For wrestlers who have only competed in folkstyle wrestling, transitioning to freestyle wrestling can open new opportunities and enhance their skills in ways that directly benefit their performance on and off the mat.
Here are some key benefits:
Better Mat Awareness & Scramble Skills
- Freestyle rewards fluid movement and creativity, unlike folkstyle, which often emphasizes control and riding.
- Exposure to exposure-based scoring (e.g., rolls, tilts, and back exposure points) teaches athletes to stay dynamic and transition quickly between positions.
👉 Why It Matters: More time wrestling freestyle improves reaction time, flexibility in scrambles, and the ability to score quickly from different positions.
Improved Leg Attacks & Defense
- Freestyle emphasizes takedowns over riding. Wrestlers must finish cleanly and quickly to avoid counterattacks.
- Defending against leg laces and gut wrenches forces athletes to develop better core strength and hip control.
👉 Why It Matters: Mastering leg attacks and defense makes wrestlers more dangerous in folkstyle neutral positions.
Faster & More Explosive Wrestling Style
- Freestyle rewards explosive takedowns and high-paced action.
- The pushout rule encourages wrestlers to stay aggressive and control mat position.
- Less time spent on the mat means conditioning and endurance focus more on dynamic movement.
👉 Why It Matters: Training freestyle can help folkstyle wrestlers wrestle with urgency, stay on the attack, and finish faster.
Stronger Upper-Body & Throws Skills
- Freestyle features more upper-body techniques, such as arm throws, headlocks, and body locks.
- Wrestlers learn how to control ties and attack from upper-body positions effectively.
👉 Why It Matters: These skills translate well into folkstyle, helping wrestlers dominate in clinch positions and counter their opponents.
Greater Confidence & Adaptability
- Competing in both styles challenges wrestlers to adjust to different scoring systems and strategies.
- Exposure to different opponents and styles in freestyle helps build confidence and resilience.
👉 Why It Matters: Wrestlers who wrestle both styles develop a well-rounded skill set and are more prepared for any situation.
Expanded College & International Opportunities
- Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Uses Freestyle – Most women’s college wrestling programs (NAIA, NCAA, NJCAA) compete in freestyle, meaning early exposure gives wrestlers a head start.
- Pathway to National & International Competition – USA Wrestling, UWW (United World Wrestling), and Olympic wrestling all use freestyle, giving wrestlers a chance to compete beyond high school.
👉 Why It Matters: Wrestlers who train in freestyle early adapt more easily to the college and international scene.
Final Thoughts
Wrestlers transitioning from folkstyle to freestyle gain a major competitive advantage—whether they aim for college wrestling, national titles, or international competition. Even if they return to folkstyle, freestyle’s emphasis on scoring, movement, and explosiveness makes them stronger, faster, and more strategic wrestlers.