Wrestling

Combat sports

This article is about the sport. For wrestling as a form of athletic theater, see Professional wrestling. For other uses, see Wrestling (disambiguation).

"Wrestler" and "Wrestlers" redirect here. For other uses, see The Wrestler.

Wrestling

Wrestling at the 2016 Summer Olympics

Focus| Grappling
Olympic sport| Freestyle, Greco-Roman, Judo and Sambo

Wrestling is a martial art and combat sport that involves grappling with an opponent and striving to obtain a position of advantage through different throws or techniques, within a given ruleset. Wrestling involves different grappling-type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins, and other grappling holds. Many different wrestling techniques have been incorporated into martial arts, combat sports, and military systems. Wrestling is genuine competition; professional wrestling is athletic theatre.

Wrestling comes in different competitive forms such as freestyle, Greco-Roman, judo, sambo, folkstyle, catch, shoot, luta livre, submission, sumo, pehlwani, shuai jiao, and others.[1] Wrestling first appeared in the ancient Olympic Games as an event during the 18th Olympiad in 708 BC.[2] There are a wide range of styles with varying rules, with both traditional historic and modern styles. The term "wrestling" is referenced in late Old English as wræstlunge (glossing palestram).[3]

## History[edit]

Main articles: History of wrestling and History of professional wrestling

See also: History of physical training and fitness

Detail of Ancient Egyptian wrestling scenes in tomb 15 (Baqet III) at Beni Hasan, c. 20th century BC. Wrestlers shown in the center on an Ancient Greek relief of the pentathlon, c. 500 BC.

Wrestling represents one of the oldest forms of combat sport. The origins of wrestling go back around 15,000 years through cave drawings in France. Babylonian and Egyptian reliefs show wrestlers using various holds known in the present-day sport. Literary references to wrestling occur as early as the Old Testament and the ancient Indian Vedas[specify]. In the Book of Genesis, the Patriarch Jacob is said to have wrestled with God or an angel.[4] The Iliad, in which Homer recounts the Trojan War of the 13th or 12th century BC, also contains mentions of wrestling.[5] Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata contain references to martial arts including wrestling. The Yellow Emperor fought the rebel Chi You using Shuai Jiao at the Battle of Zhoulu. This early style of combat was first called jiao di (butting with horns).

In Ancient Greece wrestling occupied a prominent place in legend, literature, and philosophy. Wrestling competition, brutal in many aspects, served as the focal sport of the ancient Olympic Games. Ancient Romans borrowed heavily from Greek wrestling, but eliminated much of its brutality through implementing different rules. Wrestling is referenced throughout both Ancient Greek and Roman literature. Many philosophers and leaders practiced wrestling and/or referenced the sport frequently in their works, most notably Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, Xenophon, Epictetus, Seneca, Plutarch, and Marcus Aurelius. Dicaearchus wrote that Plato wrestled at the Isthmian games.[6] Many of Plato's dialogues are set in wrestling schools. Ancient Greek lyric poet Pindar wrote victory odes, grouped into four books named after the Olympian, Pythian, Isthmian, and Nemean Games - Panhellenic festivals held respectively at Olympia, Delphi, Corinth, and Nemea. These odes were composed to honor the men and youths who had enjoyed victories in wrestling, boxing, pankration and other athletic contests.

During the Middle Ages from the fifth to fifteenth century, wrestling remained popular and enjoyed the patronage of many royal families, including those of England, France, and Japan.

Early British settlers in America brought a strong wrestling tradition with them. The settlers also found wrestling to be popular among Native Americans.[7] Amateur wrestling flourished throughout the early years of the North American colonies and would later serve as a popular activity at country fairs, holiday celebrations, and in military exercises. The first organized national wrestling tournament in the United States took place in New York City in 1888.

Wrestling has also been an event at every modern Olympic Games since the 1904 games in St. Louis, Missouri; Greco-Roman wrestling was contested at the first modern Olympics in 1896, but not at the 1900 games. The international governing body for the sport, United World Wrestling (UWW), was established in 1912 in Antwerp, Belgium as the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA). The first annual NCAA Wrestling Championships were held in 1928 in Ames, Iowa. USA Wrestling, located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, was established as the national governing body of U.S. amateur wrestling in 1983.

### By country[edit]

* In Ancient Egypt, wrestling has been evidenced by documentation on tombs (c. 2300 BC) and Egyptian artwork (c. 2000–1085 BC).
* In Ancient Greece, Greek wrestling was a popular form of martial art (c. 1100 to 146 BC).[8]
* Oil wrestling is the national sport of Turkey and can be traced back to Central Asia.
* After the Roman conquest of the Greeks, Greek wrestling was absorbed by the Roman culture and became Roman wrestling during the period of the Roman Empire (510 BC to AD 500).[citation needed]
* Shuai jiao, a wrestling style originating in China, which according to legend, has a reported history of over 4,000 years.
* Arabic literature depicted Muhammad as a skilled wrestler, defeating a skeptic in a match at one point.
* The Byzantine emperor Basil I, according to court historians, won in wrestling against a boastful wrestler from Bulgaria in the eighth century.[9]
* In 1520 at the Field of the Cloth of Gold pageant, Francis I of France threw fellow king Henry VIII of England in a wrestling match.[9]
* The Lancashire style of folk wrestling may have formed the basis for Catch wrestling, also known as "catch as catch can." The Scots later formed a variant of this style, and the Irish developed the "collar-and-elbow" style which later found its way into the United States.[10] This various styles would form what would become folkstyle wrestling, which is the most popular form of wrestling in the United States.
* A Frenchman[n 1] "is generally credited with reorganizing European loose wrestling into a professional sport", Greco-Roman wrestling.[11] This style which was finalized by the 19th century and by then, wrestling was featured in many fairs and festivals in Europe.[12] Greco-Roman wrestling and contemporary freestyle wrestling were soon regulated in formal competitions, in part resulting from the rise of gymnasiums and athletic clubs.
* Starting in continental Europe, prize money was offered in large sums to the winners of Greco-Roman tournaments, with the style of freestyle wrestling spreading rapidly in the United Kingdom and in the United States during the late 1800s. Wrestling professionals soon increased the popularity of Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling, worldwide.[10][13] Greco-Roman wrestling was contested at the first modern Olympics in 1896. Freestyle wrestling became an Olympic event in 1904 and women's freestyle wrestling was added to the Olympics in 2004.
* Celtic wrestling has an extensive history, with wrestling being mentioned in the Tailteann Games dating back from somewhere between 1839 BC to 632 BC (academics disagree) to the 12th century AD when the Normans invaded. Various styles such as Cornish wrestling, Gouren, Collar-and-elbow wrestling, etc. are likely to have evolved from some common style.
* Since 1921, United World Wrestling (UWW) has regulated amateur wrestling as an athletic discipline, while professional wrestling, originally a legitimate sport, gradually became infused with theatrics but still requires athletic ability. Today, various countries around the world send national wrestling teams to the Olympics.
* In Switzerland the local derivate of the German ringen, called schwingen, is a popular folk sport with local Schwingfest where regional competitions are played throughout the country.

