A rule that redraws the map
Two wrestlers contest control on a mat, aiming to pin their opponent or win on points. So far, freestyle and Greco-Roman look alike. The most useful starting distinction concerns the legs. United World Wrestling’s January 2026 international rules prohibit gripping below the belt line, tripping or actively using the legs on an opponent to perform an action in Greco-Roman wrestling.
What freestyle allows
Freestyle permits leg grips and actions using the legs, within the remaining limits of its rules. An attack on one or both legs can therefore be part of a bout. That same gripping target is excluded in Greco-Roman. This does not mean the legs stop working: they still support, move and balance the wrestler. The restriction concerns how a wrestler acts on the opponent.
A simple way to watch
In the next bout, follow the hands first: do they seek a leg or remain around the torso and arms? Then notice how distance changes when an athlete threatens an entry. This is a viewing suggestion, not a rule requiring every wrestler to adopt a particular stance. Nor should you identify a style from one spectacular throw: the rules govern the whole action, not just a picture of the landing.
There is ground wrestling too
Greco-Roman is not confined to standing exchanges; the rules include par terre wrestling. UWW women’s wrestling follows freestyle rules with specific exceptions, including the prohibition of double nelsons. This comparison concerns UWW’s international styles. When watching American collegiate wrestling, grappling or traditional wrestling, check their own rules before transferring what you have learned. Asking which rules are in use is always a useful first step.