Evolution Of Wrestling Essay

One of the oldest form of competition, practiced by some of the most dominant men in history, wrestling has been around since ancient times. The first real traces of wrestling date back 5000 years to the time of the Sumerians. Sculptures and artwork also show evidence of wrestling in the egyptian culture. Almost all ancient cultures practiced some form of wrestling, but it was never done in an organized fashion until the Roman and Greek empires. For the Greeks, wrestling was a science and it represented important training for young men. Men wrestled naked, with their bodies covered in olive oil and coated with a layer of very thin sand to protect the skin from sunburn or from cold during winter events. After the match, they scraped this layer off with an tool called a strigil and washed themselves with water. Matches were similar to those of modern Greco-Roman wrestling, as shown in drawings and inscriptions from that time, the competitor who first threw his opponent or first
brought him down on his back, hips, chest, knees or elbows was the winner. Greek wrestling, also known as "Pale," stood alone as the most popular sporting event in ancient Greece. This was practiced in the ancient Olympic games, from 708 B.C., wrestling was the decisive discipline of the Pentathlon. In fact, it was the last event to be held. After the discus, the javelin, the long jump and the foot race. It decided the winner of the Pentathlon. In 393 A.D., Roman Emperor Theodosius I prohibited all pagan games and outlawed the Olympic Games, and wrestling fell into a dormant and violent abyss throughout the Middle Ages. It was still practiced as a favorite form of entertainment for Royals and aristocrats but it was never an organized sporting event like it was with the greeks. Attempts made to restore the Olympic Games were numerous, but it was not until 1896 that they were re-established by Baron Pierre de Coubertin. After the creation of the International Olympic Committee in 1894. In the 1830’s in France professional wrestling was popular although it was more like a circus then sports. Wrestlers were often accompanied by exotic animals and “freaks” as they traveled around showcasing their abilities. By the end of the 19th century, professional wrestling was the most in vogue sport in Europe, but it started to degrade into the 1900’s due to fixed matches.
The rediscovery of Olympic amateurism in the late 1800’s encouraged the creation of numerous clubs and schools that killed professional wrestling off for good.
In the modern world there are three main styles of wrestling practiced around the world. Freestyle, practiced as an amature sport and also in the Olympics, Along with the closely related Greco-Roman style. THere is also American Folkstyle Wrestling practiced solely in the United states in high schools and colleges across the country.
Freestyle wrestling has his roots in the United States and Great Britain it gained popularity in fairs and festivals during the 19th century.
In freestyle wrestling or as some call it catch as you can wrestling, both wrestlers started the match standing and then a wrestler tried to hold the other opponent's shoulders to the ground this is known as a “fall” or a “pin”. If no pin was achieved, both wrestlers continued grappling on the ground, almost all holds and techniques were allowed. Freestyle wrestling first emerged as an Olympic sport in the Saint Louis Olympics of 1904. All 40 wrestlers who participated in the 1904 Olympics were American. The 1904 Olympics sanctioned the rules commonly used for catch-as-catch can, but imposed some restrictions on dangerous holds. Wrestling by seven weight classes. They were 104.9 lb, 115.1 lb, 125.0 lb, 134.9 lb, 143.9 lb, 156.7 lb, and greater than 158 lb this is the first time in recorded history where athletes were divided by weight
classes.
Greco-Roman made its first modern Olympic debut in 1896 and has been included in every edition of the summer Olympics held since 1908. Two wrestlers are scored for their performance in two three-minute periods, which can be terminated early by a pin or fall. This style of wrestling prohibits holds or trips below the waist which is the main difference from freestyle wrestling. This restriction means there is a major emphasis on upper body throws to take an opponent to the ground, and they cannot defend being thrown by hooking or grabbing the other wrestlers leg.
American Folkstyle Wrestling dating back to the founding days of the United States. Many U.S. Presidents were Folkstyle Wrestlers including Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt. Folkstyle wrestling is the fifth most popular sport in American high schools and the most commonly practiced style of wrestling in the United States. USA Wrestling is the largest sponsor of high school and club wrestling in the world. Every year they sponsor over 2000 local, state, regional, and national competitions. The main folkstyle wrestling season runs from mid-November until March in some states and regions.
Within each state, clubs and teams compete in dual meets, multi-team tournaments/duals, and open (individual) tournaments. Each state also typically holds a state championship, which is preceded by regional qualifying events such as sectional and district tournaments. Matches are made up of three periods. The first is always started in the neutral position, and unless ended by pin, technical fall or disqualification, each wrestler is has a chance to chose the starting position in the second and third periods, Either top, bottom, neutral, or can also differ to third period if given choice in second period. Folkstyle rules provide for no rest time between periods and stalling between periods may be penalized by the referee . Points can be awarded for a takedown, 2 points, an escape, 1 point, reversal, 2 points, and back points, 1-3 points can be given depending on the amount of time the bottom mans shoulders are exposed to the mat.
Recently as you may have heard there has been attempts to remove all forms of wrestling from the olympics. But as you can see with wrestling´s long and deep rooted history in both the ancient and modern world it would be nearly impossible for anyone or any group to get that done.