Wrestling
Wrestling is a sport in which a practitoner attempts to defeat an opponent without the use of striking. Wrestling has evolved into many different styles and forms. They range from world-wide, commercialised stadium events to less publicized, local amateur competitions. Generally, two persons compete against each other for each contest.
According to the
International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA), the governing body of international amateur wrestling, the four main forms of amateur competitive wrestling practiced internationally today are
Greco-Roman wrestling,
Freestyle wrestling,
Judo wrestling and
Sambo wrestling.
There are almost as many wrestling styles as there are national traditions. Styles include
Pehlwani in
India and
Iran,
Sumo in
Japan, Inner and Outer Mongolian Wrestling, and
Yağlı güreş which is a type of "oiled" wrestling in
Turkey. Wrestling is often categorized as one of the
martial arts; its virile image and usefulness as military training helped generate such multi-cultural evolutions. Some evidence suggests that wrestling may be the oldest sport known to man. A large amount of early artwork, for example, depicts matches between two opponents. One of the most famous wresting matches appears in the book of
Genesis where Jacob wrestles an
angel (sometimes thought of as
God himself) and is renamed
Israel for his struggle, which translates to "Wrestles with God".
In addition to its sporting nature, wrestling has often been utilized as the basis for popular spectacle, or theatrical drama. Circus shows worldwide have historically included sideshow wrestling matches involving monetary wagers and even people competing against animals (particularly
bears). Such "show wrestling" has continued to this day in professional wrestling spectaculars – choreographed for maximum auditory and visual effects. Often the winner of commercial contests is determined in advance but some styles such as
Sumo,
Shoot wrestling (also in Japan) and
Mixed Martial Arts remain true sporting contests.
Modern-day
professional wrestling has traces back in early traveling
carnivals, where showmen would challenge local spectators to compete with them in a ring. They would most commonly offer any prizes to any man, or woman, for that matter, who could beat them. Also, the carnival would often place one of its showmen in the audience to answer the challenge, and the two would provide a predetermined spectacle with the intent of providing an entertaining show for the spectators.
Besides the United States, Mexico (
Lucha Libre) and Japan (
Puroresu) have garnered the greatest percentage of spectator commercialism under the "professional" label.
Wrestling has historically been used by militaries as a part of training. Armies in China have used it for several thousand years.
[See Shuai jiao.]The main objectives of wrestling in military training are:
*Superior balance developed from trying to keep one's balance while at the same time trying to upset the opponent's. In war, falling to the ground can quickly make one vulnerable to weapon thrusts, which makes good balance a must for strong soldiers.
*Grip strength and manual dexterity, for the use of weapons and combat gear
*Focused and powerful pushing-power. In combat one must smash or thrust weapons forward at one's enemies.
*The ability to get up quickly if fallen down, a very important survival skill on the battlefield (see above).
*Improved stamina, endurance and strength.
*Physical skills to control prisoners, or to carry wounded comrades.
*Cultivation of aggressiveness and improved reaction time.
*Camraderie, diversion and entertainment.
Wrestling is a safe way to achieve the above goals since it does not use dangerous objects or weapons.
Wrestling has gained tremendous respect as a martial art with the advent of
mixed martial arts competition. Many fighters identify wrestling itself or
Submission wrestling as their style of fighting. Wrestling forms the base of some of the most respected self defense/mixed martial arts systems in the world eg such as
Shootfighting,
Shooto,
Pancrase,
Combat Submission Wrestling, or
Sambo. Some successful fighters who come from a wrestling background include:
Rickson Gracie,
Dan Severn,
Randy Couture,
Mark Coleman,
Kevin Randleman,
Mark Kerr,
Matt Hughes,
Kazushi Sakuraba,
Chuck Liddell,
Josh Barnett,
Pat Miletich,
Takanori Gomi,
Dan Henderson,
Sean Sherk and
Fedor Emelianenko.
*
Amateur wrestling*
Catch wrestling*
Collegiate wrestling*
Freestyle wrestling*
Greco-Roman wrestling*
Judo*
Shoot wrestling*
Sumo wrestling*
Mongolian Wrestling*
Folk wrestling*
Professional wrestling*
Mixed martial arts*
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu*
Greek Wrestling*
Judo*
International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles, Hall of Fame*
Listings of wrestling videos that have been released*
Interviews with Pro Wrestlers *
Wrestling Site
