Scottish Backhold Wrestling
Scottish folk wrestling on foot in a firm hold around the back. The loser is the one who lets go of the hold or 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 Scottish Backhold Wrestling
About Scottish Backhold Wrestling
Scottish backhold is a Scottish standing folk wrestling style. Opponents grip each other around chest and shoulders, one arm under the opponent's arm, the other over it, chin on his shoulder, hands joined. From then on the hold must not be released. The loser is whoever loosens the hold or touches the ground with anything but the feet. There is no ground fighting. A match is fought to three winning falls out of five. If both touch the ground at once, it is a dog fall and the fall is repeated. Each fall is decided by a referee with two side judges. So the contest rests on balance, timing and a single decisive movement. The kilt is not compulsory, but most wrestlers wear it as a tradition. It is wrestled mainly in summer at the Highland Games, where opponents from France, Iceland, America and England join the home wrestlers. The sport is governed by the Scottish Wrestling Bond, founded in 1992, and since 1985 the International Federation of Celtic Wrestling has linked it with Breton gouren and Icelandic glíma. According to historian Trevor Hill, just before the pandemic the association had one hundred to one hundred and twenty members, and women have had their own Scottish championship since 2006. Folk tradition gives no founder.
History
Backhold has no documented founder or year of origin, it is a folk tradition tied to the Highland Games. According to UNESCO ICM, home wrestlers as well as guests from France, Iceland, America and England traditionally wrestle at the summer games. Modern organization came at the end of the twentieth century. In 1985 the International Federation of Celtic Wrestling was formed, uniting backhold, Breton gouren and Icelandic glíma. In 1992 William Baxter founded the Scottish Wrestling Bond, the association that has run wrestling in Scotland ever since. The historian Trevor Hill gives seven to eight clubs for 1998 and documented clubs in Glasgow.
How it differs
The closest relative is Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling. Backhold decides on five falls, Cumberland wrestling on three or sometimes a single fall. The Scots wrestle in kilts, the Cumbrians in leggings, vest and embroidered trunks. Backhold also allows mixed bouts of men and women, whereas Cumberland rules keep adult women only in women's categories. According to Hill, a dispute over the number of falls and the clothing raged between the two camps from 1998 to 2002.
Technique
The hold is the same for both: around the chest and shoulders, one arm under the opponent's arm and the other over it, chin on his shoulder and hands joined. The wrestling is only standing, so throws and the disruption of balance decide. According to William Baxter, cited by Hill, some Cumberland referees did not recognize the throws salto and souplesse, and so the Scots often avoided them at competitions in England. Each fall, according to Wikipedia, is decided by a referee with two side judges by majority vote without consultation.
Training
We have not found an official training regulation in the sources. According to UNESCO ICM the style is passed on through practice and is not formally codified. After 2014 younger wrestlers began to found their own clubs with more structured training, for example in Hamilton. The kilt is not compulsory, but most wrestlers take it as an important tradition. According to Hill, younger ones wear heavier and more durable kilts from army surplus.
Ranks and progression
We have not found belts or grades in the sources. Progress is measured by results at competitions, of which Scotland had around ten per season in recent years, according to Hill. Women have had their own Scottish championship since 2006, first held in Ceres, and after the Covid closures their number rose significantly.
Today
Just before the pandemic the Scottish Wrestling Bond had, a coach cited by Hill estimates, one hundred to one hundred and twenty members. Wrestling remains tied to the summer Highland Games. Scottish wrestlers also travel with Bretons and Icelanders to Cumberland's Grasmere Sports in northern England.
Did you know
When both wrestlers touch the ground at once, it is a dog fall and the fall is repeated. Hill also noted a Scottish referee's remark about a Cumberland colleague who allegedly watched the kilt rather than the wrestler when judging falls.
Frequently asked questions
How does one win in Scottish backhold?
The loser is the one who lets go of the hold or touches the ground with anything but the feet. A match is fought to three winning falls out of five.
Where is Scottish backhold wrestled?
Mainly at the summer Highland Games across Scotland and in clubs under the Scottish Wrestling Bond. Scottish wrestlers also travel to Grasmere Sports in northern England.
Must one wrestle in a kilt in Scottish backhold?
No, the kilt is not compulsory. Most wrestlers, however, wear it as an important tradition.
Similar styles
Selected by overlap in the style profile, not by historical lineage.