### Mythology[edit]

Main article: Wrestling mythology

Some of the earliest references to wrestling can be found in wrestling mythology.

* The Epic of Gilgamesh: Gilgamesh established his credibility as a leader, after wrestling Enkidu.
* Greek mythology celebrates the rise of Zeus as ruler of the earth after a wrestling match with his father, Cronus. Both Heracles and Theseus were famous for their wrestling against man and beast.
* The Mahabharata describes a malla-dwandwa (wrestling match) between the accomplished wrestlers Bhima and Jarasandha.
* Rustam of the Shahnameh (Book Of Kings) is regarded by Iranian pahlevans as the greatest wrestler.

### Gallery[edit]

* Historical wrestling in art and photography
* Statuette Karajà, wrestlers

* Jacob Wrestling with the Angel illustration by Gustave Doré, 1855

* Cornell wrestling meet in New York State Drill Hall, 1923

* Tibetan wrestlers, 1938

* Indian wrestler exercising near Varanasi, 1973

* Wrestlers on Greek coin, 400–300 BC

* Ancient Libyan mosaic of wrestling

* A 1904 illustration of Abraham Lincoln wrestling

* Wrestling match during 1908 Summer Olympics

## Modern international disciplines[edit]

Wrestling disciplines, as defined by UWW, are broken down into two categories: international wrestling disciplines and folk wrestling disciplines. Three are Olympic disciplines: Greco-Roman wrestling, men's freestyle wrestling and women's freestyle wrestling. UWW also sanctions associated styles: grappling, amateur pankration, belt wrestling alysh, pahlavani wrestling, beach wrestling, and African wrestling.[14][15] Sambo was given status as an international style in 1966 by FILA, UWW's predecessor.[16]

### Greco-Roman wrestling[edit]

Main article: Greco-Roman wrestling

Greco-Roman wrestling match

Greco-Roman (GR) is an international discipline and one of two wrestling disciplines featured in the Olympic Games. This form of wrestling prioritizes upper body attacks, with an emphasis on explosive "high amplitude" throws. Under the Greco-Roman ruleset, it is forbidden to attack the opponent below the belt in the execution of any action (restricting holds, trips, and active but not passive usage of the legs). Points are allotted on the basis of throw amplitude, exposure of an opponent's back to the mat and opponent passivity. A Greco-Roman wrestler may instantly win a match by holding both of an opponent's scapula to the mat (known as a "fall"). A well known Greco-Roman wrestler is Alexander Karelin from Russia.

### Freestyle wrestling[edit]

Main article: Freestyle wrestling

Women's freestyle wrestling

Freestyle wrestling (FS, WW) is an international discipline and one of two wrestling disciplines featured in the Olympic Games, for both men and women. This style allows the use of the wrestler's or his opponent's legs in offense and defense. Freestyle wrestling has its origins in catch-as-catch-can wrestling and awards points on the basis of throw amplitude, exposure of an opponent's back to the mat and opponent passivity. A freestyle wrestler may instantly win a match by holding both of an opponent's scapula to the mat (known as a "fall"). This form of wrestling is similar to American scholastic and collegiate wrestling with freestyle wrestling having a greater emphasis on throw amplitude. Collegiate women's wrestling uses two rulesets, freestyle in the NCAA and standard collegiate in the NCWA.

### Submission Wrestling[edit]

Main article: Submission wrestling

Submission Wrestling incorporates techniques and holds from a variety of wrestling disciplines. Grappling is divided into two styles: no-gi and gi. In no-gi (GNG), athletes wear shorts and a compression shirt called a rashguard. In gi grappling (GWG), athletes wear a kimono or gi. The goal of the sport is to take down and control the opponent on the ground and potentially win a submission using chokes and joint locks.

### Amateur pankration[edit]

Main article: Pankration

Pankration (PK), from the Greek words pan and kratos and meaning "all of power", is a world heritage martial art which was introduced to the Ancient Olympic Games in 648 BC. Modern amateur pankration is a form of mixed martial arts (MMA) that incorporates techniques from multiple systems. Matches are fought with both grappling and striking techniques.[17]

### Belt wrestling alysh[edit]

Main article: Alysh

Alysh is a Turkic term for a Central Asian folk wrestling style which involves the wearing of jackets, trousers and thick belts. Throughout the contest the wrestlers must retain their hold on each other's belt. For this reason it is also referred to as 'belt wrestling alysh' or 'alysh belt wrestling' (BWUWW).

