If you’ve ever watched Olympic wrestling and thought, “Wait, this doesn’t look like what we do in high school,” you’re not alone. Wrestling comes in a few different styles, each with its own rules, scoring, and strategy. The three most common forms in the U.S. are folkstyle, freestyle, and Greco-Roman—and while they share common roots, they’re like cousins who grew up in different households.
Let’s break them down.
Folkstyle: The American Original
Folkstyle wrestling (sometimes called collegiate wrestling) is what most American kids grow up on. It’s the style used in high school and college across the U.S.
Key Features:
- Control is king. The focus is on maintaining control over your opponent.
- Points are awarded for takedowns, escapes, reversals, and near falls (holding someone’s back close to the mat).
- Riding time matters in college: if you control your opponent for over a minute, you get a bonus point.
Why it’s awesome:
Folkstyle builds grit, stamina, and the ability to control a match for six solid minutes. It’s also the foundation for most wrestlers in the U.S., making it the most familiar style for fans and families.
Freestyle: The Olympic Favorite
Freestyle wrestling is an international style used in the Olympics, World Championships, and many youth competitions, especially in the spring and summer.
Key Features:
- Exposure is everything. You score by exposing your opponent’s back to the mat—even briefly.
- Big moves = big points. Throws and high-amplitude moves can earn up to 4 or 5 points.
- Turns from the top position (like gut wrenches and leg laces) are a major part of scoring.
- Matches can end early by technical superiority (a 10-point lead).
Why it’s awesome:
Freestyle is fast, explosive, and rewards risk. It teaches movement and creativity and can make matches end in dramatic fashion.
Greco-Roman: The Upper-Body Chess Match
Greco-Roman wrestling is also an Olympic style, but with one major twist: no attacks below the waist.
Key Features:
- No leg attacks—no double legs, no single legs.
- Throws, lifts, and upper-body control are the name of the game.
- Like freestyle, it uses exposure points and can end in technical superiority (8-point lead).
- Par terre (wrestling from the ground) is huge in Greco, especially after a passivity call.
Why it’s awesome:
Greco is all about leverage, positioning, and raw upper-body power. It’s tough, gritty, and when done right, absolutely beautiful to watch.
So, Which One Should You Train?
All of them.
Each style sharpens different tools in your wrestling arsenal. Folkstyle builds control and work ethic. Freestyle trains explosiveness and scrambling. Greco develops body awareness and strength.
At Arlington Wrestling Club, we believe in developing complete wrestlers. That’s why our offseason practices introduce kids to freestyle and Greco—styles that not only grow your skills, but also open doors to national teams, college exposure, and international competition.
Ready to try a new style?
Grab your wrestling shoes and hit the mat with us this spring. Who knows—you might just find out you’re a natural at Greco throws or freestyle turns.
Slay on the mat, wrestle smart, and keep growing.
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