Gouren
Breton wrestling in a cloth shirt roched, won by a fall onto both shoulder blades. It is recognised intangible cultural heritage of France.
Quick Facts
FranceCharacter & 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 Gouren
About Gouren
Gouren is Breton wrestling which, according to Sportmag, has been passed down since the 4th century, when Celtic settlers brought it to Brittany. Nobles practised it in the Middle Ages, and it survived the Revolution in rural areas. The first inter-Celtic tournament was held in Quimperlé in 1928, FALSAB was founded in 1930 and the Fédération de Gouren in 1980. Wrestlers compete barefoot in a cloth shirt roched over black trousers, gripping only the shirt. A lamm wins, a fall onto the back touching both shoulder blades at once, otherwise smaller results like kostin decide. Forbidden: leg grips above the waist, holding on the ground, neck and head pressure. A senior bout lasts seven minutes at championships. The international Celtic wrestling federation FILC, which gouren competes in, arose in 1985 in Cardiff. According to Sportmag the federation has about 40 clubs and 1500 licensed members, mostly in Finistère. The Ministry of Culture recognises gouren as intangible cultural heritage of France, and according to English Wikipedia it has been an optional Breton baccalauréat subject since 1998. The traditional tournament winner receives a ram and carries it on his shoulders on the lap of honour.
History
According to Sportmag, gouren has been passed down since the 4th century, when Celtic settlers brought it to Brittany. The nobility practised it in the Middle Ages and after the French Revolution it survived in the countryside. According to a text by Guy Jaouen, president of the Fédération de Gouren, the physician Charles Cotonnec of Quimperlé and the Cornishman Tregoning Hooper held the first inter-Celtic tournament in Quimperlé in 1928. FALSAB was founded in March 1930 and the Fédération de Gouren in 1980. The international Celtic wrestling federation FILC arose on 16 November 1985 in Cardiff. English Wikipedia says the European Championship has run yearly since 1991.
How it differs
According to Sportmag, gouren differs from other Celtic wrestling in gripping the shirt above the waist while leg grips above the waist are banned. At outdoor tournaments it is wrestled on sawdust or wood shavings in a circle about six metres across. Gouren has met Cornish wrestlers since the inter-Celtic tournament of 1928, and Scottish ones, according to Jaouen, only within FILC after 1985.
Technique
According to the Fédération de Gouren rules, a lamm is a fall onto the back with both shoulder blades touching at once and means immediate victory. Kostin is a near result, for example with one shoulder blade, and kein a fall onto the lower back. Netra means no result, e.g. a fall onto the buttocks only. Wrestlers compete barefoot in a short-sleeved cloth shirt roched with a belt 3 to 4 cm wide, worn over black trousers bragoù. Banned: hand grips outside the shirt, leg grips above the waist, holding a hold on the ground, and pressure on the neck and head.
Training
The federation rules divide wrestlers into age categories from poucets (7–8 years) through poussins, benjamins, minimes, cadets and juniors to seniors from 21. At championships a senior bout lasts seven minutes and the youngest categories three. A referee diploma can be obtained from 16, and younger people may after courses referee bouts in the poussins and benjamins categories.
Ranks and progression
We have not found a grading system in the sources, and progress is by age category and competition. According to Breizh-info, faults are punished from a warning (diwall) through fines to expulsion from a bout (fazi vraz) and competition (divrud). At the traditional mod-kozh tournament the winner keeps a trophy and anyone can challenge him with a shoulder tap.
Today
According to the magazine Sportmag, the Fédération de Gouren has about 40 clubs and 1500 licensed members, half of the clubs in Finistère. The Ministry of Culture recognises gouren as intangible cultural heritage of France, the Ministry of Sport does not officially recognise it and lists it as part of the French Wrestling Federation. According to English Wikipedia, gouren has been an optional subject of the Breton baccalauréat since 1998.
Did you know
The traditional tournament winner receives a maout, a ram, and carries it on his shoulders on a lap of honour. Friesland (1987), Iceland (1988), Sweden and Ireland (1990) and Canary wrestlers (1991) later joined the international federation FILC.
Frequently asked questions
What does lamm mean in gouren?
A fall onto the back with both shoulder blades touching at once. According to the Fédération de Gouren rules, it means immediate victory.
What is gouren wrestled in?
Barefoot in a short-sleeved cloth shirt roched with a belt, worn over black trousers bragoù. Grips are taken only on the shirt.
When was the gouren federation founded?
The association FALSAB was founded in March 1930 and the Fédération de Gouren in 1980.
Similar styles
Selected by overlap in the style profile, not by historical lineage.