### Pahlavani wrestling[edit]

Main article: Pahlavani wrestling

The origin of pahlavani wrestling goes back to ancient Persia and is said to have been practiced by mythological Iranian heroes. It combines martial arts, calisthenics, strength training, and music, and was originally used to train warriors.. It is recognized by UNESCO as among the world's longest-running forms of sport. The best wrestlers earn the title of pahlevan (hero). It is similar to freestyle wrestling, however wrestlers wear pants which extend from the waist to below the knees and a belt. They are allowed to use or grab pants or belt as a grip, use legs, waist, clinch, leg trips and lift or throw, with the goal being to touch their opponent's shoulders to the mat.

### Beach wrestling[edit]

Main article: Beach wrestling

2010 USA Wrestling Beach Wrestling World Team Trials

UWW, then known as FILA, codified the form of beach wrestling in 2004.[18] Beach wrestling (BW) is standing wrestling done by wrestlers, male or female, inside a sand-filled circle measuring 7 meters (23 ft) in diameter. The style originally mirrored the rules used before the use of wrestling mats,[19] and beach wrestling has been regarded as the oldest version of international competitive wrestling.[20] The wrestlers wear swimsuits rather than special wrestling uniforms. Wrestlers may also wear spandex or athletic shorts.

The international rules have been modified in 2015 by UWW, with the current rules allowing wrestlers to score points via takedowns, pushing their opponent out of bounds, or bringing the opponent down to their back.[21] In addition to the annual World Beach Wrestling Championships, beach wrestling has been contested at Youth Olympic Games, Asian Games, Down Under Games, Mediterranean Games and at the 2019 World Beach Games.[22]

## Folk styles[edit]

Main article: Folk wrestling

Khuresh (Tuvan wrestling) Indian wrestlers from Davangere in 2005

Folk wrestling describes a traditional form of wrestling unique to a culture or geographic region of the world that UWW does not administer rules for. Examples of the many styles of folk wrestling, include Cornish wrestling, backhold wrestling (from Europe), Cumberland Wrestling and Catch-as-catch-can (from England), kurash from Uzbekistan, gushteengiri from Tajikistan, khuresh from Siberia, Lotta Campidanese from Italy, naban from Myanmar, pehlwani from India, penjang gulat from Indonesia, schwingen from Switzerland, tigel from Ethiopia, kene of the Nagas from India, shuai jiao from China, and ssireum from Korea.

Folk wrestling styles are not recognized as international styles of wrestling by UWW.

Celtic wrestling styles (e.g., Cornish wrestling, Scottish Backhold, Cumberland Wrestling, Gouren and Collar-and-elbow) are a subset of folk wrestling and have their own regulatory bodies and some are affiliated to other organisations. For example, the Cornish Wrestling Association is affiliated to the British Wrestling Association which is linked to the UWW. The International Federation of Celtic Wrestling (FILC) organises international competitions between wrestlers from these styles.[23]

Folk styles have been international in nature. For example, there have been regular Cornish wrestling tournaments and matches in the US,[24] Australia,[25] South Africa,[26] New Zealand,[27] England[28][29] and Cornwall, with irregular tournaments and matches in Japan,[30] Canada[31] and Mexico.[32] There have also been Inter-Celtic tournaments between Cornwall and Brittany dating back to the Field of the Cloth of Gold in 1520 through to the modern era with regular events since 1928.[33][34]

### Oil wrestling[edit]

Oil wrestling (Turkish: yağlı güreş), also called grease wrestling, is the Turkish national sport. It is so called because the wrestlers douse themselves with olive oil. It is related to Uzbek kurash, Tuvan khuresh and Tatar and Bashkir көрәш (köräş). The wrestlers, known as pehlivanlar meaning "champion" wear a type of hand-stitched lederhosen called a kispetler, which are traditionally made of water buffalo hide, and most recently have been made of calfskin.

Unlike Olympic wrestling, oil wrestling matches may be won by achieving an effective hold of the kisbet. Thus, the pehlivan aims to control his opponent by putting his arm through the latter's kisbet. To win by this move is called paça kazık. Originally, matches had no set duration and could go on for one or two days, until one man was able to establish superiority, but in 1975 the duration was capped at 40 minutes for the başpehlivan and 30 minutes for the pehlivan category. If no winner is determined, another 15 minutes—10 minutes for the pehlivan category—of wrestling ensues, wherein scores are kept to determine the victor.

The annual Kırkpınar tournament, held in Edirne in Turkish Thrace since 1362, is the oldest continuously running, sanctioned sporting competition in the world. In recent years this style of wrestling has also become popular in other countries.

### American collegiate wrestling[edit]

Main article: Collegiate wrestling

Two collegiate wrestlers competing in a dual meet

Collegiate wrestling (also known as folkstyle wrestling) is the commonly used name of wrestling practiced at the college and university level in the United States. This style, with modifications, is also practiced at the high school and middle school levels, and also for younger participants. The term is used to distinguish the style from other styles of wrestling used in other parts of the world, and from those of the Olympic Games: Greco-Roman wrestling, and freestyle wrestling. Some high schools in the U.S. have developed junior varsity and freshman teams alongside varsity teams. Junior varsity and freshman wrestling teams restrict competitors not only by weight, but also by age and the amount of wrestling a competitor can partake in. For example, some junior varsity and freshman competitors are not allowed in tournament competition due to the amount of mat time a wrestler would accrue in a short time period.

