Greco-Roman vs Freestyle Wrestling

There are many different types of wrestling, but two of the most popular amateur wrestling styles are Greco-Roman and freestyle. They both have their own unique set of rules and techniques, which make them both enjoyable to watch and participate in.

In this post, we are going to take a look at the differences between these two styles of wrestling.

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greco roman vs freestyle wrestling

What Is Greco-roman Wrestling?

Greco-roman wrestling is a style of wrestling that is based on traditional wrestling techniques. The focus is on upper body strength and techniques, which makes it a more physical style of wrestling. There are no throws or takedowns allowed in Greco-roman wrestling, and the only way to win is by pinning your opponent to the ground.

What Is Freestyle Wrestling?

Freestyle wrestling is a more modern style of wrestling that allows throws and takedowns. This makes it a more fluid and dynamic style of wrestling, which is why it is more popular than Greco-roman wrestling. The focus is on scoring points by throwing and pinning your opponent, and the matches are typically more exciting to watch.

What’s the Difference Between Greco-Roman vs Freestyle

The first big difference between Greco-roman and freestyle wrestling is that in Greco-roman, you are not allowed to use your legs to attack your opponent.

This makes the style a lot more strategic, as you need to rely on your upper body strength and techniques to take your opponent down. In freestyle wrestling, you are allowed to use your legs to attack your opponent, which makes the style a lot more physical.

Another major difference between these two styles is the scoring system. In Greco-roman wrestling, you can earn points by taking your opponent down, holding them for a certain amount of time, or forcing them to submit.

In freestyle wrestling, you can earn points by taking your opponent down, throwing them to the ground, or holding them for a certain amount of time.

One more difference is the amount of protection that the wrestlers wear. In Greco-roman wrestling, the wrestlers wear a lot more protection, including headgear, chest guards, and knee pads. In freestyle wrestling, the wrestlers wear less protection, which makes the style a lot more dangerous.

So, Which Style Is Better?

That’s a difficult question to answer, as both Greco-roman and freestyle wrestling have their own advantages and disadvantages. However, Greco-roman is a more strategic and technical style, while freestyle wrestling is a more physical and dangerous style.

So, it really comes down to personal preference. If you enjoy watching a more strategic and technical fight, then Greco-roman is the style for you. If you enjoy watching a more physical and dangerous fight, then freestyle wrestling is the style for you.

Is Greco-Roman Harder Than Freestyle?

That’s also a difficult question to answer, as it depends on the person. Greco-roman wrestling is a more physical style of wrestling, while freestyle wrestling is a more dangerous style.

So, if you are not used to being physical, then Greco-roman may be harder for you than freestyle. However, if you are comfortable being physical and you enjoy taking risks, then freestyle wrestling may be harder for you than Greco-roman. In the end, it really comes down to personal preference.

Is Olympic Wrestling Greco-Roman or Freestyle?

The Olympic wrestling style is a combination of both Greco-roman and freestyle wrestling. The men’s wrestling style is Greco-roman, while the women’s wrestling style is freestyle.

This allows for a more fair and balanced match, as each wrestler has to adapt to both styles. So, if you are interested in Olympic wrestling, you need to be comfortable with both Greco-roman and freestyle wrestling.

Which Is More Popular?

Greco-roman wrestling is more popular than freestyle wrestling as it’s the men’s wrestling style in the Olympics, which makes it a better choice for athletes who are interested in winning matches by takedowns and pins.

However, freestyle wrestling is more popular than ever before and is quickly gaining in popularity.

It’s important to mention that, Folkstyle wrestling, which is used in collegiate and high school wrestling, Catch wrestling, and Submission wrestling are far more popular in the U.S. in comparison to Greco-Roman and freestyle, according to ‘Google trends‘.

In the end, it is really up to personal preference which style you choose to learn. Both Greco-roman and freestyle wrestling have their advantages and disadvantages, and it is up to you to decide which style you want to focus on.

History Differences

The roots of Greco-roman wrestling can be traced back to ancient Greece, in the year 708 BC. Freestyle wrestling, on the other hand, originated in the United States in the late 1800s. So, Greco-roman has a longer history than freestyle wrestling.

Which Style Is Better for Self Defense, Greco Roman or Freestyle?

Both Greco-roman and freestyle wrestling can be effective for self-defense, although they are usually not the best choice in these situations when that is not the main purpose of this sport.

However, Greco-roman wrestling is more focused on takedowns and pins, while freestyle wrestling is more focused on throws and submissions. So, if you are interested in self-defense, you may want to focus on learning freestyle wrestling techniques.

However, if you are interested in more traditional self-defense techniques, then Greco-roman wrestling may be a better choice for you. In the end, it really comes down to personal preference.

Is Freestyle or Greco-roman Better for MMA?

MMA is a sport that combines both Greco-roman and freestyle wrestling. So, the best style for MMA is a combination of both styles. However, if you are only interested in one style or the other, then Greco-roman wrestling may be a better choice for MMA, as it is more focused on takedowns and pins, which is more effective for MMA.

Winner Differences

In Greco-roman wrestling, the winner is the wrestler who either takes their opponent down, holds them for a certain amount of time, or forces them to submit.

In freestyle wrestling, the wrestler can win by taking their opponent down, throwing them to the ground, or pinning them. So, there are more ways to win in freestyle wrestling than Greco-roman wrestling.

Which Style Is More Dangerous?

Freestyle wrestling is more dangerous than Greco-roman wrestling as the wrestlers are allowed to use their hands and legs to attack their opponent. This can lead to more dangerous and violent moves, which can cause serious injuries. So, if you are looking for a more dangerous and physical wrestling style, freestyle is the style for you.

Which Style Is More Technical?

Greco-roman wrestling is more technical than freestyle wrestling as the wrestlers are not allowed to use their hands and legs to attack their opponent. This leads to more strategic and technical matches, as the wrestlers are forced to use their upper body to takedown and pin their opponent.

Which Style Is More Fun?

This is really up to personal preference. Both Greco-roman and freestyle wrestling can be fun and exciting, depending on the person. So, it really comes down to what you are looking for in a wrestling style.

Is There a Difference in Equipment?

There’s not much difference in the types of equipment used in Greco-roman and freestyle wrestling. However, Greco-roman wrestlers wear more protection, including headgear, chest guards, and knee pads.

This is because Greco-roman wrestling is a more physical style of wrestling, while freestyle wrestling is a more dangerous style.

Greco roman wrestling equipment includes a singlet, headgear, knee pads, and wrestling shoes.

Freestyle wrestling equipment includes a singlet, headgear (optional), a mouthguard, and wrestling shoes.

Which Is Harder to Learn?

Both styles are not easy to learn (like any martial art) as they require a deep understanding of the rules, a rigorous training routine, proper nutrition, and lots of practice in front of opponents.

The question that needs to be asked is whether you are willing to invest time, effort, and energy and not break down and give up even when it is difficult, in order to reach the goals you have set.