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Where Did Wrestling Come From? |
The origins of wrestling go back centuries, and are a mix of numerous cultures brought together. While modern day pro-wrestling really imitates a wacky soap opera, there is more to it than many might admit. It comes down to one side still standing and the other side down on the mat.
Wrestling is the result of various sports from different cultures. They range through sumo, junior, amateur, and pro.
From the orient came sumo wrestling (Japan) which was an ancient art. Royalty would enjoy it through the centuries as it was a means to get together with other dignitaries and royalty, for the sumo wrestling events. The origins of this art among the wrestlers are religious in nature, and still to this day they practice the art. Seeking spiritual help and guidance is still a strong focus of the sumo wrestler to this day.
Whereas in modern day western civilization there is the junior wrestling found in high school and college sports. The rules vary a little from one grade to the next, and usually reflect on wrestler’s capabilities and endurance. They hold tournaments with elimination at every step to the final matches, state championships often in the high schools, and regionally at the college level.
Within the education system, usually matches consist of 3 periods. Different levels will often have differing periods. They can range from 30 seconds upwards to 2 minutes in a match.
Modern day pro-wrestling is more an entertainment complex than a sport. While they do many moves similar to the other classes of wrestling, they do it to entertain. Some of the well-known all time champions are Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, Master Fuji, and more recent popular additions such as the Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Ric Flair, etc. The setting is the arena, with a big production of personalities, and their character roles. The stage is not only the ring in the center where they wrestle, but several stages around the entrances as well, where the match’s story unfolds with challenges, insults, and sometimes outright hatred.
Gladiator-like sports have been around for a few thousand years. From this wrestling has come in its many forms. And over time, especially the last 100 years, it has taken on the form of a mix of many of its roots. From the fighting Irish, to the spiritual sumo, comes a lot, though there is still more.
The Romans included wrestling among their Olympic ventures. Beyond that they also included primitive contests where the winners were simply allowed to live, in the form of everyday sport. It was often used to deal with criminals, and others that weren’t liked by those in control.
It was a very strong part of their culture, and to this day, at least one of the large coliseums they carried these contests out in is still a site for tourists visiting from around the world go to see. Though after many hundreds of years, they are deteriorating, and many look down at the works that occurred in them.
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