Ninh explains, the Rules of Greco-Roman Wrestling. The object of the game is to wrestle the opponent
and win by either pin or by points. Greco-Roman Wrestling is one the most popular
versions of wrestling worldwide and is contested at the Olympic Games.
Wrestling matches are contested between two people who are of similar weight, on a rubber
mat that measures 9m in diameter. Wrestlers either wear red or blue during a contest.
In Greco-Roman Wrestling – you can only use your torso and upper body to take down
your opponent. You cannot use your legs or attack your opponent’s legs for any reason.
This means that there isn’t as much to attack, and not as much to defend.
You must try to get your opponent onto their back, so that both shoulder blades touch the
floor simultaneously. If you successfully pin your opponent’s
shoulder blades to the floor for one second, the referee will stop the contest and you
win automatically.
This is known as winning by fall, or winning by pin.
If neither wrestler can pin each other, you can score points to win the contest instead.
There are 5 main ways of scoring. If you manage to take your opponent down onto
the mat with control over them, this is a takedown and is worth anywhere between 2 and
5 points. The amount of points depends on the type of takedown – with throws of grand
amplitude scoring the maximum 5 points.
Whilst in a defensive position, if you manage to get away from the wrestler or get yourself
into the neutral position, this is an escape and is worth 1 point.
Whilst in a defensive position, if you manage to come from the bottom and take control of
your opponent on top, this is a reversal and scores 1 point.
Whilst in an offensive position, if you expose your opponent’s back to the floor, and are
in a dominant position with control, this is known as exposure, and scores 2 or 3 points
depending on the length of time you nearly pin your opponent.
And if you do commit any illegal move, the referee may award Penalty Points to your opponent.
There are numerous ways this can happen. A match is contested in two periods of 3 minutes
each, and in Greco-Roman Wrestling - you MUST win 2 periods for victory.
So if someone doesn’t win by fall, the wrestler who has won two periods, wins the match.
If both wrestlers have won one period, a third and final period will be played to determine
the winner. This results in the odd occurrence that a
wrestler could still win the contest, whilst being outscored by his opponent.
That’s the bare bones of Greco-Roman Wrestling, but there’s a few other things you’ll
need to know before watching or contesting a match. For example:
Caution If a wrestler commits an illegal move, violates
one of the rules, or has no intention of wrestling, the referee can award a caution and/or penalty
points against them. If a wrestler places one foot outside the
circle, the match is stopped, the wrestler cautioned and one point is awarded to his
opponent. This is known as out of bounds.
If a wrestler runs away, or refuses to start or wrestle, this is passivity and results
in the wrestler is cautioned and the opponent will be awarded one point.
Par Terre The referee may order the wrestlers to start
in Par Terre position. This can be issued after a caution. The offending wrestler will
be on the bottom on his hands and knees. The other wrestler grapples from the top. Collectively,
this is known as the clinch. In Greco-Roman Wrestling, the top wrestler has the advantage
and when the referee whistles, you commence wrestling in this position.
Period Format In Greco Roman Wrestling, each period is split
up into 1 minute sub periods. In the first minute, both wrestlers fight
in a neutral position. After a minute – the referee will order
both wrestlers to assume the Par Terre position, with the highest scoring wrestler on the top.
Then, after another minute, the roles are reversed.
If scores are the same, a coloured disk dictates who starts first.
Technical Superiority (Technical Fall). In Greco-Roman Wrestling, if one wrestler
accrues an 8 point advantage over their opponent, the referee will end the contest immediately
and that wrestler will win by technical superiority or technical fall.
Win by Injury, Forfeit or Disqualification. If the wrestler cannot continue during the
match, the opponent will be awarded a Win by Injury.
If the wrestler cannot start the contest, the opponent will be awarded a win by Forfeit.
If a wrestler accrues 3 cautions, or is banned from competing further by the referee, the
opponent will Win by Disqualification. That’s a lot to take in, but once you’ve
watched Greco-Roman Wrestling for a while, the rules will become clear.
Check out my videos on the other forms of wrestling which you can find on my channel.
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Ninh Ly - www.ninh.co.uk - @NinhLyUK