Wrestling

History Of Wretstling

One of the oldest documented depictions of wrestling came from the bible in an instance where a man named Jacob wrestled with an angel. In India, China, and ancient Greece evidence of wrestling is found as far back as documented history can be round. As early as 2300 B.C. wrestling appeared in ancient Egyptian art.

There are now five different forms of internationally recognized wrestling competitions including Greco-Roman, freestyle, Sambo, Grappling, and Judo. Each form has its own set of guidelines for what types of physical contacts are permissible or illegal. Another form of wrestling, called folk wrestling, encompasses all types of the sport that are not included in the internationally recognized ones. Folk wrestling is usually found in just one specific area of the world, like Boke, which is a form native to Mongolia.

Wrestling can be found in various venues, including colleges, the Olympics, and mixed martial arts competitions. The Olympic Games features Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling, which are also popular in high schools and universities. Several governing bodies oversee these levels of wrestling, including the National Collegiate Association of Athletics.

High School, Olympic, And College Wrestling

Wrestling for high school, college, and the Olympic Games follow a similar pattern of classifications. Men compete in wrestling at four different levels, divided by age. Each age group is then again divided into weight classes, 10 weight classes for the younger competitors, and seven for the oldest wrestlers.

Women also compete in wrestling at the collegiate and Olympic levels. Like the men, they have four different age-based levels, as well as weight classes within the levels. Weight classes and levels may vary depending on the country, but for the most part they are relatively similar. There is a point system to help determine which competitor is the winner of the match.

Professional Wrestling

Professional wrestling vaguely resembles high school, Olympic, and college wrestling, however, it is largely used for entertainment purposes. Colorful characters emerge as the professional wrestling plot develops. Televised events are almost exclusively pay-per-view. Much of the “competition” is scripted and rehearsed prior to the wrestling matches. The American company World Wrestling Entertainment provides and produces much of the theatrical professional wrestling that occurs today. Competitors are paid a set rate to perform in each of their matches. Other countries such as Japan and Mexico have similar companies that provide wrestling action as a form of entertainment.