Women's college wrestling in the U.S. uses freestyle wrestling rules in the NCAA and standard collegiate rules in the NCWA.[35]

There are currently several organizations which oversee collegiate wrestling competition: Divisions I, II, and III of the NCAA, the NAIA, the NJCAA, and the NCWA. NCAA Division I wrestling is considered the most prestigious and challenging level of competition. A school chooses which athletic organization to join, although it may compete against teams from other levels and organizations during regular-season competition. The collegiate season starts in October or November and culminates with the National Championship tournament held in March.[36]

## Professional wrestling[edit]

Main article: Professional wrestling

Professional wrestling is often concluded in a raised ring; akin to boxing. Although advertised as contests, bouts are actually exhibitions with winners generally pre-determined to increase entertainment value. Legitimate wrestling skill remained a valuable bargaining chip in the wrestling industry until the late 20th century however, with occasional shoot matches (often to settle some backstage personal or business dispute) taking place in the early days of the business and still occurring well into the 1930s and 1940s and the threat to use legitimate skill to have one's way in the ring still potent decades later.[37]

The roots of professional wrestling lay in the catch-as-catch-can contests of the late 19th century. Whereas the Europeans favored the more controlled and classical Greco-Roman style, the Americans from the 1880s preferred the more wide-open style of wrestling that later became known as freestyle. When the best American catch wrestlers discovered they could earn money with their skills, the professional counterpart was born. Initially, the contests were similar to amateur matches, except there were no time limits, and submission and choke holds were allowed. Amateur wrestling coexisted with its professional counterpart until around the 1940s before the sport grew more theatrical.[38] Wrestlers from the period were known as hookers or shooters due to their legitimate skills – a dwindling number have remained in the business until modern times. Popular wrestlers from this era include Martin "Farmer" Burns, Frank Gotch, Tom Jenkins, Charles Cutler, Joe Stecher, Earl Caddock, Stanislaus Zbyszko, Ed "Strangler" Lewis, Ad Santel, John Pesek, Jim Londos, Ray Steele, Dick Shikat, and transitional figure Lou Thesz.

### Sports entertainment[edit]

Main article: Sports entertainment

Sometimes referred as "American-style" professional wrestling, companies such as WWE, AEW, Impact Wrestling and ROH run touring professional wrestling events throughout the world. Matches are highly theatrical, with dramatic stories such as feuds between the athletes developed and performed as part of build-up and promotion for matches. Before its increase in popularity in the mid-1980s, professional wrestling in the United States was organised as a cartel of regional monopolies, known as "territories." Wrestling in some of these areas (particularly the Southern and Midwestern United States) was performed in a relatively less theatrical more serious style, which could vary from realistically sporting to darkly violent, depending on local preference.

### British/European wrestling[edit]

Main articles: Professional wrestling in the United Kingdom and Professional wrestling in France

A different style of professional wrestling evolved in the United Kingdom and spread across Western Europe (where it was known as "Catch" in the non-English speaking countries of mainland Europe). Traditionally in this style, there was less use of storylines and angles to promote the matches which, for the most part, had the atmosphere of real wrestling competition. In many countries this form of professional wrestling achieved mainstream popularity – particularly in the United Kingdom and France where in both countries from the 1950s to the late 1980s, national television coverage made household names of its stars (it was also regularly screened on private local TV stations in 1980s Italy, Welsh language television in Wales in the 1980s/1990s and early satellite sports channels during the same period) – but later declined and was supplanted both on television and in wider culture by imported American wrestling. Some promoters in the UK (and to a lesser extent France and Germany) still produce live shows in this style but face stiff competition from more American-styled rivals.

### Puroresu[edit]

Main article: Puroresu

Japanese professional wrestling, also known as puroresu, is also treated more as a sport than the entertainment style of wrestling common in North America. As with British/European wrestling, there are fewer and less contrived storylines and angles and there is a similar atmosphere of realistic sporting competition. Much of this direction can be attributed to the influence of two European catch wrestlers/coaches Karl Gotch and Billy Robinson whose matches in Japan early in the 1970s inspired considerable interest in the more purist grappling element of professional wrestling. Popular Japanese wrestlers include Rikidozan, Giant Baba, Antonio Inoki, Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi, Shinya Hashimoto and Keiji Mutoh.[39] Shoot style wrestling evolved from traditional puroresu in an attempt to create a combat-based style. Shoot style featured a mix of amateur and catch wrestling, kickboxing and submission grappling. Shoot style wrestling is retrospectively considered a precursor to mixed martial arts.

### Lucha libre[edit]

Main article: Lucha libre

Mexican professional wrestling, also known as lucha libre, is a style of wrestling using special holds. Most performers, known as luchadores (singular luchador), begin their careers wearing masks, but most will lose their masks during their careers. Traditionally a match involves the best of three rounds, with no time limit. Each luchador uses his own special wrestling style or "estilo de lucha" consisting of aerial attack moves, strikes and complex submission holds. Popular luchadores in Mexico and Puerto Rico are El Santo, Blue Demon, Mil Máscaras, Perro Aguayo, Carlos Colón, Konnan, L. A. Park and Místico. Several wrestlers who performed in Mexico also had success in the United States, including Eddie Guerrero, Rey Mysterio (Jr.), and Dos Caras Jr./Alberto Del Rio.

### Circus wrestling[edit]

Main article: Professional wrestling in Russia § Russian Empire

In France in the 19th century, early professional wrestling shows in the Greco-Roman style were often performed at the circus by the resident strongmen. This style later spread to circuses in Eastern Europe, particularly in Russia where it was a staple part of circuses in the Soviet era, where it was often advertised as "French wrestling."[40] Ivan Poddubny achieved major stardom in his homeland and beyond during the interwar period.

