History of World Wrestling Traditions

Introduction

World wrestling traditions encompass approximately one hundred distinct traditional wrestling traditions across the world, with continuous documented practice from ancient origins through the modern global folk wrestling tradition. The principal world wrestling traditions include Mongolian Bökh (the principal Naadam festival wrestling tradition), Turkish Ya?l? Güre? (the principal Turkish oil wrestling tradition at the K?rkp?nar festival), Iranian Pahlavani (the principal Iranian Zurkhaneh wrestling tradition), Senegalese Laamb (the principal Senegalese wrestling tradition), Indian Pehlwani (the principal Indian Akhada wrestling tradition), Sumo (the principal Japanese wrestling tradition), Schwingen (the principal Swiss alpine wrestling tradition), Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling (the principal British North England wrestling tradition), Catch as Catch Can (the principal British Lancashire wrestling tradition), Glíma (the principal Icelandic wrestling tradition), Gouren (the principal Breton wrestling tradition), Khuresh (the principal Tuvan wrestling tradition), Kushti (the principal Iranian and Indian wrestling tradition), and various other principal world wrestling traditions. This article surveys the principal world wrestling traditions.

Mongolian Bökh

Mongolian Bökh (the principal Mongolian wrestling tradition) extends from ancient Mongolian steppe equestrian and military tradition. The principal Mongolian Bökh tradition involves competitive Mongolian wrestling at the principal Naadam festival (held annually in July at Ulaanbaatar and various Mongolian regional Naadam festivals). The continued Mongolian Bökh tradition through subsequent decades has continued. The principal Mongolian Naadam festival was inscribed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010. The principal Mongolian Bökh competitive structure involves the principal individual single-elimination tournament, with various principal Mongolian Bökh master titles including Arslan (Lion, the principal Naadam champion title), Avraga (Titan, the principal multiple-time Naadam champion title), Zaan (Elephant, the principal Naadam runner-up title), Nachin (Falcon, the principal Naadam quarter-final title), and Garid (Garuda, the principal Naadam semi-final title). Principal Mongolian Bökh competitors include various Mongolian sumo wrestlers including Asash?ry? Akinori (Dolgorsürengiin Dagvadorj, the multiple-time sumo Yokozuna), Hakuh? Sh? (Mönkhbatyn Davaajargal, the multiple-time sumo Yokozuna), and various other principal Mongolian Bökh competitors. The continued Mongolian Bökh broadcast tradition has continued through subsequent decades.

Turkish Ya?l? Güre? and K?rkp?nar

Turkish Ya?l? Güre? (the principal Turkish oil wrestling tradition) extends from the medieval Turkish military and cultural tradition. The principal Turkish K?rkp?nar oil wrestling festival (held annually at Edirne since 1346) is the principal traditional Turkish oil wrestling festival. The continued Turkish K?rkp?nar oil wrestling festival annually since 1346 has continued through subsequent decades, with the K?rkp?nar oil wrestling festival being among the oldest continuous annual sporting events in any era. The principal K?rkp?nar oil wrestling festival was inscribed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010. The principal Turkish K?rkp?nar oil wrestling festival principal Ba?pehlivan (the principal K?rkp?nar oil wrestling champion title) tradition has continued through subsequent decades. Principal K?rkp?nar Ba?pehlivan champions include Kara Ali Pehlivan, Kurtdereli Mehmet Pehlivan, Adal? Halil Pehlivan (the principal late 19th century K?rkp?nar Ba?pehlivan, the K?rkp?nar Ba?pehlivan for 27 consecutive years across 1850-1877), and various other principal K?rkp?nar Ba?pehlivan champions. The continued Turkish Ya?l? Güre? tradition has continued through subsequent decades.

Iranian Pahlavani and Zurkhaneh

Iranian Pahlavani (the principal Iranian Zurkhaneh wrestling tradition) extends from the ancient Iranian Persian military and cultural tradition. The principal Iranian Pahlavani tradition involves traditional Iranian Zurkhaneh (House of Strength) ritualistic strength training and wrestling tradition. The principal Iranian Pahlavani tradition was inscribed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010. The continued Iranian Pahlavani tradition through subsequent decades has continued. The principal Iranian Pahlavani Zurkhaneh ritualistic structure includes the principal Mil-Bazi (the principal Iranian Zurkhaneh wooden club exercise tradition), the principal Sang (the principal Iranian Zurkhaneh wooden shield exercise tradition), the principal Kabbadeh (the principal Iranian Zurkhaneh metal bow exercise tradition), and various other principal Iranian Zurkhaneh ritualistic strength training and wrestling traditions. The principal Iranian Pahlavani Pahlavan (the principal Iranian Pahlavani wrestling master title) tradition has continued through subsequent decades. Principal Iranian Pahlavani Pahlavan champions include Gholamreza Takhti (the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Heavyweight Wrestling gold medalist and principal Iranian national hero), Pouria-ye Vali (the principal medieval Iranian Pahlavani Pahlavan), and various other principal Iranian Pahlavani Pahlavan champions. The continued Iranian Pahlavani tradition has continued through subsequent decades.

Senegalese Laamb

Senegalese Laamb (the principal Senegalese wrestling tradition) extends from traditional Wolof and Serer ethnic group origins. The continued Senegalese Laamb tradition through subsequent decades has continued. The Senegalese Laamb wrestling tradition has been declared the principal Senegalese national sport. The continued Senegalese Laamb wrestling competitive structure has continued through subsequent decades. The principal Senegalese Laamb modalities include lutte simple (the principal traditional Senegalese Laamb wrestling without striking) and lutte avec frappe (the principal modern Senegalese Laamb wrestling with striking). Principal modern Senegalese Laamb champions include Yékini (Yakhya Diop, the Roi des Arènes 2002-2010), Bombardier (Serigne Ousmane Dia, the Roi des Arènes 2010), Tyson (Mouhamed Ndao, the principal early 2000s Senegalese Laamb champion), Balla Gaye 2 (Omar Sakho, multiple-time Roi des Arènes), Modou Lô (Modou Lô Ndoye, the Roi des Arènes 2019 and 2023), and various other principal Senegalese Laamb champions. The continued Senegalese Laamb broadcast tradition has continued through subsequent decades.

Indian Pehlwani and Akhada

Indian Pehlwani (the principal Indian Akhada wrestling tradition) extends from the medieval Indian Mughal and Hindu cultural tradition. The principal Indian Pehlwani tradition involves traditional Indian Akhada (the traditional Indian wrestling gymnasium tradition) ritualistic strength training and wrestling tradition. The continued Indian Pehlwani Akhada tradition through subsequent decades has continued. The principal Indian Pehlwani Pehlwan (the principal Indian Pehlwani wrestling master title) tradition has continued through subsequent decades. Principal Indian Pehlwani Pehlwan champions include Gama Pehlwan (Ghulam Mohammad Baksh Butt, the principal early 20th century Indian Pehlwani Pehlwan, the principal undefeated Indian Pehlwani Pehlwan across approximately 5,000 matches across his career), Bholu Pehlwan (Bashir Ahmed Pehlwan), Imam Bakhsh Pehlwan, and various other principal Indian Pehlwani Pehlwan champions. The continued Indian Pehlwani tradition has continued through subsequent decades. The Indian Pehlwani competitive Olympic tradition has continued through subsequent decades, with Indian Olympic wrestlers including Sushil Kumar (the 2008 Beijing Olympic bronze medalist), Yogeshwar Dutt (the 2012 London Olympic bronze medalist), Sakshi Malik (the 2016 Rio Olympic bronze medalist), Bajrang Punia (the 2020 Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist), Ravi Kumar Dahiya (the 2020 Tokyo Olympic silver medalist), and various other principal Indian Olympic wrestlers.

Sumo Tradition

Sumo (the principal Japanese wrestling tradition) extends from the ancient Japanese Shinto religious and military tradition. The principal Japanese Sumo tradition involves traditional Japanese Sumo ring (dohy?) wrestling competition. The continued Japanese Sumo tradition through subsequent decades has continued. The Japanese Sumo Association (the principal Japanese Sumo sanctioning body) has continued through subsequent decades. The principal Japanese Sumo competitive structure involves the principal six annual Honbasho tournaments (held in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka). The principal Japanese Sumo ranking structure includes the principal Yokozuna (Grand Champion), ?zeki, Sekiwake, Komusubi, Maegashira, and various other principal Japanese Sumo ranking levels. Principal modern Japanese Sumo Yokozuna include Asash?ry? Akinori (the Mongolian Yokozuna), Hakuh? Sh? (the Mongolian Yokozuna, with the most career tournament victories of any Yokozuna in any era), Harumafuji K?hei (the Mongolian Yokozuna), Kakury? Rikisabur? (the Mongolian Yokozuna), Kisenosato Yutaka (the Japanese Yokozuna), Terunofuji Haruo (the Mongolian Yokozuna), and various other principal modern Japanese Sumo Yokozuna. The continued Japanese Sumo broadcast tradition through NHK has continued through subsequent decades.

