Lucha Canaria
Lucha Canaria , also known as Canarian wrestling , is a traditional martial art in the Canary Islands .
There are about four to five thousand wrestlers ( luchadores ), which are distributed in about 100 clubs on all islands. There are two teams with twelve fighters each. Each pairing wrestles in three rounds. A round lasts a maximum of two minutes.
The wrestling match itself takes place on the so-called terrero . This is a round area covered with sand , within which two concentric circles with a diameter of 15 and 17 meters are marked. A fight begins with a greeting and the referee's whistle . The two wrestlers stand shoulder to shoulder, each grasping the rolled up pant leg of the other. The wrestling is done with the highest possible dead weight, clever attack maneuvers and cleverly designed handles. Kicks or blows are taboo. If a fighter touches the ground more than once with any part of the body other than the feet, he has lost and the round is over. The winner is the luchador who has won two rounds. A traditional gesture of this sport is for the winner to help the loser get up and accompany him to his seat.
The fight is fought barefoot . Otherwise, the athletes are dressed in a wide T-shirt and slightly longer trousers that are rolled up over the thighs . The opponent can access this envelope in combat.
The competitions are organized by the Federación de Lucha Canaria , which has existed since 1943 . Professional fights are often broadcast on regional television. Women's fights have also been taking place for some time. The sport is promoted by schools in the Canary Islands.
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literature
- Pedro Gonzáles Marrero: Iniciación a la Lucha Canaria . 1st edition. Las Palmas 1990, ISBN 84-404-7019-3 (Spanish, PDF on mdc.ulpgc.es/ [accessed November 5, 2015]).
