🥋 Exploring Different Styles of Wrestling: A Complete Guide

Wrestling is one of the world’s oldest and most dynamic combat sports. Across cultures and eras, it has evolved into several distinct styles — each with its own techniques, rules, strategies, and traditions.

Whether you're a beginner, a coach, or a lifelong fan, understanding the major wrestling styles can deepen your appreciation for the sport and help you choose the right path for training.

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🤼‍♂️ Greco-Roman Wrestling

Greco-Roman wrestling focuses on upper-body techniques only. Wrestlers are not allowed to use or attack the legs, which makes throws, locks, and leverage essential to success.

This style is known for explosive lifts, powerful throws, and incredible torso control.

Key Features

• No leg attacks or trips
  
• Heavy emphasis on clinch work and body control
  
• High-amplitude throws are rewarded
  
• Olympic discipline
  

Who It’s For

Athletes who enjoy upper-body strength battles, explosive throws, and classical wrestling technique.

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🤼 Freestyle Wrestling

Freestyle wrestling allows attacks on both the upper body and legs, making it one of the most dynamic and fast-paced forms of wrestling. Points can be earned through takedowns, exposures, reversals, and control.

Key Features

• Leg grabs, single-legs, and double-legs allowed
  
• Fast transitions and scrambles
  
• Focus on both technique and athleticism
  
• Olympic discipline
  

Who It’s For

Wrestlers who enjoy speed, versatility, and creative takedown chains.

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🤼‍♀️ Folkstyle (Collegiate) Wrestling

Folkstyle wrestling is most common in American schools and colleges. Unlike freestyle and Greco-Roman, folkstyle emphasizes control, riding, and escape points.

Key Features

• Control and riding time are important
  
• Escapes and reversals earn points
  
• Safe, structured rules for youth progression
  
• Foundation for many U.S. wrestlers
  

Who It’s For

Athletes who prefer a more controlled, position-focused approach.

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🤼 Sumo Wrestling

Sumo is a traditional Japanese wrestling style where two rikishi attempt to force each other out of a circular ring or make any part of the opponent’s body touch the ground.

Key Features

• Ceremony and tradition are central
  
• Short, explosive bouts
  
• Rules allow pushing, lifting, forcing out, and throws
  
• No submissions
  

Who It’s For

Fans of power, ritual, and cultural tradition mixed into one combat sport.

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🤼 Catch Wrestling

Catch-as-catch-can is the ancestor of modern professional wrestling and MMA grappling. It combines wrestling takedowns with submissions, such as joint locks and chokes.

Key Features

• Submissions allowed
  
• Focus on pins AND submissions
  
• Strong influence on Brazilian jiu-jitsu and MMA
  

Who It’s For

Grapplers who enjoy a mix of wrestling and submission fighting.

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🤼 Sambo Wrestling

Sambo (from SAMozashchita Bez Oruzhiya, meaning “self-defense without weapons”) originates from Russia and blends wrestling with judo-style throws.

Key Features

• Jacket wrestling similar to judo
  
• Leg locks allowed (in sport Sambo)
  
• Fast-paced and very technical
  

Who It’s For

Athletes who enjoy grappling with submissions but prefer a wrestling approach.

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🏁 Final Thoughts

Each wrestling style offers its own unique strengths and techniques. Whether you’re drawn to the explosive throws of Greco-Roman, the fast leg attacks of freestyle, the control-focused Folkstyle approach, or the traditional power of Sumo — there’s a style for every type of athlete.

Training in multiple styles can also expand your skillset and improve your overall grappling game.