qeysus,
In the USA, competition Wrestling comes in three basic flavors:
Freestyle
Greco-Roman
Folkstyle
Freestyle wrestling is the international competition stuff you see in the olympics.
Freestyle is characterized by:
-touch fall pin (if both shoulder blades are ever on the ground at the same time for any reason, you lose)
-25 seconds on the ground once taken down, then the wrestlers are stood back up.
-very quick back exposure points (if I expose your whole back to the ground for any length of time for any reason, I get points)
-Point awarded to opponent, no argument, if you flee the mat (land or go outside the ring) to avoid a takedown.
-larger numbers of points awarded for high-amplitude takedowns (suplex gets more than a low single leg, etc.)
-If wrestlers exit the ring, the referree starts the wrestlers over, with the dominant wrestler standing, both hands placed on the lower back of his opponent, standing slightly off to one side. The bottom man is on all fours.
Because of the rules, you can see that Freestyle is VERY takedown and takedown defense oriented, as well as quick ways to turn your opponent over, regardless of how much control you have of their hips and head (tilts to just expose the back are common in freestyle) You also tend to see a larger number of throw attempts in freestyle. People who are taken down in freestyle tend to simply base out and avoid getting turned until stood back up, reducing mat wrestling.
Greco-roman wrestling has rules similar to freestyle, except that leg attacks are not allowed. Only incidental contact with the legs is allowed. I believe that they don’t get more points for big throws either, but don’t quote me. You see TONS of throws in Greco. Greco-Roman wrestlers tend to be fantastically strong in the upper body and torso for their weight, and have unbelievable balance and stance strength.
Folkstyle wrestling, is what is practiced in the US scholastic system. This style emphasizes control of the opponent. As such:
-Pins are only awarded after 3 seconds of continuous shoulder blade (both) contact with the mat.
-Points are awarded for escapes.
-Points are only given when it becomes abundantly clear the attacker has obtained a dominant, controlled position over the defender.
-There is no difference in points between a big throw and a leg attack. A takedown is a takedown.
-Back exposure points are awarded only if the opponent is in danger of being pinned.
-Riding time gives a point at the end of the match to the opponent who has obtained at least 1 min more of positional dominance.
-No forced standup for inactivity. Although stalling may be called, competitors will be restarted in “referee’s position.”
-There are 3 periods. The first starts out on the feet. The second is a coin toss, and the winner decides whether he wishes to begin on the bottom/top of the referee’s position or on the feet. The next round, the other guy gets to decide.
-The folkstyle referee’s position has the bottom man on all fours, and the top man with one hand on the opponent’s stomach and the other just above his elbow. You may elect freestyle however
Given the nature of Folkstyle, there is much more mat wrestling, much more emphasis on controlling movements and far more use of reversals, rolls, and escapes.