk him f orwa rd.

• By this time, your opponent will try to protect himself f rom the toe f all.

• Now thrust your right hand through his legs f or a crotch hold.

• As soon as he will try to spin around, slip your lef t arm under his lef t hand and
perf orm the half nelson and crotch combination.

Scissors on the Body

Here is how you do it:

• Put your opponent on the mat and secure it by rolling him under your body.

• Perform a half nelson by suddenly pushing his head down on his left side. During this time the
opponent will try to resist.

• Jump in such a manner that he will slip between your legs.

• Roll above him as shown in the below picture.

• Adjust the f eet in a grapevine manner and this will result in a sure shot f all.

Bar and Further Arm Hold

Here is how you can do:

• If you are present on the lef t side of the wrestler, secure a f urther arm hold by
shooting his lef t arm around.

• Get a f irm hold under the head and bar hold under the lef t arm of your
opponent with right.
 • Perform upward movement of the bar f ollowed by a pulling f orward action with a
f urther arm grip. This action will f orce the opponent to mat in such a position
that his weight will be bore on his chest.

• Through this action the shif ting of his grip occurs which is f ollowed by an
immediate f all on the ground.

Toe and Ankle Hold

This move can be well secured when the wrestler will be on the mat:

• While working on the right side, draw the lef t f oot of the def ensive grappler up.

• By holding the toe, slide under his right leg.

• To complete the hold bef ore the def ensive player rises up, put your right hand
under him and grab the imprisoned lef t ankle.

• This process will give a less pain and the opponent will gladly give up.

Wrestling Headlock
The perf ect time to apply the headlock is when your opponent is on his hand and knees
on the mat. This position is suitable because in this case the hand is locked with the
head.

This is how you do it:

• If you are present on the right hand side of your opponent, push down his head,
resting the lef t arm heavily on the head.

• Now try to get inside the right arm of your opponent

• Grab your own lef t hand just below the wrist.

• Now securely lock his head by drawing it towards your arm. This makes the def ensive player
helpless and with a little ef f ort he can be f orced on to the mat.

Quarter Nelson
If you want to shif t the grip, then this is the best move f or you. This is how you do it:

• If you are present on the right hand side of the opponent, put your lef t hand
under his right arm pit.
• On the other hand, position your right hand on the back head of the opponent
with palm f acing down.

• Try to grasp your own right wrist with your lef t hand f ollowed by applying
pressure.
Wrist Lock and Arm and Leg Grapevine Hold
Go f or this move when your opponent is over you. When you are dealing with such
situation:

• Grasp the left wrist of your opponent with your right hand.

• Do the arm grapevine by encircling your lef t arm.

• Grapevine the lef t leg of the aggressor with your own lef t leg.

• Now with a grapevine twist, you can make your opponent f all on the mat.
 Wrestling – The Rules
In wrestling, a pin (or a f all) is when you bring down your opponent on his/her back
with any part of both shoulders or both shoulder blades. Your opponent’s back or any
body part said above should stay in contact with the mat f or at least two seconds.

If nobody gets pinned, the wrestler who scored the most points during the match is
declared as a winner. Let us see the rules regarding points and illegal actions on the
mat:

Wrestling – Weightage of Points

There are multiple ways you can score points of the f ollowing weightage in a wrestling
match legally:

• Takedown (2 points)
• Escape (1 point)
• Reversal (2 points)
• Near Fall (2 pints if lasts f or 2 seconds or 3 points if lasts f or 5 seconds)
• Penalty Points (1 or 2 points)

Wrestling Rules Regarding Illegal Holds

The ref eree can penalize you f or:

• Grabbing the singlet, the mat, or the headgear.

• Locked or overlapped hands: If you are down on the mat in control of your
opponent, you cannot lock or overlap your hands, f ingers or arms around your
opponent's body or both legs unless:

• You have f ulf illed the criteria f or a near pin of your opponent.

• Your opponent stands up and has all his/her weight on two f eet.

• You have lif ted the opponent of f the mat.

Wrestling Rules Regarding Technical Violations

The ref eree can penalize on the violation of the f ollowing rules:

• Going of f the mat or f orcing your opponent of f the mat to avoid wrestling.

• Leaving the mat during the match without the ref eree's permission.
 • Reporting to the mat not properly equipped or not ready to wrestle, or with the
illegal equipment at the time of starting the match.

• Bringing roughness in the game unnecessarily.

• Conducting oneself indecently or unsportsmanlike.