## Judo[edit]

Main article: Judo

A Judo throw

Judo is a style of wrestling which is derived from jujitsu, a Japanese martial art. As a wrestling style, judo is distinctive in that practitioners, called judoka, wear a heavy jacket and trousers, called a gi, along with a belt. The gi is used to grip the opponent in order to throw or choke them. Judo also allows some chokes and joint locks, although they are typically banned for children.[41] Judo is a popular sport in Japan as well as in France, Russia, and eastern Europe.

## Sambo[edit]

Main article: Sambo (martial art)

Sambo is a martial art that originated in the Soviet Union (specifically Russia) in the 20th century. It is an acronym for "self-defence without weapons" in Russian and had its origins in the Soviet armed forces. Its influences are varied, with techniques borrowed from sports ranging from the two international wrestling styles of Greco-Roman and freestyle to judo, jujitsu, European styles of folk wrestling, and even fencing. The rules for sport sambo are similar to those in competitive judo, with a variety of leg locks and defense holds from the various national wrestling styles in the Soviet Union, while not allowing chokeholds.[42]

## Mixed martial arts[edit]

Main article: Mixed martial arts

Pankration, an ancient Greek martial art resembling MMA, and wrestling were two of the most popular sports at the ancient Olympics Two MMA fighters grappling in a mixed martial arts event

> I personally think that the very best skill for MMA is wrestling, I think that's the number one base to come from because those guys just flat out dictate where the fight takes place [standing or on the ground]." "There is no better base for entering into mixed martial arts than the highly successful competitor as a wrestler. The competitive wrestlers, the highly successful amateur wrestlers have such tremendous mental toughness. If you can just get through the room, the wrestling room practices at like really high level universities, NCAA division one teams; those guys are savages. The stuff they go through, just the overtraining, just the mental toughness that you have to develop.[43][44]

> — Joe Rogan

The rapid rise in the popularity of mixed martial arts (MMA) has increased interest in wrestling due to its effectiveness against other martial arts since the infancy of MMA.[45] It is considered one of the primary disciplines in MMA along with Brazilian jiu-jitsu, boxing, kickboxing/muay Thai,[46] and judo.[47]

Shoot wrestling, a relative of catch and freestyle wrestling, is the foundation of Shooto, a combat sport and pioneer MMA organization founded in 1985. Pancrase, another influential MMA organization based on shoot wrestling, also predates the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Wrestling has produced significantly more UFC champions than any other martial art.[48] Wrestlers such as Dan Severn, Don Frye, Mark Coleman, Randy Couture, Mark Kerr, Kazushi Sakuraba, Pat Miletich, and Dan Henderson won many of the early UFC tournaments along with other accolades. Ken Shamrock won the first UFC Superfight Championship and the first King of Pancrase Openweight Championship in Japan. Other notable MMA fighters with foundations in various forms of wrestling include:[49]

Matt Hughes | UFC Welterweight Champion –– two-time NCAA Division I Wrestling and NJCAA All-American

|

Jon Jones | UFC Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight Champion –– NJCAA Wrestling Champion
Minoru Suzuki | Pancrase co-founder, Pancrase Openweight Champion –– catch wrestling background
Masakatsu Funaki | Pancrase co-founder, Pancrase Openweight Champion –– catch wrestling background
Frank Shamrock | First UFC Light Heavyweight and Strikeforce Middleweight Champion, WEC Light Heavyweight Champion –– catch wrestling background
Kevin Randleman | UFC Heavyweight Champion –– two-time NCAA Division I Wrestling Champion
Tito Ortiz | UFC Light Heavyweight Champion –– two-time CCCAA Wrestling All-American
Jens Pulver | First UFC Lightweight Champion –– NJCAA Wrestling All-American
Takanori Gomi | Shooto and PRIDE Lightweight Champion –– All-Japan Combat Wrestling Champion
Josh Barnett | UFC Heavyweight Champion and Pancrase Openweight Champion –– Catch Wrestling World Champion
Jake Shields | Shooto and EliteXC Welterweight Champion, Strikeforce Middleweight Champion –– two-time CCCAA Wrestling All-American
Norifumi "KID" Yamamoto | All-Japan Emperor's Cup runner-up, Hero's Middleweight Grand Prix Champion –– AIA Wrestling Champion
Georges St-Pierre | UFC Welterweight and Middleweight Champion –– trained at Reinitz Wrestling Center's Montreal Wrestling Club
Brock Lesnar | UFC Heavyweight Champion –– NCAA Division I Wrestling Champion
Chuck Liddell | UFC Light Heavyweight Champion –– NCAA Division I Wrestler
Rashad Evans | UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and The Ultimate Fighter 2 Heavyweight Champion –– NCAA Division I Wrestling National Qualifier
Dave Menne | UFC Middleweight Champion –– NCAA Division I Wrestler
Renato Sobral | Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion and Luta Livre black belt –– Brazilian National Wrestling Champion
Eddie Alvarez | Bellator and UFC Lightweight Champion –– Scholastic wrestler
Benson Henderson | WEC and UFC Lightweight Champion –– two-time NAIA Wrestling All-American
Cain Velasquez | UFC Heavyweight Champion –– two-time NCAA Division I Wrestling All-American and NJCAA Champion
Miesha Tate | Strikeforce and UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion –– FILA Grappling world silver medalist
Demetrious Johnson | UFC and ONE Flyweight Champion –– Scholastic wrestler
Carla Esparza | First Invicta and UFC Women's Strawweight Champion, won The Ultimate Fighter 20 –– two-time WCWA Wrestling All-American
Chris Weidman | UFC Middleweight Champion –– two-time NCAA Division I Wrestling All-American
Johny Hendricks | UFC Welterweight Champion –– two-time NCAA Division I Wrestling Champion
Daniel Cormier | UFC Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight Champion –– NCAA Division I Wrestling All-American, US National Freestyle Wrestling Champion and US Freestyle Olympian
Tyron Woodley | UFC Welterweight Champion –– two-time NCAA Division I Wrestling All-American
Ryan Bader | Bellator Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight Champion, won The Ultimate Fighter 8 –– two-time NCAA Division I Wrestling All-American
Tony Ferguson | Interim UFC Lightweight Champion and winner of The Ultimate Fighter 13 –– NCWA Wrestling Champion
Khabib Nurmagomedov | UFC Lightweight Champion, 29–0 in MMA career –– Master of Sport
Henry Cejudo | UFC Flyweight and Bantamweight Champion –– Olympic Freestyle Wrestling Gold Medalist
Kamaru Usman | UFC Welterweight Champion –– NCAA Division II Wrestling Champion
Arjan Bhullar | ONE Heavyweight Champion –– two-time NAIA Wrestling Champion, CIS Wrestling Champion and Commonwealth Games Freestyle Champion
Anatoly Malykhin | ONE Light Heavyweight and interim Heavyweight Champion –– Russian Nationals Wrestling Bronze Medalist
Aljamain Sterling | UFC Bantamweight Champion –– two-time NCAA Division III Wrestling All-American
Justin Gaethje | Interim UFC Lightweight Champion –– NCAA Division I Wrestling All-American
Alexander Volkanovski | UFC Featherweight Champion and former AFC Featherweight Champion –– Greco-Roman wrestling background
Colby Covington | Interim UFC Welterweight Champion –– NCAA Division I Wrestling All-American
Frankie Edgar | UFC Lightweight Champion –– NCAA Division I Wrestling National Qualifier

