A move that is the stalwart of mat freestyle wrestling, a gutwrench, is "illegal" in folkstyle. What is so illegal about wrapping your arms around your opponent's waist? Nobody is getting hurt. Its amazing!
Just a difference in style Big. I don't think it is because people will get hurt, it is to make the top man actually work to maintain top control. Plus in collegiate you don't get points for exposing the back you have to hold exposure so the gut is not an effective move.
Why? It isn't a hard concept to grasp when you switch styles. I would say like others have the way that Americans shoot a double or a single is more of a draw back to our international success.
Why? It isn't a hard concept to grasp when you switch styles. I would say like others have the way that Americans shoot a double or a single is more of a draw back to our international success.
The instincts are nearly impossible to break, Other than perhaps Cormier, I have not seen Americans using gutwrenches effectively at Worlds recently.
You guys are both right. If they let you lock hands in folkstyle, it would probably make it very hard to escape.
However, switching to freestyle isn't just learning another move. Gut wrench offence- and defence- is one of the fundamental positions of freestyle and greco wrestling. Not something you just pick up overnight. Watch some Brent Metcalf freestyle matches- can go head-to-head with anyone on their feet, but gets spun like a top when he's on bottom.
I think this rule single handedly cuts America's success internationally by a huge margin.
The purpose of high school and collegiate folkstyle wrestling isn't to provide feeder programs for international teams, and there is no reason to alter these sports towards that end.
When did "locked hands" become a rule in folkstyle?
I know for a fact that it was not a rule when I wrestled 25-30 years ago, as I regularly did it (or, possibly, they just didn't call it). In fact, I am so ignorant of it that I still don't fully comprehend what it is and where it manifests itself.
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Locked hands, a crazy rule 
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