Cornwall and Devon wrestling
(gcide) | Wrestling \Wres"tling\, n.
Act of one who wrestles; specif., the sport consisting of the
hand-to-hand combat between two unarmed contestants who seek
to throw each other.
Note: The various styles of wrestling differ in their
definition of a fall and in the governing rules. In
Greco-Roman wrestling, tripping and taking hold of the legs
are forbidden, and a fall is gained (that is, the bout is
won), by the contestant who pins both his opponent's
shoulders to the ground. In
catch-as-catch-can wrestling, all holds are permitted
except such as may be barred by mutual consent, and a fall
is defined as in Greco-Roman style.
Lancashire style wrestling is essentially the same as
catch-as-catch-can. In
Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling the contestants stand
chest to chest, grasping each other around the body. The
one first losing his hold, or touching the ground with any
part of his body except his feet, loses the bout. If both
fall to the ground at the same time, it is a dogfall, and
must be wrestled over. In the
Cornwall and Devon wrestling, the wrestlers complete in
strong loose linen jackets, catching hold of the jacket,
or anywhere above the waist. Two shoulders and one hip, or
two hips and one shoulder, must touch the ground to
constitute a fall, and if a man is thrown otherwise than
on his back the contestants get upon their feet and the
bout recommences.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.] |