gungfudisciple said:
It is understood in the wrestling community that Greco is the superior style, and mma has proven that point as well.
WHAT!?! Superior based on what and in what way? I've only heard that from Nordic countries, where they aren't very good at freestyle. And how has mma proven that point well, just because of Couture & Lindland? First both those guys come from a folkstyle background, wrestled freestyle (Lindland has placed at and won a few international freestyle tourneys) and they use a lot of those moves in mma; after all, you can't sweep or trip in GR.
There are successful wrestlers in mma from all 3 backgrounds (fs, gr, and American folkstyle). Arguing this is moot. But I will throw in, many american wrestlers view greco roman as the style for guys that can't cut it in freestyle.
As for some other thread posts.
For all styles, it is all in the hips, being explosive, good balance, good positioning is vital in all styles of wrestling.
Can you attack the legs in greco roman wrestling?
No, you can't. BUT you can step in between your opponent’s leg and "break" him over yours. This looks like a trip sometimes (and at times wrestlers do hook a leg & get away with it). The refs don't always catch the leg grabbing. At the 2004 Olympics I saw a scramble that more resembled american folkstyle than greco roman, there was one clear leg grab (a damn switch attempt!), two back exposures, and a takedown from the scramble. The ever diligent FILA refs gave one point for all that. I'm amazed they could even see that with their heads so far up their asses.
Rulon won because of the new rules at the 2000 Olympics. They were locked up, and Karelin let go of that lock, thereby awarding Gardner 1 point for breaking a clinch. There was no "judges decision", and there are none in Olympic wrestling.
Under the current rules there are not judges' decisions in Olympic wrestling but up until recently judges' decisions broke ties at the end of overtime.
Under the rules in 2000, an overtime period is wrestled if the score is tied or neither wrestler has scored 3 points. Overtime, a 3 minute period, will end if an over 2-2 tie is broken, either wrestler reaches 3 points, or by pin. If at the end of overtime neither wrestler has broken the tie or reached 3 points the match went to judge's decision. Under those rules it the 3 point mark isn't reached it was possible to have a judges' decision decide an uneven score. Now the decision always went to the wrestler with more points, it was still called a judge's decision. At the 2000 Olympics the wording might have been changed prior to the Olympics but at one point the Karelin-Gardner match would have been called a judge's decision.
Are greco or freestyle wrestlers stronger/more powerful/ more explosive, etc?
This is too broad of a question and doesn't have a clear cut answer. I can think of guys in both styles that aren't strong. Greco roman relies heavily on body lifts from for turns and has big throws, it isn't just brute strength. The moves seem like all strength to the novice because they are difficult for them to learn (the technique factor) and the fact you’re tossing a guy around. It simply takes a lot of technique to execute throws, lifts, doubles against trained opponents. To me this plays into the myth that wrestling is mostly about strength.
Greco roman is the original wrestling form
As stated in another thread the French practiced greco roman wrestling and linked it to "ancient" times. However, the style really comes from a 1800s form of French wrestling; they got their version of wrestling in and still couldn't win.
Also, many now think the 1896 greco roman matches were closer to modern freestyle that greco roman; this is based on accounts of leg attacks being used.
Greco is all big amp throws
Greco is now for its big throws and lifts but most of the takedowns scored are arm drags, shucks and snap downs. Most turns are gut wrenches and some front headlock turns. As stated by another poster, greco does have shot takedowns, like the "high dive", instead of doubling the legs they go for the hips or waist area. Incidentally Matt Hughes, pretty much just a folkstyle wrestler, has used this move in mma matches.
Whats to teach? [about sprawling]
"kick out your legs before your opponent pulls them out"
Plus, once theyre in the clinch, the freestle guy is not going to get the drop on the greco guy
oh, lordy, my head hurts. Sprawling is more than just belly flopping down. And freestylers can wrestle in the clinch and in the collar-elbow tie up. The drop snatch single is the bane of greco roman wrestlers crossing over.
On a side note, the sprawl is the next to last defense; the last being funk (which for some is the first and last line of defense).
Greco roman is more technical and thus superior
Now we've come full circle. Since greco is limited to upper body attacks, there is a lot more hand fighting and position fighting. For some this is more skill oriented; however, this conveniently leaves out that GR wrestlers don't have to worry about leg attacks, which is a skill that FS wrestlers need. This has lead some to call greco roman a legal street fight, not exactly the description for a superiorly technical style. I wouldn't say either style is superior.
