Every day i try to learn something, and today im astounded yet again. I wrestled folkstyle in highschool. I gotta say this is very interesting. All the more reason to visit Ireland
This is older than contemporary Judo, and has all the hallmarks of Judo. Which makes you wonder, considering that Kano traveled around and studied a bunch of different grappling arts when creating Judo.
Cool theory but there’s no evidence of that. Pretty much every culture worldwide has a folk wrestling style. Some are ‘naked’, some use belts or jackets or some sort. Many techniques are shared but I think it’s largely coincidental. There are many routes up the mountain.
I would like to learn this Irish folks wrestling. Perhaps the society Irish Coller and Elbow Wrestling will reprint old books on the subject. God bless you all.🤔👍
As both a judo guy and a Cornishman I see similarities to Cornish wrestling and also Breton wrestling or “Gouren”. Makes sense given the shared Celtic background and travel routes. These are jacket wrestling forms. If you look at other parts of the British Isles, particularly the North. You’ll see a predominance of “backhold” styles instead. Cumbrian wrestling, Highland wrestling etc. these don’t require a jacket. Some Spanish and Canary Island styles use a belt grip which is interesting also but also distinct from the Irish/Cornish/Breton style. I don’t know much about any Welsh or Manx styles. Suspect these might be jacket styles also given proximity, but who knows?
I used to wrestle Celtic Wrestling styles for Ireland. Gouren and Backhold. To compete in the European C'ships you must be adept at both. Got to the European final1 I coached it in Galway and captained the Irish team in Britain and Europe. Would have been great to have had Coléir agus Uileann as you say or Cor Coraíochta as it was known in Conamara. It is a beautiful intricate style. Looking at the Heidelberg competitors there.. I can see how Goren players would have excelled there.
@@TheHerowithaThousandHolds It looks identical to english shin kicking that takes place at the cottswold olympicks maybe i am wrong but the holds look exactly the same
It predated Judo. But it doesn't matter either way. Good grappling is like a "matrix". It is built on certain principles which are not invented but discovered. These core principles can be seen being used across many different styles and cultures and even across different animals. Gorillas, bears and even cats use similar escapes when pinned and focus on similar advantages (hands inside), "shrimping" of the hips, underhooks, overhooks etc. Grappling is primal and universal.
No proper books, unfortunately. There is one out there online you can find a PDF version of ("The Magnificent Scufflers" from 1959), but it's so full of half-truths and Old Wives' Tales that I can't recommend it. This article is a lot better: www.kildare.ie/ehistory/2006/05/collar_and_elbow_wrestling.asp
