Wrestling is....

[bushido_man96]

I love seeing the old pictures of grappling depictions. Ancient Greek potery has been seen with similar markings. Indeed, it is a deep, rich part of many cultures.

[ninjasan11]

I wrestled in high school. and as far as it being a self defense system, I would have to agree that it is a martial art. My coach told us the first day of practice, that this is one of the oldest arts and that it acutally is a fighting art, then he went on to tell us not to use it outside of the wrestling room etc etc. So it is a system of self defense, and I have used it many times when sparring to get out of sticky grappling situations.

[bushido_man96]

It would be nice if more Wrestling coaches really described it like that. But even if they don't, I think that many of them appreciate what it is that they are learning, and what it can do for them.

[ninjasan11]

yeah it would, I lucked out I guess haha. The coaches do for sure, though I'm not so sure about the students. some of my peers did, others were just athletes and saw it only as a sport

[RichardZ]

I think anything where two people go hand to hand to overcome the other could, in some way, be a martial art if the methods could be used, somehow in combat.

[bushido_man96]

I think anything where two people go hand to hand to overcome the other could, in some way, be a martial art if the methods could be used, somehow in combat.

That's a good thought to consider. But Wrestling, like many other styles of today, is a specialized Martial Art, focusing on takedowns and grappling, essentially. Styles like Karate and TKD are more specialized in stand-up; TKD especially with kicking. And Boxing is the pinnacle of hand specialization. Wrestling's western heritage has brought it up in a more competitive aspect, like Boxing, than Eastern styles have.

[RichardZ]

Nicely said. If this is the case, then why are there so "many specialised" martial arts? It would seem that if one wnated to benefit ina martial art, they may learn others just in case there is something they can use in their current one.

[bushido_man96]

I think the specialization came about for the most part when jutsus started being replaced by "do" in the East.

In the West, sports diversified. Boxing, which used to be more of an all-inclusive style, added gloves to be safer, and eliminated the throws. Eventually, you see the introduction of the Queensbury Rules, and the establishment of weight classes. Strikes were eliminated from Wrestling for the likely reason to make the sport more competitive and athletic.

[RichardZ]

I agree. But given the application apart from the sport (like any other martial art) if a "combat modus operandi" was in place, it can be useful.

[bushido_man96]

I think that an individual can explore what he learns as a Wrestler, and then add those things in.