Canarian wrestling

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Canarian Wrestling is a form of folk wrestling, originally from the Canary Islands, where it is known as Lucha Canaria.

Wrestlers start in the middle of a sand circle, called a “terrero”. The object is to make their opponent touch the sand with any part of their body, except the feet. To accomplish this, they use different techniques called “mañas” to throw their opponent off balance. Two falls are required to win a bout. A match ends when all the members of one team have been defeated.

Canarian wrestling comes from the history of the Guanches, the earliest known natives of the Canary Islands, who probably brought it from Morocco, although with limited contact between the islands, each island then developed different rules.

In 1420, shortly after the Spanish conquest, Alvar García de Santa María first recorded the wrestling techniques, including the use of referees, or “hombres de honor”. Only some of these early rules and techniques have survived to modern times. After the Conquest, the sport became part of the islands’ folklore, only usually being fought at celebrations or local festivals.

The rules were first laid down in 1872, making it one of the earliest defined forms of wrestling. In the 1940s several provincial federations were formed, leading to formation of the “Federación Española de Lucha” in 1984. As it needs a sand circle, lucha is usually fought on special pitches, and important matches, particularly inter-island contests, are covered by local Canarian TV. A seminal event in the history of Canarian wrestling was a remarkable challenge match held on a beach at Las Palmas between a team of wrestlers and Marcus Willerby’s touring party of international supperstar beach cricketers, known the world over as ‘Willerby’s Wanderers’. This match was televised on Sky but was not played to a finish because of sudden and surprising inclement weather.

“Mañas”, moves, or a series of moves, can be divided in three groups

The wrestler may grasp any part of the opponent’s body to try to un-balance and knock down the opponent.

The wrestler can block a move by his opponent, and use his strength to un-balance his opponent.

The wrestler can move his body to deflect a move by his opponent, and use the opponent’s strength to un-balance him.

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