The Rich History of Wrestling: From Ancient Times to Modern Spectacle
Wrestling is one of the oldest fighting periods and the ones recognised by many across the globe. It has branched out and evolved across different cultures and civilizations crossing borders and becoming a multi functional activity. Strengths and Skills were put together in ancient times to form a competitive sport which later on integrated theatricals into it self and gave us the upper body fighting sport we know of today. This blog talks about the history of Wrestling, from ancient times till date, professional wrestling as an entertainement and including it in Olympic Games as well.
Ancient times, where pharma’s and more have never existed, Wrestling will date back to??2000 BC. Middle age saanshsua sutras mance. Those who had the first form of First Nations American Tattoo on their body are also believed to be those who practiced wrestling. Trishi investering a ove bon.
- Mesopotamia: The same findings have been recorded in mesopotamia, where wrestling was practised somewhat like a sport and most men both soldiers and civilians indulged in it as pastime as well.
- Greece: The literature available from the cradle of history clearly highlights the wrestling practiced in greeks where it was one of the central point of the olympic games. Not only pale as greek wrestling was called, was one of the main items of the olympics, it was also a highly regarded sport and an integral part of the pale child’s education system. As was common among wrestlers in ancient Greece, they wrestled without clothes and the primary aim of the fight was not to overpower the opponent’s strength, but to outmaneuver him with superior technique and skill. In this form of wrestling, an athlete won in the bout when he threw his opponent on the ground thrice.
Wrestling in the Roman Empire
The greeks passed on wrestling to the Romans, who were more aggressive in their practice. During the Roman Empire, wrestling, or lucta, became a popular form of entertainment and was often practiced inside arenas as a stylized version of combat coupled with gladiator fights. While the Greek version of wrestling was standardized and militaristic, the Roman form allowed for punches and was a much brutal sport, often leading to injuries and life threatening events.
Wrestling remained an iconic attachment in the culture of Rome, despite being a violent exercise, giving birth to wrestling all over Europe in the following years.
Medieval and Early Modern Wrestling
Wrestling is said to have progressed throughout the medieval ages with different styles emerging within Europe. For instance, in England wrestling tournaments were held, both nobility and commoners took part in it. Furthermore, the Cornish and Lancashire wrestling styles developed, with different principles and techniques for each style.
- In Japan, during this time, the ritualistic form of sumo in Shinto rituals evolved into an almost professional sport. This is still one of the most popular national traditions in Japan.
- Meanwhile in Europe during the Renaissance, the upper class turned to wrestling as a form of entertainment, which led to the creation of new manuals that provided guidelines on how to wrestle, thus making it a gentleman’s sport.
Wrestling in the Modern Era
Wrestling as a sport gained particular interest in the United States and Europe in the 19th century. During this period, two major styles of wrestling gained prominence: Greco-Roman wrestling and freestyle wrestling.
- Greco-Roman Wrestling: This wrestling style traces its origins to France in the early 1800s; various holds are allowed but none lower than the waist, emphasizing throwing, locking and grappling. Greco-Roman wrestling was founded in 1896 as an Olympic sport and continues to be one of the most honored forms of amateur wrestling.
- Freestyle Wrestling: Adopting leg holds and attacks into the mix, however, freestyle wrestling gained traction in the US and the United Kingdom. This style is less restrictive and is more geared towards speed and dexterity. Freestyle wrestling also became a part of Olympic sports in 1904.
- Catch Wrestling: A form that developed in this period was catch wrestling which focused on Greco-Roman and freestyle. It featured submission and pinning combinations as well that impacted professional wrestling.
Has been largely due to the Rise of Professional Wrestling.
During the late 1800’s and even the start of the 1900’s, wrestling started evolving into fun filled events. Professional wrestling would make sense in the United States, considering it was during the times of carnivals and vaudeville. Match writers created plots and exaggerated the wrestlers’ image so they could gain viewership.
Fast forward to mid 20th century, wrestling was now a worldwide activity. With the framework of respective groups in the United States, NWA and later on WWF, turned wrestling into a televised event. Famous personalities such as Hulk Hogan, “Stone Cold”Steve Austin, and The Rock propelled the show business as wrestling became a business of show, storytelling and sport.
Olympic Wrestling Competitions
While in pro wrestling an emphasis on entertainment took precedence, the amateur wrestling continued to be popular as a contesting sport. Wrestling has been a part of the history of the modern Olympic games ever since the games began with both the Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling disciplines being offered.
As for the sport including Aleksandr Karelin who is a Russian Greco-Roman wrestler and is described as one of the most fantastic wrestlers of all times. Also for the women, American freestyle Olympic wrestling champion Jordan Burroughs was able to be remembered by wrestling fans.
The Global Influence of Wrestling
The boundaries of wrestling don’t just end in America and Europe for it's influence surpasses them all. In Mexico, Lucha Libre is an admired genre of professional wrestling characterized by bright colors, aerial acts, and a lot of acrobatics. Wrestling in Japan, known as Puroresu, is characterized by its strong style, which combines striking and submission grappling within dramatic storylines.
Wrestling has several styles and modes, where other nations like India do it in its traditional way known as Kushti that takes place in a mud pit and that is to be mentioned does have its rightful pride attached to it culturally.
The Future of Wrestling
To this day, wrestling is in a state of change. As the MMA industry rose it drew the wrestling game back into the limelight, showing the mixed fighting sport as a modern-day gladiatorial battle. The grappling skills that wrestlers possess have brought them great triumph in this octagonal ring.
In the same light , professional wrestling is still a form of global entertainment with WWE, All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) attracting millions of fans globally.
Conclusion
The rich history of wrestling depicts the fact that it is popular across the globe. The sport has transformed throughout time, from ancient warriors to contemporary champions, and it has always been integrated into culture and sport. Wrestling, whether as a competition or as a story pageant, also has its appeal around the globe and never ceases to amaze its fans.
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