From Burly to Lissome: A Noteworthy Transition

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, wrestling is defined as - a sport or contest in which two unarmed individuals struggle hand to hand with each, attempting to subdue or unbalance the other. Thus it’s an act that engages physically two participants, competing to gain physical advantage over another. With its origin in the Old English word, wrestling is also the oldest word that’s still in use (Genesis, chapter 32; patriarch Jacob wrestled with the Angel and was named Israel, which translates to wrestles with God.)

Though the ancient cultures witnessed only big, burly men wrestling to glory, the modern age granted the fairer sex an access to the game. The 2004 summer Olympic games in Greece saw women wrestling and that brings to mind WOW, i.e. Women of Wrestling and NWWL, though the latter, an endeavor from Carmen Electra, received a lot of criticism, the associated nudism being the prime cause. Though a significant part of the pro-wrestling or professional wrestling world, Nude Women Wrestling League restricts to freestyle; whereas for the males, both Greco-Roman and freestyle are followed.

Wrestling forms an important part of the university and high school sports; here, the former one being more popular as Collegiate or Folk style wrestling. Thanks to the National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA) and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA); these national level entities remain responsible for organizing the wrestling events all over the US. But high school wrestling or scholastic wrestling differs vastly from the collegiate style; high school wrestling has its own set of rules. However, high school wrestling forms the stepping stone for future wrestlers for gaining experience and upgrade significantly their wrestling skills.

Becoming a professional wrestler is a challenging task. Apart from devoting considerable number of hours of practice and training on a regular basis, the wannabe needs to steer-clear from the wrestling rumors that go around. These wrestling rumors can be about anything – from the tips from wrestling enthusiasts to a quack’s prescription on increasing the skill levels and unscientific diet structures. It is primarily the high school and collegiate wrestlers that fall victim to these wrestling rumors, causing at times certain irreversible damages that bar their way to become professional wrestlers. Therefore, it is vital that the instructions should come from the coach and it should always be remembered that skills and strength develop over time; there is no method to gain it overnight.