Wrestling is a combat sport focused on grappling techniques, including takedowns, throws, pins, and submission holds. Unlike many striking-based martial arts, wrestling is centred around control, positioning, and physical endurance, with competitors aiming to outmuscle or outmaneuver their opponents rather than relying on strikes or kicks. What makes wrestling unique is its emphasis on body manipulation, with wrestlers using leverage, balance, and technique to gain superior positions or force their opponent onto the mat. It involves both stand-up wrestling, where competitors battle for control while standing, and ground wrestling, where they attempt to pin or submit the opponent once they are on the mat. Wrestlers are trained to use their body to execute efficient and powerful moves, developing both strength and technique. The sport's simplicity and focus on fundamental principles, such as balance, agility, and strength, make it different from martial arts that require a broader array of techniques like striking, kicking, or weapon use.

Wrestling is one of the oldest forms of combat sports, with its origins dating back around 15,000 to 17,000 years ago through cave drawings in France. It was a popular event in the ancient Olympic Games in Greece, with the first recorded Olympic wrestling competition taking place in 708 BCE. The sport evolved in various cultures, with the Greeks developing a style known as Pankration, which incorporated both wrestling and striking techniques. Wrestling continued to develop throughout history, with different regions adapting the sport to their cultural needs and military training practices. In the modern era, wrestling became formalised in the late 19th century, with two main styles emerging: freestyle wrestling and Greco-Roman wrestling. Freestyle wrestling allows for the use of both the upper and lower body in takedowns and submissions, while Greco-Roman limits holds and attacks to the upper body only. Wrestling became an established Olympic sport in 1904 and has since become a major international sport, with competitions held at both the professional and amateur levels. Today, wrestling is practised worldwide and is often a key component of mixed martial arts (MMA) training.