## See also[edit]

* Amateur wrestling
* List of amateur wrestlers
* List of World and Olympic Champions in men's freestyle wrestling
* List of World and Olympic Champions in women's freestyle wrestling
* List of World and Olympic Champions in Greco-Roman wrestling
* Aquathlon (underwater wrestling)
* Arm wrestling
* Catch wrestling
* Indian wrestling
* Grappling
* Malla-yuddha
* Mixed martial arts
* Pankration
* Professional wrestling
* List of professional wrestlers
* WrestleMania
* Skin infections and wrestling
* Sumo
* United World Wrestling (UWW)
* Wrestling at the Summer Olympics
* Wrestling in Canada
* Wrestling in Dagestan

## Notes[edit]

1. ^ Exbroyat of Lyon. He died in 1868. Another claim, is that the founder of Greco-Roman wrestling, was Frenchman Jean Broyasse (death 1872), according to the encyclopedia Gyldendals store konversasjonsleksikon, 1981, p. 2564.

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Different types of wrestling". 14 February 2013.
2. ^ History of Wrestling & UWW. United World Wrestling. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
3. ^ OED; see also Dictionary.com. "Wrestle". dictionary.com. Retrieved 2007-10-08.
4. ^ New International Version Genesis 32:24–32
5. ^ "The Historical origins of Wrestling". collegesportsscholarships.com. Retrieved 21 November 2010.
6. ^ Diogenes Laërtius, Life of Plato, V
7. ^ Salamone, Frank (2013). The Native American Identity in Sports. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 123\. ISBN 9780810887084.
8. ^ Miller, Christopher. "Submission Fighting and the Rules of Ancient Greek Wrestling". Retrieved 2007-10-08.
9. ^ a b "Wrestling, Freestyle" by Michael B. Poliakoff from Encyclopedia of World Sport: From Ancient Times to the Present, Vol. 3, p. 1193, eds. David Levinson and Karen Christensen (Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, Inc., 1996).
10. ^ a b "Wrestling, Freestyle" by Michael B. Poliakoff from Encyclopedia of World Sport: From Ancient Times to the Present, Vol. 3, p. 1190, eds. David Levinson and Karen Christensen (Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, Inc., 1996).
11. ^ Encyclopædia Britannica, 1981, p. 1026.
12. ^ International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles. "Greco-Roman Wrestling". FILA. Archived from the original on 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2007-08-09.
13. ^ "Wrestling, Greco-Roman" by Michael B. Poliakoff from Encyclopedia of World Sport: From Ancient Times to the Present, Vol. 3, p. 1194, eds. David Levinson and Karen Christensen (Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, Inc., 1996).
14. ^ "Disciplines". United World Wrestling. Archived from the original on 6 November 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
15. ^ "United World Wrestling Committee of Associated Styles". United World Wrestling.
16. ^ "History". International Sambo Federation (FIAS).
17. ^ "Pankration". FILA. Archived from the original on 2012-09-14. Retrieved 2011-07-28.
18. ^ 'Beach Wrestling " Archived 2012-10-24 at the Wayback Machine, fila-official.com
19. ^ Teet, Rob (2016-03-07). Hosting Beach Wrestling Events on Google Books. Lulu.com. ISBN 9781329956216. Retrieved 14 December 2016.[permanent dead link]
20. ^ "SandWrestling.com". Archived from the original on 23 October 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
21. ^ "Beach Wrestling Rules Adjusted". United World Wrestling. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
22. ^ "UWW Disciplines". Archived from the original on 20 September 2014. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
23. ^ Guy Jaouen and Matthew Bennett Nicols: Celtic Wrestling, The Jacket Styles, Fédération Internationale des Luttes Associées (Switzerland) 2007, p1-183.
24. ^ Great activity in wrestling, Cornish sport is growing in popularity in upper peninsula of Michigan, The Minneapolis Journal, 19 July 1902, p9.
25. ^ Wrestling, Bendigo Advertiser (Vic), 9 January 1906, p3.
26. ^ Cornish Association of South Africa, Cornish Guardian, 8 May 1914, p5.
27. ^ Wrestling for the championship of Westland, WEST COAST TIMES, ISSUE 712, 4 JANUARY 1868, p2.
28. ^ Cornish wrestling in Devon, Cornish Guardian, 25 June 1926, p6.
29. ^ Last Christmas Day wedding in Taunton, Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser, 28 December 1963, p1.
30. ^ Wrestling, The Japan Weekly Mail, 30 March 1872, p162.
31. ^ Cornish Wrestling to be introduced to Canada, Cornish Guardian, 20 December 1928, p5.
