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Folk wrestling is a generic term for traditional wrestling disciplines which may or may not be codified as a modern sport. Most human cultures have some sort of grappling style, and "folk wrestling" is a catch-all term for such styles.
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List of folk wrestling styles
Europe
Further information: European martial arts and Greco-Roman wrestling
British Isles
Traditionally wrestling has two main centers in Great Britain: the West Country, where the Devonshire and Cornwall styles were developed, and in the Northern counties, the home of the Cumberland and Westmorland styles.
North Country styles
- Lancashire wrestling is a historic wrestling style from Lancashire in England known for it's "Catch-as-catch-can", or no wrestling holds barred, style.
- Catch wrestling, or Catch-as-catch-can, originated from Lancashire wrestling but was further developed during the traveling circus phenomenon of the 19th and early 20th century United States.
- Backhold Wrestling, whose origin is unknown, was practiced in North England and Scotland in the 7th and 8th century but competitions are held in present day at the Highland and Border Games as well as in France and Italy. Styles of Backhold are distinct from Lancashire Wrestling because they enforce rules designed to minimize injury to the participants by disallowing ground fighting.
- Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling, or Cumbrian Wrestling, is practiced in the northern counties of England. It is a form of Backhold Wrestling where the wrestlers put the left arm over the opponents right arm and grip behind the opponent's back. Throws and trips are important since the first wrestler to touch the ground or break hold loses. Competitors often wear stockings (long johns), singlet and trunks.
- Scottish Backhold is a form of Backhold practiced in Scotland. Almost identical in style to Cumberland & Westmorland style apart from variations in rules. Competitors often wear kilts.
West Country styles
- Cornish wrestling, from Cornwall, England, is a form of jacket wrestling. It does not use groundwork. It is related to Breton Gouren wrestling.
- Devon wrestling, or Devonshire wrestling, is a style similar to the Cornish style in that jackets were worn. Devonshire wrestlers, however, also wore heavy clogs and were able to kick the opponents. In Cornish vs Devon matches the Devonshire wrestlers might wear one only shoe. The style is generally considered to be extinct.
Ireland
- Collar-and-elbow wrestling is native to Ireland and can be traced back to the 1600s but it has ties to the Games of Tailtinn between 632 BC and 1169 AD.
- Glima, the national sport of Iceland, traces its history to the Vikings and the Norse.It is a standing style, utilising a leather harness around the waist and thighs, which the wrestlers hold (making it a form of belt-wrestling). It is often practised indoors on a wooden floor, hence hard throws are often discouraged.
Continental Europe
- Gouren, from Brittany, is a form of jacket wrestling, similar to Cornish wrestling.
- Lotta Campidanesa from Italy, is a form of collar, jacket and belt wrestling practised by countrymen and shepherds in southern Sardinia.
- Lucha Canaria ( Canarian wrestling ), native to the Canary Islands in Spain, touching ground (non-foot) loses.
- Lucha Leonesa, native to the Spanish region of Leon, touching ground (non-foot) loses.
- Schwingen is the Swiss style of wrestling considered to be one of the oldest forms of wrestling. Wrestlers wear special canvas trousers.
- Strumpa: Sardinian wrestling, also known as S'Istrumpa or simply Istrumpa.
- Trinta: Upright wrestling from Moldova; it can also be practised from the knees. It is still practised in Moldova and eastern Romania.
Asia
Near East
- Iranian Wrestling or "Koshti". Includes the Iran-wide Pahlavani, and numerous other provincial styles.
- Yağlı güreş is Turkish "oil wrestling". Wrestlers wear special leather trousers 'kyspet' and are oiled.
Central Asia
- Bökh, traditional Mongolian wrestling, where a ground-touch loses.[1]
- Kurash is a traditional form of wrestling in the ethnically Turkic region of Tuva, in southern Siberia.
- Küres is a traditional form of wrestling in Kazakhstan, where leg holds are not allowed, instead a wrestler can trip legs. Ground touch loses.
South Asia
Main article: Indian wrestling
- Pehlwani or Kushti is a modern form of wrestling from India.
- Inbuan is the traditional wrestling style of the Mizoram state of India.
- Malla-yuddha, traditional styles extant in South India
- akhara, afolk wrestling style of India performed on a mud surface
Southeast Asia
- Naban: Burmese wrestling.
- Khmer Traditional Wrestling is a folk wrestling style from Cambodia.
- Penjang Gulat is a form of wrestling popular in rural Indonesia.
East Asia
- Shuai jiao: Chinese wrestling.
- Ssireum: Korean wrestling.
- tegumi is the folk wrestling practice in okinawa
Americas
- Luta Livre, Brazilian style of wrestling.
- Lucha Libre, Mexican style of wrestling.
Africa
- Lutte Traditionnelle, (fr. for Traditional Wrestling) related styles of West African wrestling, known as Laamb in Senegal, Boreh in The Gambia, Evala in Togo, and Lutte Traditionnelle in Niger and Burkina Faso. International competition takes place during the Jeux de la Francophonie and the newly organised fr:Championnat d'Afrique de lutte traditionnelle.
Martial arts originating from folk wrestling styles
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These sports could be considered too popular or formal to still be considered "folk sports". These styles form a part of international mainstream wrestling.
- Luta Livre Esportiva, Luta Livre Vale Tudo, which emphasises ground fighting and submissions
- Shuaijiao, the folkstyle of Northern China which includes Qiaoshou and Qinan in trainings but disallowed in competition. A standup style.
- Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which emphasises ground fighting and submissions.
- Collegiate wrestling, the folkstyle of the United States.
- Greco-Roman wrestling, now a major international style and Olympic sport.
- Kodokan Judo, founded by Jigoro Kano in 1882, currently an Olympic sport.
- Sambo, a Russian style based on various forms of folk wrestling in the former USSR and Judo.
- Shoot wrestling, a Japanese style primarily based on catch wrestling.
- Sumo, a famous Japanese wrestling style.
- Rvanje, a Serbian style of wrestling
Footnotes
- ^ The Alternative Olympics by Ron Gluckman (Mongolia)
Sources
- The Wrestler's Body: Identity and Ideology in North India by Joseph S. Alter (1992). ISBN 0-520-07697-4
External links
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