12/02/2023
Jacket wrestling is a combat sport in which participants wear sturdy jackets and utilize various grips, trips, throws, and other techniques to topple each other to the ground. Many styles of jacket wrestling have been practiced throughout history, particularly in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Unlike more popular modern styles of wrestling and grappling, traditional styles of jacket wrestling often exclude groundwork entirely, and instead award points or victory for causing an opponent to touch the ground with anything other than the soles of their feet.
At Black Bear Jacket Wrestling, we train and play according to the methods and rules of Chinese Shuai Jiao, a style of Manchu-Mongolian origin that has grown in popularity in the west in recent years.
This style of wrestling makes for an excellent form of physical education, as students of all ages are challenged to learn technically complex movements involving their whole bodies, while optional participation in controlled sparring ensures these movements are learned in such a way as to be effective against resisting opponents.
The requirement to remain standing while causing one’s opponent to fall down not only makes this form of wrestling safer than many others, it also lends to participants developing excellent balance, precision, nimbleness, and efficiency of movement.
With overarching emphases on technical skill, sustainable movement, and safety in training and play, we believe this is not just a “young [wo]man’s sport.” Rather, it can be adapted to suit people of wide ranging fitness levels, athletic abilities, and tolerances for physical contact.
We're currently enrolling dads and sons in our Monday evening (8:00 pm) class. With questions or interest please contact the instructor, Andy Eckert, at 434-238-2550.
