Wrestling - the oldest genre of combat.

Wrestling is probably the oldest genre of combat known to man. Pulling and handling animals was very likely, and inadvertently, where the very first grappling movements were used. The natural carrying and pulling strength developed by ancient man became an obvious adjunct to be utilised whilst grappling with foes - animal and human alike.

Throughout the world, and almost since the dawn of time, wrestling has been a part of every culture, probably due to the fact that pulling, holding, lifting, carrying etc. are far more natural to us as living working human beings than punching and striking. Toddlers, infants and many young children for example, grab and push far more frequently than they strike. This type of "inborn combat" is innate, nobody has to teach us these hereditary movements. Even mothers will restrain and chastise their children with holds as opposed to blows.

Arguably mankind's only superior physical asset over the animal kingdom is the thumb*. This seemingly inconspicuous appendage greatly aids in the art of gripping and manipulating an opponent, so naturally most combat movements involve some form of grappling. The degree of result is far greater for the grappler than for the practitioner who favours striking movements.

The first real mention of wrestling in the annals of British history is in the ancient "Book of Leinster" where it is written of "very rough wrestling in the Tailtin games". This festival was founded in 1829BC and ended in 554AD. Some of the very early Anglo Saxon methods of wrestling even included shin kicking whilst wearing horseshoes attached to everyday footwear. In fact in every century since Edward the Confessor's reign (1042-1066) right up to the present day, grappling and wrestling is mentioned in historical texts. Prize fighting and pugilism only started to supersede wrestling in the 18th. Century, though even then the top-prize ring champions were both hitters and grapplers. At that time the "hitting" was very important within these matches - more important than the grappling - because money was always bet on "first blood". It was, and is, always easier to draw blood with a strike than with a throw. However, the bouts were invariably, still won by the grappler as opposed to the better puncher.

So why has this great art become almost extinct in Britain? Because, even though it was deadly in the arena it didn't look "pretty" to the untrained eye of the spectator who paid to see "flash before smash". This is a lesson hard learned!!! Wrestling was once probably the most popular sport and its practitioners the most ferocious of all fighting combatants. The art is finally awakening once again and may enjoy a long awaited re-birth.

* Further reading: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opposable_thumb