32. ^ A Cornish Wrestler in Mexico, The Cornish Telegraph, 14 July 1892, p5.
33. ^ Guy Jaouen and Matthew Bennett Nicols: Celtic Wrestling, The Jacket Styles, Fédération Internationale des Luttes Associées (Switzerland) 2007, p119-155.
34. ^ In My View, Cornish Guardian, 19 October 2011.
35. ^ "Growing Wrestling: Women's Collegiate Wrestling Association". National Wrestling Coaches Association. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
36. ^ "Wrestling, Freestyle" by Michael B. Poliakoff from Encyclopedia of World the Sport: From Ancient Times to the Present, Vol. 3, p. 1192, eds. David Levinson and Karen Christensen (Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, Inc., 1996).
37. ^ Hooker: An Authentic Wrestler's Adventures Inside the Bizarre World of Professional Wrestling Lou Thesz Crowbar Press 2001
38. ^ Chapman, Mike (1990). Encyclopedia of American Wrestling. Champaign, Illinois: Leisure Press. pp. 1–2. ISBN 9780880113427.
39. ^ Wilson, Kevin. "Legends". Puroresu Central. Retrieved 2009-07-26.
40. ^ Art Ukraine.com – Posters for State Circus in Ukraine advertising "French Wrestling" (professional Greco Roman wrestling) – Accessed 17 June 2018
41. ^ Schrag, Myles (2018). 'Judo' in 'The Sports Rules Book'. Human Kinetics. ISBN 978-1492572824.
42. ^ International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles. "Sambo". FILA. Archived from the original on 2012-09-14. Retrieved 2007-08-09.
43. ^ "Rogan: The very best skill for MMA is wrestling". The Underground. 19 May 2010.
44. ^ "UFC® FIGHT PASS™ – Chael Sonnen vs. Nate Marquardt UFC 109". UFC.TV.
45. ^ "Can mixed martial arts save wrestling?". USA Today.
46. ^ WTBA Administrator (April 29, 2018). "History". thaiboxing.com. Archived from the original on June 30, 2015.
47. ^ "The Gentle Way Part II: Olympians Ronda Rousey and Rick Hawn Adapt to MMA". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
48. ^ Rivera, Sebastian (April 15, 2019). "Which Fighting Styles Generate the Most UFC/MMA Champions?". vividseats.com. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
49. ^ Coach Mike R (11 August 2013). "Factgrinder: The 25 Greatest Wrestlers in UFC History". Bloody Elbow.

## External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wrestling.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Women's Wrestling.

Look up Wrestling or Grappling in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Wikiquote has quotations related to Wrestling.

* FILA Wrestling Archived 2012-09-14 at the Wayback Machine

* v
* t
* e

Grappling

Competitions|

* ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship
* Grapplers Quest
* International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation
* Metamoris
* Polaris Pro Grappling
* Quintet
* COPA de Bangkok

General techniques|

* Bridge
* Clinch fighting
* Collar tie
* Eye-gouging
* Fish-hooking
* Grappling hold
* Hooks
* Ippon seoi nage
* Nelson hold
* Overhook
* Sprawl
* Sweep
* Takedown
* Throw
* Transition
* Underhook

Grappling hold|

* Armlock
* Chokehold
* Compression lock
* Joint lock
* Leglock
* Small joint manipulation
* Spinal lock
* Wristlock

Grappling position|

* Back mount
* Bear hug
* Collar-and-elbow position
* Cradle
* Crucifix position
* Guard
* Half guard
* Knee-on-stomach
* Mount
* North–south position
* Over–under position
* Pinch grip tie
* Side control

Grappling-based martial arts|

* Aikido
* Beach wrestling
* Brazilian jiu-jitsu
* Catch wrestling
* Chin Na
* Dishuquan
* Folk wrestling
* Belt
* Glima
* Gouren
* Jacket wrestling
* Judo
* Sambo
* Shuai jiao
* Jujutsu
* Kurash
* Mongolian wrestling
* Shoot wrestling
* Ssireum
* Sumo
* Wrestling
* Styles
* Yongmudo

Equipment|

* Brazilian jiu-jitsu gi
* Dohyō
* Gunbai
* Judogi
* Wrestling headgear
* Wrestling shoe
* Wrestling singlet

* v
* t
* e

Martial arts

* List of styles
* History
* Timeline
* Records
* Hard and soft

Classification

| Regional origin|

* China
* Europe
* India
* Indonesia
* Italian
* Ireland
* Japan
* Okinawa
* Korea
* Mainland Southeast Asia
* Philippines
* Russia
* Vietnam

|

Unarmed
techniques|

* Arm strikes
* Chokehold
* Punch
* Elbow strike
* Clinch
* Ground
* Headbutt
* Leg strikes
* Footwork
* Kick
* Flying
* Knee strike
* Stomp
* Grappling
* Hold
* Joint lock
* Sweep
* Takedown
* Throw
* Stand-up

Weapons|

* Duel
* Melee weapons
* Knife fighting
* Stick-fighting
* Swordsmanship
* Ranged weapons
* Archery
* Shooting

