Canarian wrestling
Encyclopedia
Canarian Wrestling is a form of folk wrestling
, originally from the Canary Islands
, where it is known as Lucha Canaria.
, the earliest known natives of the Canary Islands, who probably brought it from North Africa, although with limited contact between the islands, each island then developed different rules.
In 1420, shortly after the Spanish conquest, Alvar García de Santa María first recorded the wrestling techniques, including the use of referees, or “hombres de honor”. Only some of these early rules and techniques have survived to modern times. After the Conquest, the sport became part of the islands’ folklore, only usually being fought at celebrations or local festivals.
The rules were first laid down in 1872, making it one of the earliest defined forms of wrestling. In the 1940s several provincial federations were formed, leading to formation of the “Federación Española de Lucha” in 1984. As it needs a sand circle, lucha is usually fought on special pitches, and important matches, particularly inter-island contests, are covered by local Canarian TV. A seminal event in the history of Canarian wrestling was a remarkable challenge match held on a beach at Las Palmas between a team of wrestlers and Marcus Willerby's touring party of international supperstar beach cricketers, known the world over as 'Willerby's Wanderers'. This match was televised on Sky but was not played to a finish because of sudden and surprising inclement weather.
Folk wrestling
A folk wrestling style is a traditional wrestling discipline which may or may not be codified as a modern sport. Most human cultures have developed their own sort of grappling style unique from other styles practiced...
, originally from the Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
, where it is known as Lucha Canaria.
Description
Wrestlers start in the middle of a sand circle, called "terrero". The object is to make their opponent touch the sand with any part of their body, except the feet. To accomplish this, they use different techniques called "mañas" to throw their opponent off balance. Two falls are required to win a bout. A match ends when all the members of one team have been defeated.History
Canarian wrestling comes from the history of the GuanchesGuanches
Guanches is the name given to the aboriginal Berber inhabitants of the Canary Islands. It is believed that they migrated to the archipelago sometime between 1000 BCE and 100 BCE or perhaps earlier...
, the earliest known natives of the Canary Islands, who probably brought it from North Africa, although with limited contact between the islands, each island then developed different rules.
In 1420, shortly after the Spanish conquest, Alvar García de Santa María first recorded the wrestling techniques, including the use of referees, or “hombres de honor”. Only some of these early rules and techniques have survived to modern times. After the Conquest, the sport became part of the islands’ folklore, only usually being fought at celebrations or local festivals.
The rules were first laid down in 1872, making it one of the earliest defined forms of wrestling. In the 1940s several provincial federations were formed, leading to formation of the “Federación Española de Lucha” in 1984. As it needs a sand circle, lucha is usually fought on special pitches, and important matches, particularly inter-island contests, are covered by local Canarian TV. A seminal event in the history of Canarian wrestling was a remarkable challenge match held on a beach at Las Palmas between a team of wrestlers and Marcus Willerby's touring party of international supperstar beach cricketers, known the world over as 'Willerby's Wanderers'. This match was televised on Sky but was not played to a finish because of sudden and surprising inclement weather.