Ssireum is a traditional wrestling in South Korea. This is a kind of wrestling, in which wrestlers, holding each other's original belt (satpas), wrapped around the waist and hips, try to knock each other to the ground, using the most diverse methods of fighting freestyle.
The bulk platform for fighting, called "syrym jang",has a circle shape and is raised above the ground, which allows viewers to better see what is happening. The depth of the sand layer is from 10 to 20 cm.
At the competitions the participants appear barefoot, dressed only in short wrestling trunks, on top of which a satba belt is tied. It is made of strong cotton fabric and has a length of about two meters. Satba binds in such a way that it covers the right thigh of the wrestler with a ring, for which the grip is performed, and then goes around the waist.
As for the capture itself, the "right-handed" is distinguished, when the right hand of each of the wrestlers lies on top of the opponent's left hand, and "left-handed", when, on the contrary, the left hand lies on top of the right.
To win in the Ssireum, it is necessary to force the opponent to touch the ground with any part of the body above the knee. Unlike Japanese sumo, pushing an opponent out of bounds (junga) is not a victory. In this case, the wrestlers simply return to their original position.
In Ssireum, the wrestling begins with the fact that the rivals kneel in the center of the jung and take a mutual grip, while the right hand grasps the belt at the waist of the opponent, and the left - the loop of the belt on his right thigh. Then the wrestlers rise in the rack and wait for the signal to start the wrestling, which lasts 3 minutes.
In the Ssireum, punches, kicks and painful tricks to the joints are prohibited, only throws with the body, hips, arms and legs are allowed. Since the capture for the waist-satba is maintained until a certain throw is made, hand grasping by the legs in the ssyrim is not practiced.
SSIREUM – national belt wrestling (Republic of Korea)
Composition of the team – 2 people: 1 athlete, 1 coach.
Athletes older than 18 are allowed to take part in the competitions. Competitions are held among men in the absolute weight category. In the absolute weight category a maximum of 1 athlete is allowed.
Competitions are held under the current rules of the International Ssireum Federation.
The winner in the absolute weight category has the right to take part in the Great Nomad Wrestling.
Download: competition rules of Ssireum