Training|

* Kata
* Boxing glove
* Practice weapon
* Punching bag
* Pushing hands
* Randori
* Sparring

Grappling|

* Barróg
* Brazilian jiu-jitsu
* Judo
* Jujutsu
* Luta Livre esportiva
* Malla-yuddha
* Pehlwani
* Sambo
* Shuai jiao
* Sumo
* Wrestling
* catch
* Cornish
* folk
* freestyle
* Greco-Roman
* Mongolian
* oil
* shoot

Striking|

* Bando
* Boxing
* Capoeira
* Chess boxing
* Choi Kwang-Do
* Dambe
* Karate
* Kickboxing
* Kun Khmer
* Lethwei
* Muay Thai
* Northern Praying Mantis
* Russian boxing
* Sanda
* Shaolin kung fu
* Shoot boxing
* Savate
* Taekwondo
* Tang Soo Do
* Tien Shan Pai
* Vovinam
* Wudangquan
* Yoshukai Karate

Internal|

* Aikido
* Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu
* Baguazhang
* Tai chi
* Xingyiquan

Full contact /
combat sports|

* Professional boxing
* Kickboxing
* Full contact karate
* Mixed martial arts
* Pankration
* Shootfighting
* Submission wrestling
* Vale Tudo

Self-defense /
combatives|

* Arnis
* Bartitsu
* Hapkido
* Kajukenbo
* Jieitaikakutōjutsu
* Krav Maga
* MCMAP
* Pencak silat
* Pencak Silat Harimau
* Suffrajitsu
* Systema
* Taekkyon
* To-Shin Do
* Wing Chun
* Silat Melayu

Eclectic / hybrids|

* American Kenpo
* Angampora
* Chun Kuk Do
* Hokutoryu Ju-Jutsu
* Jeet Kune Do
* Shooto
* Shorinji Kempo
* Unifight
* Qwan Ki Do

Battlefield|

* Banshay
* Bokator
* Historical European martial arts
* Huiyen Lallong
* Jujutsu
* Kalaripayattu
* Krabi–krabong
* Krav Maga
* Mardani khel
* Marine Corps Martial Arts Program
* Pencak Silat Harimau

Entertainment|

* Fighting game
* Martial arts film (Chanbara)
* Professional wrestling
* Stage combat
* Tricking
* Wuxia

International games

| Martial arts at the
Summer Olympics|

* Boxing
* Fencing
* Judo
* Karate
* Taekwondo
* Wrestling (freestyle, Greco-Roman)
* Demonstration sports
* Budō
* Pistol dueling
* Glima
* Savate

|

Martial arts at the
World Games|

* Ju-jitsu
* Karate
* Kickboxing
* Muay Thai
* Sumo
* Former official sports
* Sambo
* Taekwondo
* Invitational sports
* Aikido
* Wushu

Martial arts at the
Pan American Games|

* Boxing
* Fencing
* Judo
* Karate
* Taekwondo
* Wrestling

Martial arts at the
Asian Games|

* Boxing
* Judo
* Jujutsu
* Karate
* Taekwondo
* Wrestling
* Wushu
* 2018 Only
* Kurash
* Pencak silat
* Sambo

Martial arts at the
African Games|

* Boxing
* Fencing
* Judo
* Karate
* Taekwondo
* Wrestling

Martial arts at the
European Games|

* Boxing
* Fencing
* Judo
* Karate
* Muaythai
* Sambo
* Taekwondo
* Wrestling

* Portal
* Outline

* v
* t
* e

International wrestling competitions

World|

* World Championships
* U23
*     * Junior
* Cadets
* World Cup
* Teams
* Clubs
* World University Championships
* World Military Championships

Continental|

* African Championships
* Asian Championships
* European Championships
* Oceania Championships
* Pan American Championships

Multi-sport|

| Worldwide|

* Olympic Games
* Military World Games
* Universiade

|

Regional|

* African Games‎
* Arab Games
* Asian Games
* Commonwealth Games
* European Games
* Islamic Solidarity Games
* Mediterranean Games
* Pan American Games

Sub-regional|

* Southeast Asian Games
* Central American Games
* Central American and Caribbean Games
* South American Games

Discontinued|

* Espoirs
* Friendship Games
* Goodwill Games
* Paralympics

Associated|

* Beach
* Belt (Alysh)
* Gi
* No-Gi
* Pahlavani
* Pankration
* Sambo

* United World Wrestling

* v
* t
* e

Summer Olympic sports

Core program|

* Aquatics
* Artistic
* Diving
* Marathon Swimming
* Swimming
* Water polo
* Archery
* Athletics
* Badminton
* Basketball
* 3x3
* Boxing
* Canoeing
* Canoe slalom
* Canoe sprint
* Cycling
* BMX racing
* Freestyle BMX
* Mountain biking
* Road cycling
* Track cycling
* Equestrian
* Dressage
* Eventing
* Show jumping
* Fencing
* Field hockey
* Football
* Golf
* Gymnastics
* Artistic gymnastics
* Rhythmic gymnastics
* Trampolining
* Handball
* Judo
* Modern pentathlon
* Rowing
* Rugby sevens
* Sailing
* Shooting
* Table tennis
* Taekwondo
* Tennis
* Triathlon
* Volleyball
* Beach volleyball
* Weightlifting
* Wrestling
* Freestyle wrestling
* Greco-Roman wrestling

Additions (2020- )|

* Breaking
* Baseball / Softball
* Karate
* Skateboarding
* Competition climbing
* Surfing

* See also: Paralympic sports and Winter Olympic sports

Authority control databases

National|

* Germany
* Israel
* United States
* Japan

Other|

* NARA

*[c.]: circa
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template