2 Distinctly different styles of wrestling exist today. Sumo, in which the object is to force the opponent out of the ring, is quasireligious in nature and involves much ritual. For centuries wrestling has been the center of life for the Nuba in Africa, who wrestle only after covering themselves with symbolic ash. Greco-Roman and freestyle. Greco-Roman, most popular in continental Europe, prohibits tripping, holds below the waist, and the use of one's legs.
Freestyle wrestling is most popular in the United States and E Europe.
This form permits tackling, tripping, and leg holds. High schools and colleges in the United States employ a style that approximates freestyle. In nonprofessional wrestling, contestants are classified by weight. Wrestlers earn points for certain maneuvers and the highest accumulated total wins if there is no pin during a match. The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition.