Traditional wrestling – Martial Arts Videos

African wrestling (lutte traditionnelle)
Senegalese wrestling is a type of folk wrestling traditional to Senegal and parts of The Gambia, and is part of a larger West African form of traditional wrestling (fr. Lutte Traditionnelle). The Senegalese form traditionally allows blows with the hands (frappe), the only of the West African traditions to do so. As a larger... more »
Chidaoba georgian wrestling
Chidaoba is the national Georgian martial art, “jacket wrestling”. It is called jacket wrestling because of a special suit chidaoba wrestlers have to wear – pants and a special short jacket of canvas with the same canvas belt. Chidaoba suit is called “Chokha”, same as a traditional Georgian national suit. The jacket sleeves are... more »
Cornish wrestling
Cornish wrestling is a form of wrestling which has been established in Cornwall (southwest Britain) for several centuries. The referee is known as a ‘stickler’, and it is claimed that the popular meaning of the word as a ‘pedant’ originates from this usage. It is colloquially known as “wrasslin” in the Cornish dialect. The... more »
Glima
Glíma is the Icelandic national style of amateur folk wrestling. There are four points that differentiate it from other forms of wrestling: The opponents must always stand erect. The opponents step clockwise around each other (looks similar to a waltz). This is to create opportunities for offence and defence, and to prevent a stalemate. It is not permitted to... more »
Gouren (breton wrestling)
Gouren (breton wrestling) is a style of folk wrestling which has been established in Brittany for several centuries. In today’s France, Gouren is overseen by the Fédération Française de Lutte (French Wrestling Federation). Gouren was popular in Brittany towards the beginning of the 20th century, with competitions every Sunday in some small villages. In... more »
Kalaripayat
Kalaripayat is a martial art from the Indian state of Kerala. One of the oldest fighting systems in existence, it is practiced in Kerala and contiguous parts of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka as well as northeastern Sri Lanka and among the Malayali community of Malaysia. It was practiced primarily by the Nairs, the martial... more »
Mongolian wrestling
Mongolian wrestling, known as Bökh (Mongolian: бөх “strength, solidarity, durability”) or Khapsagay, is the folk wrestling style of Mongolia. Wrestling is the most important of the Mongolian culture’s historic “Three Manly Skills”, that also include horsemanship and archery. Genghis Khan considered wrestling to be an important way to keep his army in good physical... more »
National Geographic – Inside Sumo Kids full
“Inside Sumo” goes inside the closed world of the ultimate 1500-year-old Japanese tradition. Sumo is more than a sport, it’s a way of life. This 1500-year-old Japanese tradition is now under invasion from the outside world. And even Americans are joining in. This National Geographic documentary follows the Kids in the world of Sumo. One... more »
Pankration
Pankration was a martial art introduced into the Greek Olympic Games in 648 BC and founded as a blend of boxing and wrestling but without any rules. The term comes from the Ancient Greek παγκράτιον [paŋkrátion], literally meaning “all powers” from πᾶν (pan-) “all” + κράτος (kratos) “strength, power”. Spartan soldiers were taught to... more »
Ssireum (korean wrestling)
Ssireum or Korean wrestling is a folk wrestling style and traditional national sport of Korea. In the modern form each contestant wears a belt that wraps around the waist and the thigh. The competition employs a series of techniques, which inflict little harm or injury to the opponent: opponents lock on to each other’s... more »
Sumo
Sumo, considered by many to be Japan’s national sport, has its origins in the distant past. The earliest written records of Japan, which are dated from the 8th century AD, record the first sumo match in 23 BC, occurring specifically at the request of the emperor and continuing until one man was too wounded... more »
Turkey oil wrestling
Oil wrestling is the Turkish national sport. It is so called because the wrestlers douse themselves with olive oil. The wrestlers, known as pehlivan wear a type of hand-stitched lederhosen called a kisbet (sometimes kispet), which are traditionally made of water buffalo hide, and most recently have been made of calfskin. Unlike Olympic wrestling,... more »