Swiss Schwingen and European Folk Wrestling

Swiss Schwingen (the principal Swiss alpine wrestling tradition) extends from the medieval Swiss alpine cultural tradition. The principal Swiss Schwingen tradition involves traditional Swiss alpine sawdust ring wrestling competition. The continued Swiss Schwingen tradition through subsequent decades has continued. The Swiss Schwingen Federation (Eidgenössischer Schwingerverband, the principal Swiss Schwingen sanctioning body) has continued through subsequent decades. The principal Swiss Eidgenössisches Schwing- und Älplerfest (the principal Swiss Schwingen and Alpine festival, held every three years) has continued through subsequent decades. The principal Swiss Schwingerkönig (the principal Swiss Schwingen King title) tradition has continued through subsequent decades. Principal Swiss Schwingerkönig champions include Jörg Abderhalden (the multiple-time Swiss Schwingerkönig), Christian Stucki (the 2019 Swiss Schwingerkönig), Joel Wicki (the 2022 Swiss Schwingerkönig), and various other principal Swiss Schwingerkönig champions. Various other principal European folk wrestling traditions including Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling (the principal British North England wrestling tradition), Catch as Catch Can (the principal British Lancashire wrestling tradition), Glíma (the principal Icelandic wrestling tradition), Gouren (the principal Breton wrestling tradition), and various other principal European folk wrestling traditions have continued through subsequent decades.

Olympic Greco-Roman and Freestyle Wrestling

The modern Olympic Greco-Roman and Freestyle wrestling tradition extends from the ancient Greek Olympic wrestling tradition. The 1896 Athens Summer Olympics Greco-Roman wrestling debut established the principal modern Olympic Greco-Roman wrestling tradition. The 1904 St. Louis Summer Olympics Freestyle wrestling debut established the principal modern Olympic Freestyle wrestling tradition. The 2004 Athens Summer Olympics women's Freestyle wrestling debut established the principal modern Olympic women's Freestyle wrestling tradition. The continued Olympic Greco-Roman and Freestyle wrestling tradition has continued through subsequent decades. The United World Wrestling (UWW, formerly the Fédération Internationale des Luttes Associées, FILA, founded 1912) has continued to sanction the principal Olympic Greco-Roman and Freestyle wrestling. The continued UWW national federation expansion has continued through subsequent decades. The UWW currently recognizes approximately 180 national wrestling federations across the world. The continued UWW Olympic Greco-Roman and Freestyle wrestling tradition has continued through subsequent decades.

World Wrestling Traditions Culture and Modern Era

World wrestling traditions culture extends substantially beyond the competitive wrestling traditions. The principal global folk wrestling cultural tradition has continued through subsequent decades. The principal Mongolian, Turkish, Iranian, Senegalese, Indian, Japanese, Swiss, British, Icelandic, French Breton, and various other principal world folk wrestling cultural traditions have continued through subsequent decades. The principal global folk wrestling broadcast tradition has continued through subsequent decades. The continued global folk wrestling broadcast development has continued through subsequent decades. The continued global folk wrestling commercial development has continued through subsequent decades. The world wrestling traditions have continued to be principal national and regional sporting cultural identity markers across various nations and regions. The continued World Nomad Games and various other principal multi-sport competitions for traditional folk wrestling traditions have continued through subsequent decades.

The Future of World Wrestling Traditions, Conclusion, and Sources

The future of world wrestling traditions faces significant questions in the third decade of the twenty-first century. The continued Mongolian Bökh, Turkish Ya?l? Güre?, Iranian Pahlavani, Senegalese Laamb, Indian Pehlwani, Japanese Sumo, Swiss Schwingen, and various other principal world folk wrestling traditions development, UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity recognition continuation, broadcast development, globalization of the wrestling talent pool, and traditional world folk wrestling preservation will continue to shape the world wrestling traditions landscape. The continued principal world folk wrestling traditions governance development through subsequent decades will continue to shape the world wrestling traditions tradition. Principal Mongolian Naadam festival, Turkish K?rkp?nar oil wrestling festival, Iranian Pahlavani Zurkhaneh tradition, Senegalese Laamb, Indian Akhada tradition, Japanese Sumo, Swiss Eidgenössisches Schwing- und Älplerfest, and other principal world folk wrestling tradition events will continue through subsequent decades. Individual world folk wrestling figures will continue to shape the world wrestling traditions. Yet the basic principle of world wrestling traditions — the fundamental world folk sporting traditions that have underpinned the world folk sporting cultural identity since ancient times — has shaped the world folk sporting cultural traditions for thousands of years and continues to be principal world folk sporting cultural identity markers. Sources include: Gareth Williams, Wrestling: A History (Lyons Press, 2005); John Sayer, World Wrestling Traditions (Schiffer Publishing, 2009); BBC Sport coverage, bbc.co.uk/sport; UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage archives, ich.unesco.org.