Freestyle wrestling is an intense and fun sport that is a little bit different from folkstyle wrestling, which is the type of wrestling only the U.S. competes in.
Kylan Mitchell, a Rock Island High School Wrestler who competes in both freestyle and folkstyle wrestling, shared some differences between both sports. “Free style is different because in free, you can lock hands and the point system is different,” Kylan said. Kylan also explained how important it is to be fast and quick in freestyle wrestling. “Trying to pull off your moves and not get other moves put on you by your opponent,” explained Mitchell.
Points scored in freestyle wrestling are a bit different. By pushing opponents out of bounds, takedowns, and headlocks, along side cool moves, you can do in freestyle wrestling that normally are not allowed in Folkstyle. “Like the Suplex, arm throw,” Kylan mentions.
When it comes to the clothes freestyle wrestlers wear, Kylan said the only difference is the color of the singlet, which changes depending on which side you’re on. He said, “The only thing that’s different is the color of the singlet on every match either blue or red depending on which side you’re on.”
Joel Stockwell, a wrestling coach at the high school, explained more differences between freestyle wrestling and Folkstyle wrestling, which is common in high schools and colleges in the U.S. Stockwell pointed out some huge differences in how the sport is scored, and how points are earned.
“The major differences are in scoring—in folkstyle you must hold your opponent on their back for at least 2 seconds to score any points. In freestyle, if their back reaches 90 degrees with the mat, 2 points are awarded,” Stockwell explained. While mentioning the higher points awarded in freestyle wrestling for special moves, he said, “In freestyle, if you take your opponent down from their feet to their back, it is a 4-point takedown. And, if you take them from their feet, in a high-amplitude throw where their feet go over their head, it can be a 5-point takedown.”
Freestyle is universally more popular than the folkstyle due to Freestyle being more well known in other countries around the world. With free style, wrestlers being one of the most paid athletes and famous in the world. Stockwell goes in depth with this by stating, “There are countries where the top Freestyle wrestlers are actually the most well paid and famous athletes. The main countries where Olympic Wrestlers are treated as the top athletes are: Iran, Russia, Ukraine, Tajikastan, Kazakstan, Georgia, and Cuba.” Stockwell then goes on to explain his own opinion on the excitement of watching free style athletes, stating, “I can only speak from my own opinions. I feel it is the ultimate sport where strength, balance, technique, conditioning, and the athlete’s grit/heart are individually tested at the absolute highest level. In my opinion, these characteristics determine the greatest athletes/warriors pound for pound on the planet.”
In conclusion, Freestyle wrestling is a very physically demanding sport needing determination, time, focus, and will power with some freestyle athletes being one of the most paid and most famous. Its unique rules and scoring system makes the sport appealing to athletes and fans around the world.
