The benefits of learning college wrestling were known over 15,000 years ago in ancient France, where archaeologists found cave drawings of wrestlers participating in matches. Reliefs from ancient Egypt and Babylon depict wrestlers using most of the holds that are well-known today. Ancient Greeks adopted the sport and soon made it the central fixture of their famous Olympic Games.

The sport flourished in England and traveled with settlers to the Americas, where Americans found that Native Americans were also accomplished wrestlers. In 1888, the first organized tournament took place in New York City, and in 1904, the sport was featured for the first time in modern Olympic Games. Wrestlers premiered in the NCAA in 1912, allowing college students to become major competitors in the field.

Wrestlers learn self-confidence and discipline. Wrestlers also learn the qualities of mental toughness and sportsmanship, and they learn to compete with both opponents and team members. In addition to mental and behavioral advantages, wrestlers gain a high degree of physical fitness. Agility, strength, balance, reflexes, and endurance are all qualities required to be competitive in the arena.

People who learn to wrestle learn to defend themselves in the event of a physical altercation. For instance, they teach proper body positioning, how to control their opponents, how to defend against different types of attacks and how to stay tough in a fight. Students who have the basic skills of a wrestler will know what to do in undesirable situations and will be able to mount a good self-defense.

As in any sport, students will get out of wrestling what they put into it. Students who are willing to give 110 percent and who have a desire to succeed that manifests itself in practice will find great fulfillment in learning to wrestle. Speak to a qualified instructor to learn more about the benefits of learning college wrestling and how the sport can change a young person’s life.