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Step 1
Take your stance. Ideally, you should be in a staggered stance. This not only allows you to be mobile in all directions, it provides more stability than a squared stance. This stance also gives your opponent a better chance of executing a double-leg takedown. In a takedown, a wrestler takes his opponent to the mat from a standing position. This may be awarded 1, 3 or 5 points, depending on the throw involved. A typical takedown is 1 point. A takedown resulting in an exposure is 3 points and high amplitude throws are 5 points.
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Step 2
Once the match begins, your goal is to defeat your opponent, which will be done by either pinning him or winning by points. Points are given for takedowns, reversals and exposures. A reversal is when the man on the bottom reverses his position and achieves the dominant position. An exposure entails turning your opponent’s shoulders to the mat, a position of danger. Points are no longer awarded for escapes. An escape occurs when a wrestler maneuvers away from the bottom position and gets back to his feet, facing his opponent.
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Step 3
A pin occurs when both of a wrestler’s shoulders are held on the mat. A pin will instantly end the match.
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Step 4
Illegal holds, fleeing contact and fleeing the mat will result in a penalty. Points may be given to your opponent in these situations. Illegal techniques are biting, pinching, gouging, striking, joint locks, chokes, leg locks spiking (slamming an opponent head first onto the mat) and genital grabbing.
