This is the third article in a series about the various styles in wrestling. The first week we looked at the big picture and took an overview of all the various styles. The second week we looked at Catch-As-Catch-Can, the style used by the old real professional wrestlers in the early 1900s. This week we are going to look at the style used by the amateurs.
In the 1800s, pro and amateur wrestling was very similar. As the professionals began to accept the use of submissions, the amateurs decided the submissions were too dangerous. They adapted safer rules and these rules came to dominate within the colleges. That is why we call this style the collegiate or amateur style. Eventually this collegiate style was adopted into the high schools and grade schools across the nation.
Many people know this style as folkstyle wrestling. This is the accurate term here in the United States, for this is this style that is most popular here. But each country has its own folkstyle and they are usually different from country to country. For example Sumo is the folkstyle of Japan and Sambo in Russia. For people in these countries, they probably would refer to our folk style as the American style.
Here at RPW, we think American folkstyle reflects our country quite accurately. It is a very practical style and is more concerned about function rather than form. Artistic moves are not rewarded but results are all that counts. This makes our folkstyle the most practical style to use in a fight.
But it also has problems. Folkstyle wrestling was never designed to be entertainment. This is a major reason why RPW did not select folkstyle as our own style. Also, most other countries do not practice this style and it would limit our growth potential.
However folkstyle does have some good aspects lacking from other national styles. Folkstyle rewards a wrestler for holding down an opponent or for escaping from under an opponent. This aspect is not found in international styles on a consistent basis. We have included this aspect of folkstyle in our new RPW hybrid style.
Other aspects of folkstyle can be found in RPW. A takedown is worth two points, an escape one, and a reversal is worth two. However, riding time is not part of RPW.
Riding time in folkstyle wrestling rewards a wrestler with one point if they can ride, or stay on top, of the other wrestler for one minute longer than the other wrestler can ride. The match is divided into three periods. While the first period starts with both wrestlers on their feet in the neutral position, the second and third period give each wrestler a chance to start with their opponent down. This down position is called the referee’s position.
Folkstyle wrestlers must always control an opponent to get points. For example, a wrestler must hold another wrestler on his back for two seconds before he can get back points. This frees wrestlers to role across their back in trying to get a reversal or an escape. It leads to a flowing three-dimensional style that many people actually like. They also like it because it gives the top wrestler plenty of time to work for a pin.
In a fight on the street, one should try to not get taken down by a folkstyle wrestler. They will probably never get free unless a third party intervenes or the wrestler gets board. A folkstyle wrestler can hold someone down with just his legs and stay glued to their back. Against a good collegiate wrestler, they’d be lucky not to get a shoulder ripped out. Or they might find themself twisted like a pretzel, eating a knee.
Folkstyle has a huge following in the United States with over one million participants every year. It is found in most school systems and is known for its toughness and extreme workouts.
But for wrestling to become more popular, it must not just be tough; it must be entertaining. This is hard for many folkstyle wrestling fans to understand because they think it is entertaining enough. Maybe this is true, but from our testing and researching, we feel there is a better solution.
RPW’s solution of combining the best of all the world’s styles produces a hybrid style not too different from folkstyle. Folkstyle fans should be able to adjust to the differences within a few minutes. Eventually RPW wants to push our style down into the college system and high schools, and up into the Olympics. This would simplify things greatly for wrestling in the United States.
It is a hard decision for most of us since we grew up on folkstyle. Various moves are unique to folkstyle and it is hard for us to see them become orphans. Maybe a solution will be found in the future that incorporates these endangered techniques into RPW. Someday soon, what we know as folkstyle might be be laid to rest alongside Catch in the history books as RPW leads the charge to change the dominant style in the United States.
Story By Staff Writer, –
Wrestling Gear
