1. A stone-age sport

Wrestling has been around – in one form or another – for thousands of years, making it possibly the oldest form of fighting. There have even been 15,000-year-old cave drawings discovered which seem to depict wrestling contests. Who’d have known they had spandex back then...

2. Wrestling with styles

The most popular forms of amateur wrestling are freestyle and Greco-Roman, both of which are Olympic sports. Freestyle allows wrestlers to target their opponent’s upper and lower body, whereas Greco-Roman wrestling only allows holds above the waist.

3. Making the cut

Amateur wrestlers learn earlier than most athletes the difficulties of cutting weight. Weight divisions are spaced out similar to those in MMA, with roughly 10–15lb separating each class. Knowing the discipline needed to make weight can be a big advantage for a competitor transitioning into mixed martial arts.

4. Sweat = success

The mere thought of the physical and mental preparation that goes into being an amateur wrestler (freestyle, Greco-Roman, collegiate or otherwise) is enough to make most folk sweat. The early starts and full-contact sparring are too much for some, but breed success for those who are tough enough.

5. Constant competition

The competition in amateur wrestling, at any level of the game, is relentless. The collegiate wrestling calendar is a clear demonstration of just how difficult it is for these athletes to make it to the top, with numerous tournaments held each year.

6. Consider your options

Unless you were one of the handful of individuals good enough to be on the Olympic team or enough of a genetic freak to put on a show in the WWE, there didn’t used to be a lot of options for a life beyond the mat. Now, with the rise of MMA, many wrestlers seem destined for a career in the cage.

7. All for one?

Amateur wrestlers train together but compete alone. The sport is an interesting mix of team spirit and individual pride. This is something that translates well into a career in MMA where a good camp with quality training partners is important but, at the end of the day, most fighters are in it for personal success.

8. Triumphant technique

Considering the success of so many former amateur wrestlers in MMA, the art of wrestling seems tailor-made for the cage. While the BJJ element of the ground game is more focused on the technical side of submissions, wrestling is geared towards getting your opponent to the ground and controlling them there. It might result in a lot of grinding and ‘boring’ decisions, but it gets the job done.

9. It's no martial art

Whereas traditional martial arts teach respect and humility, amateur wrestling is all about winning whilst mentally and physically dominating your opponent in the process. Amateur wrestling is tough, brash and in your face. Imagine Nick Diaz plus Brock Lesnar, multiplied by Chael Sonnen. Yikes!

10. Beat your vegetables

Cauliflower ear occurs when the ear suffers multiple blows, causing it to swell and become permanently disfigured. It is common amongst wrestlers and is even considered a badge of honor by some. Honorable though it may be, it still makes your ears look like mutating vegetables, so you might want to think twice about stepping onto the mat if you care about your complexion.

Pro tip

Want to avoid cauliflower ear? They might look a bit silly and get you laughed at by the tough guys on your team, but wearing headgear can save you from a lifetime of funny looks from strangers and kids pointing at you while tugging on their mother’s sleeve. Protecting your ears from trauma can also help to prevent harmful infections.

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