Mgba (Igbo Wrestling)
Traditional ritual wrestling of the Nigerian Igbo tribe famous from Chinua Achebe's novel.
Quick Facts
Country of OriginNigeria
NigeriaRegionAfrica
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 Mgba (Igbo Wrestling)
About Mgba (Igbo Wrestling)
Mgba is an ancient ritual wrestling event of the Igbo people of Nigeria. Wrestlers compete in a village square to the accompaniment of drums. The goal is to throw the opponent onto their shoulder blades. Wrestling is a key symbol of masculinity and honor, described in the famous novel Things Fall Apart.
Similar styles
Selected by overlap in the style profile, not by historical lineage.