Schwingen (Swiss National Wrestling)
Swiss national wrestling in unbleached-fabric trousers on sawdust rings. The peak is the Eidgenössisches festival and the title Schwingerkönig.
Quick Facts
SwitzerlandCharacter & 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 Schwingen (Swiss National Wrestling)
About Schwingen (Swiss National Wrestling)
Schwingen is the Swiss national wrestling. According to the Historical Dictionary of Switzerland, paintings from the 13th century already show gripping an opponent by the clothing, but as a contest of Alpine herdsmen it is documented from around 1600. The Eidgenössischer Schwingerverband was founded in 1895 and schwingen is now on the Swiss list of living traditions. The first women's Schwingfest was held in 1980. Wrestlers wear trousers of unbleached fabric with a leather belt and compete in sawdust rings up to 14 metres across. A hold may be applied only while gripping the opponent's trousers, and whoever puts the opponent on his back so that at least two thirds of both shoulder blades touch the sawdust wins. The five main holds are Brienzer, Kurz, Bur, Hüfter and Übersprung, and textbooks list over a hundred more. A bout is marked from 8.50 to 10.00. The peak is the Eidgenössisches Schwing- und Älplerfest. In 2025 it was held in Mollis and, according to SRF, around half a million visitors came. The best receive an oak-leaf wreath, the winner the title Schwingerkönig and a bull. After a decided bout the winner traditionally brushes the sawdust off the loser's back.
History
According to the Historical Dictionary of Switzerland, gripping an opponent by the clothing appears in paintings from the 13th century, but as a competitive form among Alpine herdsmen schwingen is documented only from around 1600. The Unspunnen festivals near Interlaken in 1805 and 1808 were an early attempt to revive herdsmen's games nationally, and in 1855 schwingen entered the programme of the Federal Gymnastics Festival in Lausanne as Nationalturnen. According to SRF, the first, still unofficial Eidgenössisches Schwing- und Älplerfest took place on 14 and 15 August 1889 in Zurich. In 1895 the Eidgenössischer Schwingerverband was founded on the initiative of the Zurich politician Erwin Zschokke. Dora Hari organised the first women's Schwingfest on 17 August 1980 in Aeschi near Spiez, with about 76 women competing and around 15,000 spectators.
How it differs
Schwingen differs from Olympic wrestling in place and grip. Bouts are held in sawdust rings 14 metres across and 15 centimetres high, seven at the Eidgenössisches, while smaller festivals use rings of 7 to 14 metres. A hold may be applied only while gripping the opponent's trousers. After a decided bout, according to SRF, the winner traditionally brushes the sawdust off the loser's back.
Technique
Wrestlers wear unbleached-fabric trousers (Zwilch) with a leather belt. The winner is whoever puts the opponent on his back so that at least two thirds of both shoulder blades touch the sawdust. A hold may be applied only while gripping the opponent's trousers, except Bodenlätz, where the trousers are released and the shoulder grasped. According to SRF, the five main holds are Brienzer, Kurz, Bur, Hüfter and Übersprung, and textbooks list over a hundred. A bout is marked: 10.00 for a throw onto the back, 9.75 for overpowering on the ground, 8.75 to 9.00 for a draw and 8.50 to 8.75 for a defeat.
Training
The ESV has four-level tests for youth, Buebeschwinger, Jungschwinger, Kranzschwinger and Eidgenosse, for which the cloth badges Zweig, Doppelzweig, Kranz and Kranz mit Kreuz are awarded. The indicative ages of the levels are 8–10, 10–12, 12–14 and 14–15 years. The tests cover 34 holds, for example Kurz and Gammen at the first level and Wyberhaken at the fourth, and all of them should be mastered by juniors aged 15–18. According to the association, a beginner should train for at least two years before taking the first test.
Ranks and progression
The main measure of success is the oak-leaf wreath (Kranz), received by 15 to 18 percent of participants at a festival. The Eidgenössisches has eight rounds and after seven the two best meet in the deciding Schlussgang. The winner receives the title Schwingerkönig, which according to the daily Blick he holds for life. According to Blick, Karl Meli has the most Eidgenössisches wreaths, nine, and three royal titles were won by Jörg Abderhalden, Ruedi Hunsperger and Hans Stucki.
Today
The Eidgenössisches Schwing- und Älplerfest 2025 took place from 29 to 31 August in Mollis in the canton of Glarus. 270 schwingers competed, the budget was 35 to 40 million francs and according to SRF around half a million visitors came. Swiss railways deployed 500 additional trains and the king was Armon Orlik of Maienfeld. The women's association Eidgenössischer Frauenschwingerverband was founded in 1992 and according to Blick has about 180 active athletes. The most successful, Sonia Kälin, was queen four times.
Did you know
According to Blick, the king of schwingen receives a bull weighing about 1000 kg, worth around 30,000 francs. Schwingen is on the Swiss list of living traditions kept by the Federal Office of Culture. According to a legend reported by Bern university sport, women learned the Wyberhaken hold to defend against intruders.
Frequently asked questions
What does the winner of schwingen receive?
According to the daily Blick, the king of schwingen receives a bull weighing about 1000 kg, worth around 30,000 francs. The best wrestlers of the festival receive an oak-leaf wreath.
How is schwingen won?
The opponent must be put on his back so that at least two thirds of both shoulder blades touch the sawdust. A hold may be applied only while gripping the opponent's trousers.
Can women wrestle schwingen?
Yes. The first women's Schwingfest was held in 1980, and the women's association Eidgenössischer Frauenschwingerverband has existed since 1992.
Similar styles
Selected by overlap in the style profile, not by historical lineage.