Action: the referee’s command to begin wrestling.

Arm bar: when a wrestler gets an opponent’s arm back and places his arm between the opponent’s other arm and back.

Bottom position: the wrestler in a defensive position, on his hands and knees on the mat.

Breakdown: getting your opponent to the mat on his side or stomach.

Cradle: a move where one arm is around the neck of the opponent, the other around the neck with the hands gripped tightly together.

Crotch lift: a move where the wrestler wraps his arms around the opponent’s thigh.

Decision: a victory where the wrestler wins by between 1 and seven points.

Default: a win declared when an opponent is injured or disqualified.

Dual: involving two wrestling teams against each other. Each victory, whether it be a decision, major decision, technical fall or pin, is added together and after 14 weight classes, the team with the most points wins.

Escape: when a wrestler gets out of the bottom position and gets to his feet.

Exposure: turning an opponent’s shoulders to the mat, setting up a possible pin.

Fireman's Carry: a move where the wrestler brings his opponent temporarily over his shoulders, then to the mat.

Duck under: a takedown move in which the wrestler ducks under the opponent's arm to get behind him and then uses a lift, throw, or trip to take the opponent to the mat.

Folkstyle: a style of wrestling similar to freestyle wrestling but with more emphasis on control and safety.

Freestyle: a style of wrestling in which the legs may be used to execute attacks and the opponent's legs are a legitimate target for attack.

Greco-Roman: a style of wrestling where the wrestler may not attack his opponent’s legs or use his own legs to attack.

Half Nelson: a hold where the wrestler’s arm is passed under the opponent’s armpit and the hand is on the back of the opponent’s head.

Headlock: a hold where the arm is around the opponent’s neck and hands are locked.

Heavyweight: usually reserved for the upper weight classes—171, 189, 215 and 285—though the 285-pound wrestler is sometimes referred to as the heavyweight.

Leg shot: a wrestler will make a quick move toward his opponent in attempt to get a lock on one of his legs.

Lift: taking an opponent completely off the mat.

Lightweight: usually reserved for the lower weight classes—103 pounds, 112, 119, 125 and 130.

Major decision: a victory where the wrestler wins by between eight and 14 points.

Meet: an organized competition involving two or more teams.

Middleweight: usually reserved for the middle weight classes – 135, 140, 145, 152 and 160.

Neutral position: also known as the standing position, this is the position each wrestler takes at the start of the match or during where they stand and face each other. No wrestler is in control.

Pin: a victory where a wrestler brings the shoulders of his opponent to the mat and keeps them there for 2 seconds.

Protection area: the border just outside the mat, provides protection for the wrestlers.

Reversal: when a wrestler in the bottom position completely reverses his position to take control.

Singlet: the one-piece uniform worn by all wrestlers.

Slam: illegal move where a wrestler takes his opponent and slams him to the mat with unnecessary force.

Sprawl: a move used to defend a leg shot.

Takedown: when a wrestler takes an opponent to the mat from a neutral position.

Technical fall: a victory where the wrestler wins by 15 or more points.

Throw: any move where the wrestler lifts the opponent from the mat then brings him back down.

Tie up: a wrestler grabs the opponent’s upper body to gain control.