What is the difference between freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling?
I · Intermediate · Fouls and penalties · 6 of 8The legs. In freestyle wrestling a wrestler may grab the opponent's legs, trip them and attack with their own legs. In Greco-Roman wrestling all of that is forbidden, so every hold is above the belt line. The two styles also differ on passivity, the winning margin and penalty points.
How it works
| Freestyle | Greco-Roman | |
|---|---|---|
| Holding the opponent's legs | Allowed | Forbidden: nothing below the belt line |
| Tripping, hooking or squeezing with the legs | Allowed, except a crossed-feet scissors on the head, neck or body | Forbidden |
| Technical superiority | A 10-point lead | An 8-point lead |
| Passivity | A verbal warning, then 30 seconds to score or the opponent gets 1 point | The first two calls in a bout give 1 point and a choice of standing or par terre |
| Opponent's illegal action in defence | 1 point | 2 points |
| Negative wrestling | Caution and 1 point | Caution and 2 points |
| Senior weight categories | 57 kg to 125 kg | 55 kg to 130 kg |
The same in both: the mat, the length of the bout, the 1, 2, 4 and 5-point scale, the fall, the criteria for a tied bout, the challenge and the limit of three cautions.
Women's wrestling follows the freestyle rules, with every double nelson banned, and has its own weight categories.
Tricky cases
Is a fall the same in both styles?
Yes. Both shoulders held on the mat under control ends the bout in either style.
Can a Greco-Roman wrestler be tripped?
No. The rules forbid tripping the opponent or using the legs actively in any action.
Is there a women's Greco-Roman event in these rules?
No. The rules give weight categories for freestyle, Greco-Roman and women's wrestling, and women's wrestling follows the freestyle rules.
Why the rule exists
Taking away the legs changes the sport. Greco-Roman wrestlers must work chest to chest for upper-body throws and lifts, while freestyle opens up leg attacks from a distance.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| UWW rules | As above | W Foreword; W 43; W 46; W 50; W 51 |
| American folkstyle (school and college) | A separate rule book | Not covered |
From the rule book
United World Wrestling International Wrestling Rules, Foreword and Articles 7, 43, 46, 50 and 51. Edition dated January 2026. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: UWW International Wrestling Rules (PDF).