• Incorrect starting position or f alse start

The f irst and second time you are penalized; your opponent is awarded one point. The
third time you are penalized, your opponent is awarded two points. The f ourth time you
are penalized, you are disqualif ied.

The rules f or various wrestling styles in the Olympics and international championships
are dif f erent.
 Wrestling – Scoring
While you start practicing this combat sport, you must become aware of various
techniques of scoring and signaling used by ref erees. You also must know the categories
of Wrestling Championships.

The f ollowing table lists the points that are assigned f or dif f erent cases in a match:

CASE POINTS

Escape 1 point

Stalling 1 point ( af ter 1 warning)

Technical Violation 1 point

Takedown 2 points

Reversal 2 points

Near f all (Injury) 4 points

Near f all (2 sec) 2 points

Near f all (5 sec) 3 points

The f ollowing table lists the dif f erent cases of scoring points f or the team:

CASE POINTS

Fall (Pin) 6 points

Tech Fall (margin 15+ points) 5 points

Major decision (margin 8-14 point match) 4 points

Decision (Major 1-7 match point) 3 points

Major Decision (margin 8-14 points) 4 points

 Wrestling – Champions
Every participating country has its own governing body to organize the game
successf ully throughout the calendar. Here is a list of some important tournaments in
this category.

• Asian Games
• Olympic Games
• World Championships
• Commonwealth Games
• Continental Championships
• Mediterranean Championships

Based on the wrestler’s weight, the terms used are as f ollows:

Weight Term

115 pounds (52 kg) Flyweight

139 pounds (63 kg) Featherweight

150 pounds (68 kg) Lightweight

161 pounds (73 kg) Super Lightweight

170 pounds (77 kg) Welterweight

181 pounds (82 kg) Super Welterweight

192 pounds (87 kg) Middleweight

203 pounds (92 kg) Super Middleweight

214 pounds (97 kg) Light Heavyweight

231 pounds (105 kg) Junior

Heavyweight/Cruiserweight
231 pounds (105 kg Heavyweight
Minimum)

Wrestling – Hall of Fame

Many wrestlers have lef t and are still leaving their mark on various championships and
international tournaments.

Yogeshwar Dutt
Popularly known as ‘Yogi’, this Indian wrestler comes f rom North Indian state of
Haryana. He won gold medal in 65Kg f reestyle event conducted during Asian games in
year 2014 in spite of going through the trauma of his f ather’s death 10 days bef ore the
games.

Yogeshwar also bagged a gold in 2003 Commonwealth Games. He is a recipient of the

prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award 2012 given by the Government of India.
Natalia Vorobieva
She is a Russian wrestler born in Tulun, Soviet Union. She is World Champion, runner -
up 2013 and bronze medalist in 2013 year. She is also the holder of a number of titles
at the youth levels.

Natalia had an immense inclination towards wrestling and she entered into this power
sport when she was 10. Her mother inspired her to take up this sport. Today, she is a
well-known sportsperson of wrestling, the men-dominating game.

Artur Taymazov
Arthur is an Ossetian-Uzbek wrestler and Uzbekistan's most decorated Olympian. He is
f rom Tashkent. He decided to wrestle at the age of 11 years, when a f reestyle wrestling
club was opened in his village.

He participated in London Olympics 2012, Beijing Olympics in 2008, and Athens

Olympics in 2004 in which he received gold medal in 120Kg f reestyle wrestling.

In the Asian Games conducted in years 2000, 2006, and 2010, Arthur received gold
medals in 130 Kg f reestyle wrestling.

Armen Nazaryan
Armen is an Armenian Greco-Roman wrestler who represented Bulgaria. He won the
European Championship six times in 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2002, and 2003. He won
World Champion
three times (in 2002, 2003, and 2005).

Armen also has to his credit two Olympic titles. He was recognized by the FILA as the
best f ighter of the year in 1998 and 2003. He was awarded as coach of the year f or all
sports in Bulgaria in 2013.

Sushil Kumar
This World Championship gold medal winner hails f rom a Hindu Jaat f amily of Delhi,
India. He started wrestling at the age of 14. He started taking lessons in f re estyle
wrestling at Chhatrassal Stadium Aakhada (Wrestling School).

He won two gold medals in Commonwealth Games, once in 66Kg category at Delhi in
year 2010 and another in 74Kg category at Glasgow in 2014. He also won a silver at
the 2012 London Olympics and a bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

(SUSHIL KUMAR)