loose wrestling

Loose wrestling, a style used in modern international competition, allows wrestlers to seize any grip except those explicitly forbidden, such as those involving clothing or dangerous holds like strangleholds. This sport, which has roots in antiquity, is practiced on a mat at least 9 meters in diameter. Bouts consist of a single five-minute round, overseen by a referee, mat chairman, judge, and timekeeper.12

A win can be achieved by a "fall," where one contestant holds both of the opponent's shoulders to the mat for one second. If no fall occurs, the bout is decided by points awarded for maneuvers leading toward a fall. Freestyle wrestling, one of the international styles, was derived from the English catch-as-catch-can style and is an Olympic event, with women's competition added in 2004. Weight classes are established for both men and women to ensure fair competition.2