Evala (Togo Wrestling)
Traditional ritual wrestling initiation ritual of young men in Togo.
Quick Facts
Founder
Country of OriginTogo
TogoRegionAfrica
Primary FocusGrappling
Contact LevelFull contact
Belt SystemNo grades
Character & Origin
StatusLiving, informal
LineageFolk
Training
AttireTraditional dress
SparringFull contact
Role of WeaponsNo weapons
Role of FormsNo forms
Who It Suits
Kids ProgrammesKids groups common
Senior FriendlyNot suitable for seniors
Physical Demand4/5
Injury Risk2/5
Learning Curve2/5
Self-Defence Value2/5
Fitness Value4/5
Organisation & Competition
Grading SystemNo grades
Competition FormatPoint fighting
Weight ClassesNo
Olympic StatusNot Olympic
Estimated PractitionersUnder 10k
What the style is built from
Editorial rating on a 0–3 scale, based on how much room each area gets in ordinary training.
Hand strikesNot used
KicksNot used
Throws & takedownsCore
Ground fightingMarginal
Locks & holdsNot used
WeaponsNot used
Catalogs & Databases for Evala (Togo Wrestling)
About Evala (Togo Wrestling)
Evala is a traditional wrestling ritual of the Kabiye people of northern Togo. It serves as a rite of passage into adulthood for young men. The wrestlers wrestle half-naked in an open area without striking – the goal is to use strength, agility and endurance to knock their opponent to the ground.
Similar styles
Selected by overlap in the style profile, not by historical lineage.