Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling
Folk wrestling from Cumbria in the backhold, which is kept throughout the match. The loser is the one who touches the ground with anything but the feet.
Quick Facts
United KingdomCharacter & Origin
Training
Who It Suits
Organisation & Competition
What the style is built from
Editorial rating on a 0–3 scale, based on how much room each area gets in ordinary training.
Catalogs & Databases for Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling
About Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling
Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling is a folk style of north-west England, named after the historic counties of today's Cumbria. It is defined entirely by a hold called the backhold. Wrestlers stand chest to chest, each with his chin on the opponent's right shoulder, right arm down, left arm up, hands clasped behind the back. The hold is kept throughout the match. The loser is whoever touches the ground with anything but the feet, or lets go of the hold while the opponent keeps it. Kicking is forbidden. When it cannot be determined who fell first, the referee declares a no fall and the fall is repeated. A match is usually fought to two winning falls out of three, and with thirteen or more registrations the organizer may choose a single deciding fall. The Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling Association governs the sport. The season peaks at Grasmere Sports, where wrestling has taken place since the middle of the nineteenth century and a world champion in the all-weights category is crowned every year. Women's categories appeared in the nineteen-nineties, and in 2016 Grasmere hosted the women's world championship. The traditional costume is socks, leggings, a vest and embroidered trunks. Folk tradition gives no founder.
History
According to local news outlet Cumbria24, wrestling has taken place at Grasmere Sports since 1852, while an academic study in the journal Scottish Studies gives 1850. In 1906 the Association Governing Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling, the predecessor of today's association, was founded, among other things because of fixed results. Women entered wrestling in the nineteen-nineties, when the first women's categories appeared. At Grasmere, according to association vice-chair Linda Scott, women's registrations have been counted since 2003, and in 2016 the women's world championship took place there.
How it differs
It differs from Cornish wrestling by the hold. In Cornwall the wrestlers grip the jacket and a fall is judged by points of the back, in Cumbria they hold each other around the body without a jacket and any touch of the ground decides. Scottish backhold has a similar hold, but decides a match on five falls and also allows mixed bouts of men and women. Under the association's rules boys and girls may wrestle together only up to the category under twelve, adult women compete in their own categories.
Technique
The starting position is fixed: chest to chest, chin on the opponent's right shoulder, right arm low, left arm high, hands clasped behind his back. So there is no struggle for the hold and the work of hips, legs and balance decides. Wikipedia divides the holds into lifts called hipes, turning buttocks and trips, including inside click, cross click, back heel or outside stroke. Kicking is not allowed, but a blow with the side of the foot does not count as a kick. A wrestler loses by touching the ground with anything but the feet, or by letting go of the hold while the opponent keeps it. When referee and judges disagree on who fell first, a no fall is declared and the fall repeated.
Training
Training takes place in association academies, according to regional organization Active Cumbria for example in Carlisle, Kendal, Waberthwaite, Rothbury and Egremont. The season usually runs from September to April, outside the summer competitions. A beginner needs no special equipment, ordinary sportswear will do. Club shorts and T-shirt are bought only after regular attendance.
Ranks and progression
Progress is measured by weight-category results and titles. The Academy Shield has categories from five to fifteen British stones and an all-weights category, separately for men and women. The championship format depends on the number of registrations. Up to twelve wrestlers fight to three falls, and from thirteen registrations the organizer may choose a single deciding fall.
Today
In northern England, according to Active Cumbria, over fifty summer events take place. At Grasmere a world champion in the all-weights category is crowned every year, and wrestlers from Brittany, Iceland and Scotland regularly travel there. The Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling Association is a non-profit society and through the International Federation of Celtic Wrestlers it connects with other Celtic wrestling styles. Cumbria hopes to host the senior European championship in Celtic wrestling in spring 2027.
Did you know
The traditional costume is socks, close-fitting leggings, a vest and embroidered trunks over them. A study in Scottish Studies says it arose in the nineteenth century to lend the sport respectability, and many tournaments still hold a best-costume contest. Since the 2018 association constitution it is compulsory only in senior men's and women's championships.
Frequently asked questions
How does one win in Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling?
The winner is the one who makes the opponent touch the ground with anything but the feet or let go of the hold. A match is usually fought to two winning falls out of three.
What is the backhold?
It is the starting hold in which the wrestlers stand chest to chest, with chins on the opponent's right shoulder and hands clasped behind his back. It is kept throughout the match.
Can women take part in Cumberland wrestling?
Yes. Women's categories appeared in the nineteen-nineties and in 2016 Grasmere hosted the women's world championship. Girls may wrestle together with boys only up to the age of twelve.
Similar styles
Selected by overlap in the style profile, not by historical lineage.