In Defense Of Folkstyle Wrestling

Recently, I came across a forum on the internet where people were discussing the reasons why Russia dominates the sport of wrestling at the international level. I won't go into all of the reasons because I just want to focus on one.

Someone suggested that Russia dominates the international scene because Russian wrestlers practice freestyle wrestling year round. They don't have folkstyle wrestling in Russia or in any other countries that I'm aware of. In America most of our wrestling at the high school and collegiate level is grounded in folkstyle wrestling. There are opportunities for freestyle wrestling but folkstyle seems to dominate in America. The person on the forum seemed to suggest that America's adherence to folkstyle wrestling was what was holding us back in international competition.

I suppose that argument has some merit. In folkstyle wrestling one is taught to control his opponent. A collegiate wrestler is even awarded a point for "riding time" if he can keep his opponent from escaping or getting a reversal for a certain length of time. A folkstyle wrestler gets awarded for being able to escape from his opponent or score a reversal on his opponent. But, in freestyle wrestling the goal seems to be to score takedowns and simply expose the opponents back to the mat. Escapes or reversals are of little importance.

Perhaps some people think that America hold on to folkstyle wrestling out of tradition and sentimentality. Perhaps some feel that if America is going to perform better in international freestyle wrestling that we should scrap folkstyle wrestling altogether and practice and compete only in freestyle wrestling. But, I disagree with that idea.

I fully admit that I am biased. I competed in folkstyle wrestling in high school and had a few collegiate matches as well. I never cared much for freestyle wrestling. I wasn't interested in gut wrenches, ankle laces, front headlocks, tilts, or throws.

I find it somewhat disappointing that controlling one's opponent means very little at the international level. If a wrestler is taken down he usually makes no attempt to escape or try for a reversal. In fact, he is expected to simply stall. In freestyle wrestling a wrestler can score points without ever actually being in control.

I think there is something to be said for being able to take an opponent down, prevent him from escaping, and ultimately pinning him. There seems to be no place for arm bars, half nelsons, stand ups, switches, and many other moves in freestyle wrestling.

We used to hold a takedown tournament at my high school after the regular season was over. It was similar to freestyle in some ways. You simply wanted to score takedowns. If you ended up on the bottom you were encouraged to simply hold your ground and stall until the referee restarted the match.
But, wrestling is so much more than takedowns.

So, does folkstyle wrestling make America less competitive at an international level? Dan Gable, Tom and Terry Brands, and Cael Sanderson seem to suggest that folkstyle wrestling doesn't hurt one's chances of winning in international freestyle wrestling.

Even if folkstyle wrestling does make America less competitive internationally I don't care. Maybe Americas do hold on to folkstyle wrestling because we are sentimental. So what? Why shouldn't we be proud of our America sport of folkstyle wrestling? I would rather have less success internationally if it means that folkstyle wrestling continues to be practiced in America.