Wrestling


Background
Wrestling’s origins are deeply entrenched through history as perhaps the most ancient sport to be continuously competed in.  The discipline can be traced back approximately 5000 years to hieroglyphs of wrestlers from the Sumero-Akkadian civilization, and some say even further still about 15,000 years to cave drawings found in France.

A widely contested sport in ancient Greece, wrestling served a particular purpose in the training of soldiers in the art of hand to hand combat.  The sport itself pre-dates the ancient Olympic Games making its first appearance in the Games in 708 BC, nearly seventy years before their official recorded history began in 778 BC.

Today, wrestling has evolved into different styles all around the world, featuring some of the world’s most physically and mentally conditioned athletes.  Throughout history, many countries have developed their own indigenous forms of wrestling such as folk style in the U.S., sombo in Russia and Eastern Europe, and buhk in Mongolia.  All respective styles of wrestling are true tests of athleticism, strength, courage, and mental conditioning.  Some of the most successful wrestlers in the world are not necessarily the ones who have undeniable talent, but those who have unbreakable mentalities.

The two genres of the sport competed at the Olympic Games today are Freestyle, and Greco-Roman.  Although both sports are essentially wrestling, the difference comes in both the scoring systems and the objective of the opposing competitors.

Competition at the Games
The BC Summer Games feature the freestyle genre of the sport, and are one of the province’s largest gatherings of provincial athletic talent.  The BC Games are also an excellent gauge for athletes to discover where they stand provincially and build toward national aspirations.

How to Watch Freestyle Wrestling
In freestyle wrestling, the objective of the wrestler is to score on his opponent using almost any means.  Athletes are permitted to take down an opponent using attacks to both to the lower and upper body.  The Freestyle match consists of three two-minute rounds and the first to win two rounds or achieve a pin is declared the winner.  Rounds can be won by achieving:

• two - 3 point manoeuvres in one round
• technical superiority (leading opponent by 6+ points)
• executing a 5 point manoeuvre, or leading the opponent at end of period.

In the case of a tie, score rounds are decided by quality of points (i.e. if there is a 3-3 tie and the red wrestler scored on a three point throw but the blue wrestler scored three one point take downs, red wins).  In the situation where the point qualities are the same, the last to score is declared the winner, but if the round ends at 0-0 the match proceeds into a clinch.

In a clinch, a coin is flipped by the referee in the middle of the mat and allowed to hit the floor. The winner of the toss gets to advance on his/her opponents’ leg.  The defensive wrestler must maintain a square stance and contact on the offensive wrestler’s back.  The whistle will blow pending the contact of the offensive wrestler’s hands around the opponent’s leg.  From there the attacker has thirty seconds to score to win the round, if he/she fails to do so, the opponent is awarded the round.

Scoring
Takedowns (1, 3, 5 points)
    × Taking opponent down from feet to stomach – 1 point
    × Taking opponent down from feet to back – 3 points
    × Takedown achieved by a throw of grand amplitude and control – 5 points

Reversal 
    × Gaining offensive advantage from a defensive position – 1 point

Exposure
    × Exposure of an opponent’s shoulders to the mat – 2 points
    × Holding exposure for five second count – 1 extra point

Out of Bounds 
    × Making an opponent step out of bounds – 1 point

Any hold can be stopped and wrestling will commence standing if the referee deems the position dangerous.  If the referee sees intent, or the guilty wrestler has been warned, the referee can award the other wrestler a point.  Three fouls will result in a disqualification.

For more info on Wrestling, contact the BC Wrestling Association at www.bcwrestling.com or (604) 737-3092.