Wrestling has been popular throughout recorded history. Origins of the sport can be traced back fifteen thousand years to cave drawings in France (History 1). Early Egyptian and Babylonian reliefs depict wrestlers using most of the holds known to the present-day sport. In ancient Greece, wrestling occupied a prominent place in legend and literature; wrestling competition, brutal in many aspects, was the supreme contest of the Olympic Games (History 1). The ancient Romans borrowed heavily from Greek wrestling, but eliminated much of its brutality. During the Middle Ages wrestling remained popular and enjoyed the patronage of many royal houses, including those of France, Japan, and England (History 3).Early American settlers brought a strong wrestling tradition with them from England. The colonists also found wrestling quite popular among the Native Americans (Reeder 1). Amateur wrestling flourished throughout the early years of the nation, and served as a popular activity at country fairs, holiday celebrations, and in military exercises. Of the early American styles, only the catch-as-catch-can style survives, and it has evolved into the modern form of collegiate wrestling (Reeder 4). Many of our famous presidents had wrestling past such as Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Henry Taft, Theodore Roosevelt, Andrew Jackson, Zachary Taylor, Ulysses S. Grant, and Chester A. Arthur. Abraham Lincoln held a wrestling championship in 1830, at age 21, as well as George Washington he held a championship title in a style called collar and elbow (Reeder 6). These presidents all had one thing in common they saw that wrestling was a very disciplinary sport (Reeder 1).
The olympic games originated in ancient Greece. Exactly when the Games were first held and what circumstances led to their creation is uncertain. We do know, however, that the Games were a direct outgrowth of the values and beliefs of Greek society. The Greeks idealized physical fitness and mental discipline, and they believed that excellence in those areas honored Zeus, the greatest of all their gods (History 4).
Once the romans rose to power and defeated the greeks the sport changed greatly in style and technique. the romans “civilized” the sport and took the brutality out of wrestling and made it more about technique (History 4). As the Roman Empire rose to power and defeated the Greeks the form of wrestling that the Greeks had created began to change. The Greeks felt that the Romans were not as adept at wrestling and took the grace and skillfulness out of the sport and the Greeks were worried about maintaining the true history of wrestling (History 5).
The olympic games originated in ancient Greece. Exactly when the Games were first held and what circumstances led to their creation is uncertain. We do know, however, that the Games were a direct outgrowth of the values and beliefs of Greek society. The Greeks idealized physical fitness and mental discipline, and they believed that excellence in those areas honored Zeus, the greatest of all their gods (History 4).
Once the romans rose to power and defeated the greeks the sport changed greatly in style and technique. the romans “civilized” the sport and took the brutality out of wrestling and made it more about technique (History 4). As the Roman Empire rose to power and defeated the Greeks the form of wrestling that the Greeks had created began to change. The Greeks felt that the Romans were not as adept at wrestling and took the grace and skillfulness out of the sport and the Greeks were worried about maintaining the true history of wrestling (History 5).