Wrestling, for people whose partner (or child) loves wrestling, but they do not.

Does your partner love wrestling?  Yet, you know absolutely nothing about the sport?  You have an easier time understanding how to play blackjack at the SlotoCash Casino than you do what is going on with wrestling.

Well, let’s try to figure out the basics.

What are the different weight classes in wrestling?

Obviously having a 200 lb person fighting against a 90 lb person would be an unfair match in a wrestling match.  So in wrestling competition, wrestlers are broken up into different weight classes.

The weight classes for wrestling go under the category of mixed martial arts.  Mixed martial arts is an extreme combat sport in which contestants are permitted to use the fighting techniques of wrestling and boxing but also those of martial arts such as kickboxing, judo, and karate.

Here are the weight classes and what weights fall in those classes for mixed martial arts:

• Strawweight – 106 to 115 pounds
• Flyweight – 116 to 125 pounds
• Bantam weight – 126 to 135 pounds
• Featherweight – 136 to 145 pounds
• Lightweight – 146 to 155 pounds
• Welterweight – 155 to 170 pounds
• Middleweight – 171 to 185 pounds
• Heavyweight – 205 and 265 pounds
• Super heavyweight – 265 pounds and above

What are the different styles of wrestling?

There are three main styles of wrestling in modern times: Folkstyle wrestling (collegiate wrestling), Freestyle wrestling, and Greco Roman Wrestling.

In olden times, there was also Pankration wrestling.

In freestyle wrestling, participants can use their legs as both offensive and defensive weapons, which is not permitted in Greco-Roman wrestling.  In addition, freestyle wrestlers can attempt to take an opponent to the mat with a single or double-leg takedown.  Freestyle wrestlers can throw an opponent to the Ground and reGain contact with him/her afterward to apply a hold.

In Greco-Roman wrestlers cannot Grab their opponents below the waist at all.  Greco-Roman wrestlers also cannot use their legs to make contact with their opponents, making it more difficult to secure a takedown.  A Greco-Roman wrestler, however, must maintain contact with his opponent throughout the takedown for the hold to count.

Collegiate wrestling (also known as folkstyle wrestling) is the form of wrestling practiced mainly by men at the college and university level in the United States. This style, with some slight modifications, is also practiced at high school and middle school levels, and also among younger participants, where it is known as scholastic wrestling.

Pankration was a sporting event introduced into the Greek Olympic Games in 648 BC, which was an empty-hand submission sport with few rules. The athletes used boxing and wrestling techniques, but also others, such as kicking, holds, joint-locks, and chokes on the ground, making it similar to modern mixed martial arts.

Are World Wrestling Entertainment Wrestling “real” wrestling events?

WWE shows are not legitimate contests, but entertainment-based performance theater, featuring storyline-driven, scripted, and partially-choreographed matches.  However, matches often include moves that can put performers at risk of injury, even death, if not performed correctly.

In other words, “Children, don’t try this at home.”

WWE brands its product as sports entertainment, acknowledging wrestling’s roots in competitive sport and dramatic theater.

In simpler terms, going to a World Wrestling Entertainment wrestling match would similar to going to a murder mystery dinner theater.  You act as if it is real, but everybody going in knows that it is not real.  It is fun and entertaining.

What is not covered in this article (or at least not in much detail)?

This article does not cover points, moves, and other information that a person should know if they truly want to understand the game.  Plus, depending on what type of wrestling the match is will determine what are acceptable and what are unacceptable moves.  The same is true for points.

At least with the vocabulary above, you can begin to start doing some research on the specific type of wresting you are interested in.

What are other sports that are similar to wrestling, but not wrestling?

Wrestling is classified under the general category of mixed martial arts.  This category includes kickboxing, judo, and karate.

You might also want to check out self-defense classes, if you are specifically looking to learn about wrestling techniques as a form of self-defense.  A good mixed martial arts / wrestling self defense course will usually take moves from a variety of different “sports”, taking into account, man vs man, man vs child, or man vs woman.