Wrestling words · Beginner

The words you will hear in your first match, grouped the way you meet them.

B · Beginner · 33 words · Step 1 of 2

Basic setup terms

Mat

The round padded surface where bouts take place. On a UWW mat the central wrestling area is 7 metres across, surrounded by a 1-metre orange passivity zone and then a protection area, within a 9-metre circle.

Bout

A single contest between two wrestlers, one in red and one in blue.

Also called: match

Period

A bout is two periods with a 30-second break. Under UWW rules, senior, under-23 and under-20 bouts are two periods of three minutes; under-17, under-15 and veterans wrestle two periods of two minutes. Points from both periods are added.

Weight class

Wrestlers compete against others of similar body weight, to ensure fair matchups.

Also called: weight category

Referee

The official on the mat who awards points, calls violations and can stop the bout. A judge and a mat chairman sit at the table and must confirm key decisions.

Freestyle wrestling

A style in which holds on the whole body are allowed, so wrestlers can grasp the opponent's legs, trip them and use their own legs to attack. Women's wrestling follows the freestyle rules.

Greco-Roman wrestling

A style in which it is forbidden to grasp the opponent below the belt line, to trip them or to use the legs actively. All holds are with the upper body.

Protection area

The border of the mat outside the central wrestling area. The orange passivity zone is the inner strip, where the referee calls zone to push the wrestlers back to the centre. A hold begun in the centre is valid even if it ends in the zone or protection area, but the bout is then restarted standing.

Also called: passivity zone, orange zone
See also: Bout, Referee, Passivity

Scoring and winning terms

Takedown

Bringing the opponent from standing to the mat and controlling them, usually by passing behind, which scores 2 points. Throws that lift the opponent score more.

Reversal

A counterattack in par terre in which the wrestler who was underneath passes behind the attacker and takes control.

Fall

Holding the opponent with both shoulders on the mat long enough for the referee to confirm complete control. It ends the bout at once as a win, whatever the score. A fall does not count if it happens in the protection area.

Also called: pin
See also: Bout, Referee, Protection area

Technical superiority

A win by a points gap, stopping the bout early: 10 points in freestyle and women's wrestling, 8 points in Greco-Roman. The bout ends once the wrestlers return to a neutral position.

Also called: technical fall
See also: Bout, Neutral position, Women's wrestling

Decision

A win on points: the wrestler with at least one more point after the two periods wins. If points are level, the criteria decide.

Grand amplitude throw

A throw that lifts the opponent clear of the mat, carries them in a wide curve through the air and brings them down. From standing, if it puts the opponent in danger at once, it scores 5 points; if not, 4.

Positions

Neutral position

Both wrestlers start standing, facing each other, with neither in control.

Top position

A wrestler positioned above/controlling their opponent, who is down on the mat.

Bottom position

A wrestler positioned below, being controlled while down on the mat, trying to escape or reverse.

Common moves and techniques

Single leg

A takedown attempt where the wrestler grabs and controls one of the opponent's legs to bring them down.

Also called: single leg takedown
See also: Takedown

Double leg

A takedown attempt where the wrestler grabs both of the opponent's legs at once to drive them down.

Also called: double leg takedown
See also: Takedown

Sprawl

A defensive move where a wrestler quickly extends their legs backward and drops their hips to avoid a leg-attack takedown.

Cradle

A pinning technique where a wrestler wraps up an opponent's head and leg together, folding their body to expose their back for a pin.

Bridge

A defensive move in which a wrestler arches their back off the mat, supported by head and feet, to avoid a fall. Bridging puts the wrestler in the danger position.

Suplex

A throw in which a wrestler lifts the opponent and throws them backward over their own body. If the opponent is lifted clear and carried in a wide curve it is a grand amplitude throw, worth 4 or 5 points.

Also called: throw
See also: Grand amplitude throw

Fouls and rule terms

Passivity

Failing to wrestle actively, for example by blocking or avoiding contact. In freestyle the referee gives a warning, then puts the wrestler on a 30-second period in which they must score; if they do not, the opponent gets a point. In Greco-Roman the opponent gets a point for a first or second passivity call.

Also called: stalling, passivity call
See also: Period, Referee

Out of bounds

Stepping into the protection area around the mat. A wrestler who steps out with a whole foot without executing a hold gives the opponent 1 point, and the bout restarts standing in the centre.

Injury time

A stoppage for an injury. Stops for an injury without bleeding or a visible injury cost the injured wrestler 1 point, awarded to the opponent.

Disqualification

Removal from the bout or competition for unfair behaviour. The opponent wins the bout.

Caution

A penalty for illegal actions such as fleeing a hold or the mat. The opponent is awarded at least one point, and three cautions in one bout lose the bout.

Also called: penalty point
See also: Bout

Miscellaneous terms

Weigh-in

The official check, held each morning of a weight category, that a wrestler's weight fits their category. A wrestler who fails or does not attend is eliminated.

Singlet

The one-piece uniform worn in red or blue. A wrestler wearing an altered singlet will not be weighed in.

Bracket

The draw chart showing who meets whom. International competitions use direct elimination, with repechage matches for wrestlers who lost to the finalists.

Forfeit

When a wrestler doesn't compete (due to injury, weight issues, etc.), automatically giving the win to their opponent.

Women's wrestling

Women compete in freestyle, under the freestyle rules, in their own weight categories. Double nelson holds are forbidden in women's wrestling.

I · Intermediate · 16 wordsNext: Intermediate words