10 Wrestling Rules You Probably Don’t Know
Have you ever wondered how it is that professional wrestlers are able to take hard hits, throw themselves out of the ring, and roll around in mud without getting hurt? See what wrestling rules you might not know below and learn more about how to protect yourself as a fan.
What Are The Rules Of Wrestling?
Wrestling is a sport that involves two people who are trying to push each other to the ground. There are many different wrestling rules. But some of the most common rules include the following:
- The wrestler on top is responsible for controlling the opponent’s head and body.
- The wrestler on the bottom can only move their legs and arms. They cannot use their hands to touch the ground or hold onto anything.
- The referee can call any number of penalties. Including fouls, to penalize either wrestler.
- Wrestle until one wrestler has been pinned or submitted (i.e., their shoulders and neck area on the ground).
- If one wrestler is disqualified (for any reason), the other wrestler can win by default.
- Wrestlers wear padded costumes to protect them from injury.
- Matches are won by either gaining control of their opponent and forcing them to surrender or by pinning their opponent (making them ‘fall’)
- There are three official positions in wrestling – offensive guard, defensive guard, and middle guard
- Holds (physical contact techniques) can be applied to the opponent’s body to immobilize them
- A wrestler is said to be ‘on the ground’ if he or she is laying flat on his or her back. With his or her head facing upwards and shoulders off the mat
- Wrestlers must not use their feet to make contact with their opponent’s body.
- Wrestlers may use only one arm at a time (only one can be used for offense, while the other remains in a neutral position)
- Every match ends (unless otherwise stated in the rules) when one wrestler is pinned, meaning that they have been forced to surrender by their opponent’s weight (the pinning wrestler being known as the ‘pinned wrestler‘).
- A match can end by fall, injury, time-out, or count-out. The winner of a clean six-man tag team match will not be eligible for the championship match.
Conclusion
As a wrestler, you are likely intimately familiar with the rules of the sport. But have you ever wondered what the basic parameters are that regulate everything from falls to submissions? After reading this article, I hope that you will be more knowledgeable about these guidelines. And able to apply them correctly during your matches.
