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Precedent for Shirtless Wrestling Uniforms

With wrestling season starting back up, it's a good time to start pushing for a shirtless uniform option again. So, I'd like to present some further arguments in favor of a shirtless wrestling uniform, based on current precedent.

There is currently no requirement for guys to keep their shirts on or singlets up at wrestling tournaments. Wrestlers are frequently seen on the sidelines with their singlets peeled down to the waist.












Wrestling teams frequently have their team pictures taken shirtless.




Shirtless team pictures are even common on official publications, posters, banners, websites, etc.

Wrestlers frequently train shirtless as well. Body contact while wrestling isn't really an issue, as guys often wrestle each other shirtless in training, as well as engaging in non-contact training shirtless.











So why shouldn't wrestlers be able to get on the mat shirtless in shorts or trunks if they want to? For more reasons supporting a shirtless wrestling uniform, see my previous post Wrestling. If you really want to see shirtless uniform options approved, talk to your coach and see Petitioning for a Shirtless Wrestling Uniform Option.

Vitamin D in the fall

As the days are getting shorter and cooler, it is getting harder to get sufficient vitamin D. One of the best ways to combat this is whenever a warm day does come along, get outside and pull your shirt off to maximize sun exposure. The best time of day to get vitamin D is around solar noon (when is solar noon?) any way because the ratio of vitamin D making wavelengths to cancer causing wavelengths is better[1], but this is even more important in the late fall and early spring. If it feels chilly and you are in reasonably good shape, I suggest running hard enough to shed the shirt and still stay warm. Trust me, if you run hard enough, you will be surprised how much body heat you can generate.

Ok, this may be an extreme example, but you see my point.

Getting that extra vitamin D is important, because optimal levels of vitamin D help prevent osteoporosis, cancer, autoimmune diseases, and high blood pressure[2]. Not to mention that sunlight (and exercise) can help elevate mood, fighting depression.

Shirtless Halloween Costumes

Here is a suggestion for Halloween, consider a shirtless costume! They can be a lot of fun. There are plenty of options, for instance, a number of super hero types go shirtless, like the Incredible Hulk:
and He-Man:
Or what about a Spartan from the movie 300:
Angels and demons are often depicted shirtless:
Here is the "male waiter" costume suggested by American Apparel:
I thought this one was very clever:
He's a chick magnet, get it? :-)

The Adam costume might take it to a bit of an extreme, but I think it is rather amusing:

If you wear a cool or creative shirtless costume this year, send your pics to ShirtlessFreedom@gmail.com and I'll post them in a follow up!

Petitioning for a Shirtless Wrestling Uniform Option

It was recently suggested on the Facebook group, "Wrestlers should be allowed to train and compete shirtless!" that advocates of a shirtless uniform option should write letters and emails to the governing bodies who make the rules for wrestling. A list of the organizations responsible was compiled with address, as well as email addresses or links to lists of email addresses. I am reproducing the list below, for any interested parties.

I would suggest that interested wrestlers should send letters, and high school wrestlers might ask their parents to write supporting them as well. As always, if you want people to listen to you, your letter should be polite and well-reasoned.

FILA

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The international governing body of wrestling. High School and College wrestlers around the world might want to write to them, as well as submission wrestlers. While submission wrestlers do generally have the option to train and compete shirtless, FILA is the only governing body I'm aware of that requires submission wrestlers to wear a shirt, or rashguard. It is noteworthy that FILA also recognizes a wrestling style called beach wrestling where shirts are not required.

Rue du Château, 6
1804 Corsier-sur-Vevey
SWITZERLAND
fila@fila-wrestling.com (for high school and collegiate wrestling)
info@fila-grappling.com (for submission wrestlers)

USA Wrestling

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The national governing body for wrestling in the United States. High school and college wrestlers in the USA might want to write to them, as well as specific organizations listed further below.

6155 Lehman Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
http://www.themat.com/section.php?section_id=1&page=staff also lists a number of email addresses.

NFHS

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The governing body for high school wrestling in the USA.

PO Box 690
Indianapolis, IN 46206
http://www.nfhs.org/ContactUs.aspx

NCAA & NAIA

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Both govern college and university athletics, including wrestling.

NCAA
700 W. Washington Street
P.O. Box 6222
Indianapolis, Indiana 46206-6222
tksmith@ncaa.org Teresa Smith, email contact for playing rules regarding wrestling

NAIA
1200 Grand Blvd.
Kansas City, MO 64106
http://naia.cstv.com/member-services/about/staff.htm has a number of email addresses.

NJCAA

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Governs athletics, including wrestling, for junior and community colleges.

1755 Telstar Drive
Suite 103
Colorado Springs, CO 80920
http://www.njcaa.org/contactUs.cfm

Wrestling Around

One of guys' favorite past-times is wrestling around with their friends. Even for guys who don't wrestle as athletes on a team, it just seems to come naturally. From early childhood, little boys will wrestle around playfully in the floor. They love to wrestle with Dad in the living room, wrestle their friends at play time. And it continues at least through the college years. Even some grown men continue to wrestle around with each other on occasion. And Dads will wrestle their sons, passing on the tradition.

It also just seems to come naturally for guys to pull off their shirts when they wrestle. I suppose this could be an additional argument in favor of a shirtless uniform option for wrestlers. I'm sure you've noticed this, I've even seen girls ask, "Why is that guys always have to pull off their shirts to wrestle or fight?" For us guys, it just seems natural.

Guys often wrestle around shirtless with each other around the house or dorm,

in the yard,

or even in the park or a field.

If you've ever been nervous about wrestling around with your friends, or pulling your shirt off, go ahead and give it a try. It's natural. And it's a lot of fun. It's not all about winning or losing, just give it a good try and have fun. It's a bonding experience. So pull your shirt off, throw your friends around a bit, and have a good time!

Casual Shirtlessness

I recently watched a movie from the 80's. What struck me about it was that there was a lot of casual shirtlessness. It was an old Disney movie, so you know it's all innocent and child-safe. Now, movies today show a lot of shirtlessness, but it tends to be treated quite differently. Shirtless men in movies these days are mostly put on display, deliberately included for eye candy. Often, it seems quite contrived that the buffest star in the movie gets plenty of skin time. The stars train and preen for their big screen appearance. In more "innocent" films, shirtless exposure may be minimized, even when the plot calls for it.

But what I saw here was casual shirtlessness. It wasn't contrived, it was quite natural. They are not super-buff stars, with their own team of trainers, and their perfect tans. They are normal guys, men and boys. They can be seen in some scenes simply milling about a crowd, and no one treats them differently or gives them strange looks.

The young boy in the lead role is seen to sleep shirtless.

And young boys play shirtless in the yard, quite naturally.

I actually suspect the modern presentation of shirtless males as something sexy and provocative is partly to blame for the decline in casual shirtlessness seen in everyday life. The Running Shirtless blog covered a similar topic, brought up in a comment. Thus, while shirtless men are increasingly seen in media and advertising, they become increasingly taboo in daily life. Taking off your shirt is seen as showing off, inciting lust, provocative. We have a special tolerance for things we see on TV, too. We overlook language on TV that we would object to in person. In the same way, we might let children watch a movie where the male star is flexing his shirtless muscles, but then get offended when a guy goes shirtless in the park. "Doesn't he know there are children here?"

I hope we as a culture can combat this tarnishing of innocence. Why should shirtlessness be something dirty, or even provocative? Can we return to the innocence I saw in this movie, and learn to enjoy casual shirtlessness again?