Greco-Roman at Williamsburg MMA

Upper-Body Control, Balance, and Precision

At Williamsburg MMA, Greco-Roman wrestling is taught as a complete and independent discipline, fully respecting the rules, structure, and scoring of international Greco-Roman wrestling.

Greco-Roman is not freestyle without leg attacks; it is its own art, with its own demands, timing, and technical depth. This is Greco taught with intention, structure, and clarity.

What Greco-Roman Wrestling Focuses On

Greco-Roman wrestling emphasizes upper-body dominance and body control.

Core elements include:

Clinch control and hand fighting
Body locks, underhooks, and overhooks
Balance, posture, and pressure
High-amplitude throws and lifts
Par terre offense and defense

All attacks must occur above the waist. Any contact with the legs is prohibited, forcing athletes to develop exceptional control, positioning, and awareness.

Rules, Structure, and Scoring Matter

Greco-Roman wrestling has a strict and clearly defined ruleset.
We teach students to understand how and why techniques score within those rules.

In Greco-Roman wrestling:

All attacks are upper-body only
Throws score based on control and amplitude
Exposure scores immediately
Passive wrestlers may be placed in par terre
Matches reward posture, pressure, and clean execution

Understanding these constraints is what allows Greco-Roman to become powerful rather than limiting.

Greco-Roman as a Standalone Art

Greco-Roman wrestling is complete on its own.

It develops:

Elite clinch control
Exceptional balance and posture
Strong grip and upper-body strength
Precision under pressure

Because leg attacks are removed, every exchange becomes about position, leverage, and timing

Par Terre

Control, Exposure, and Precision on the Mat

Par terre (French for “on the ground”) is a defining element of both Greco-Roman and Freestyle wrestling. It is not simply groundwork; it is a structured position designed to reward control, pressure, and technical execution.

At Williamsburg MMA, par terre is taught as a system, not a moment:

Par terre develops skills that are difficult to build anywhere else.

Key benefits include:

Tight body control under pressure
Balance and weight distribution
Precision in turning and exposure
Awareness of opponent movement and reaction
Discipline in small-space grappling

Because action is forced and space is limited, par terre teaches athletes how to create offense without chaos.

The Clinch as a System

In Greco-Roman, the clinch is not a moment; it is the fight.

Students learn to:

Control inside position
Off-balance opponents through posture and pressure
Create angles for throws and lifts
Maintain dominance without relying on speed

This builds patience, awareness, and confidence in close-range grappling.

From Foundations to Fluency

Greco-Roman is taught cleanly and independently first.

Once students understand its structure and constraints, they begin to recognize how its principles appear elsewhere:

In MMA clinch and cage work
In Judo grip fighting and balance
In wrestling hand-fighting and upper-body pressure

Integration happens after understanding, allowing techniques to blend effortlessly without confusion.

How Greco-Roman Fits With Other Grappling Systems

Greco-Roman contributes:

Upper-body takedowns and throws
Clinch dominance
Body awareness and balance
Precision under tight constraints

Other systems expand into areas Greco rules restrict, such as leg attacks or extended ground control. Each system remains intact, while strengthening the others.

Offensive Benefits

From the top position, par terre teaches:

How to lock and control the torso
How to apply pressure without overcommitting
How to create exposure with minimal movement
How to chain attacks efficiently

These skills reward timing and leverage, not strength.

Defensive Benefits

From the bottom position, athletes learn:

Body awareness under compression
Proper framing and positioning
Staying composed while being pressured
Denying angles and exposure

This builds confidence and calm in uncomfortable positions; a skill that transfers everywhere.