Carnoustie Backhold Wrestling Club
Carnoustie Backhold Wrestling Club was founded by Frazer Hirsch in October 2012
Here is some more Info about Backhold Wrestling
Scottish Backhold Wrestling is one of the traditional wrestling styles of the British Isles. Like the other styles, Cornish Wrestling and Cumbrian-Westmoreland it has a long history and sister styles throughout Europe. Noted as one of the major “Celtic” styles it differs from the Cornish and Breton (Gouren) styles, which involve different holds, throws and require the wrestler to wear a special jacket.
Scottish-Backhold is almost identical to the Cumbrian-Westmoreland style of Northern England (it is also practiced in Northumberland), involving largely the same techniques, Indeed, wrestlers from both styles regularly compete in local and international competitions either side of the border. In recent years Scottish wrestlers have been particularly successful in Cumbrian competitions, winning a number of local and World titles.
Backhold Wrestling involves the two wrestlers “taking hold” of each other by putting the left arm over the opponents right (and the right under the left) and clasping their own hands behind the opponent’s back (hence the name ‘Backhold’, clever huh!?). It is important not to lock the fingers together as they might be broken in a fall. The wrestlers then attempt to trip or throw each other while maintaining the hold. The first to touch the floor with any part of the body except the feet or to break their hold) loses.
This style of wrestling differs from the well-known “Olympic” styles of “Greco-Roman” and “Freestyle” in that there is no ground-wrestling. Furthermore, the hold must remain constant. Whereas Greco-Roman does not allow trips and holds to the legs these are fundamental features of Backhold. Techniques like the ‘Inside Hype’, where a wrestler lefts and throws by using the knee against the opponent’s inner thigh, are spectacular. Techniques from other styles, such as the suplex from Greco-Roman, have also been absorbed into the wrestler’s arsenal.
Competitions are usually open to all comers and happen at a number of Highland Gatherings around the country (as well as the country shows of Northern England, like the famous Grassmere Show of Cumbria). Wrestlers, male and female, compete on the grass field (really fun in the wet). The wrestler can wear ordinary sports clothes but for championship titles it necessary to wear a kilt (feet are bare or stockinged). The ‘birling’ of the kilts during the swinging and throwing adds to the spectacle but can make it difficult for the judges to work out who lands first (“Watch the wrestler, no’ the kilt, Sonny!”). Many a frustrated wrestler has commented that they won a fall but the judges declared it a ‘dog fall’ (both land at the same time).
In recent years Scottish Backhold has been promoted by the Scottish Wrestling Bond, headed by the former Commonwealth and Olympic Wrestling coach, William Baxter (who has a number of articles on the web). Scottish wrestlers have been very active (and successful) in international competition within the Celtic Wrestling Federation, where they have been successful in both Backhold competition and Gouren.
Anyone interested in learning more about Scottish Backhold can find some great film on Youtube,
SCOTTISH BACKHOLD WRESTLING
RULES for COMPETITION
Every fall shall be decided by two Judges and a Referee, or by special permission applied for and granted by the General Secretary, by a Referee only.
The Referee shall be appealed to if the Judges disagree and his decision shall be final, and further he shall be empowered to decide any point not provided in these rules.
On taking hold the wrestlers stand up chest to chest, each placing his chin on his opponent's right shoulder and grasping him round the body, each placing his left arm above the right arm of his opponent.
Thirty seconds shall be allowed in which to take hold.
After the first fall the referee is empowered to stop the bout at any point if in his opinion a wrestler or both wrestlers are not serious in their attempt to take hold.
The time clock shall be started when the wrestlers shake hands.
In the event of the hold not being obtained, the Referee shall compel the contestants to take hold across a back. The wrestler refusing to take hold shall be disqualified.
When both men have got hold and are fairly on their guard the referee shall call "hold" and the wrestling will commence, with the exception of kicking, the wrestlers are allowed to use every legitimate means to throw each other. To strike with the side of the foot shall not be deemed kicking.
If either party breaks his hold, that is, loose his grip, though not on the ground, and the other still retains his hold, the one leaving loose shall be declared the loser.
Deliberately striking at an opponents hands in looseholds to open them is not permitted and if successful is not considered a fall.
If either man touches the ground with one knee only or other part of his body, though he may still retain his hold, he shall not be allowed to recover himself but shall be deemed the loser.
If both fall to the ground, the man who is first down or falls under the other shall be the loser, but if they fall side by side or otherwise so that the Officials cannot decide which was first on the ground, it shall be termed a "dog fall" and shall be wrestled over again.
The wrestlers shall compete in their stockinged feet or by permission of the referee on barefeet.
Wearing of sweaters is forbidden.
Only one upper garment is permitted which should be sleeveless.
A fall is defined as touching the ground with any part of the person, the feet excepted.
The referee shall disqualify any wrestler using unfair means who has been twice previously cautioned.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHEN COMPETING ON MATS WITH A WARNING AREA, THE FOLLOWING RULES APPLY
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The competition area when indoors shall be a mat of 12m diameter or 12m x 12m square, the outer two metres shall be the protection area, a further one metre warning area shall be marked in red
The warning area is provided for the purpose of revealing the passive wrestler, of doing away with systematic wrestling on the edge of the mat, as well as thoughtless departures from the wrestling area.
If wrestlers stop their action in the warning area and stay there without any action, the referee will interrupt the bout and return the wrestlers to the centre of the mat, without prejudice to the application of the rules on passivity.
In all cases when there is one foot outside the wrestling area the referee will stop the bout.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PASSIVITY RULES SHALL BE APPLIED
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When a wrestler refuses to attempt to wrestle.
When a wrestler deliberately pushes his opponent off the mat
When a wrestler backs off the mat.
When a wrestler deliberately backs towards the edge of the mat and continues to wrestle with his back towards the edge of the mat.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FLEEING THE MAT AND FLEEING A HOLD
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A wrestler who flees the mat to evade a hold will have a fall awarded against him and receive a warning.
Wrestlers will be disqualified for passivity after receiving three warnings.
Disqualifications and warnings must be by a majority vote of the three officials.
Competitions may be decided by the "Round Robin" system where there are five or fewer wrestlers in a weight category.
Where two wrestlers in a Round Robin have won the same number of bouts, the higher placing will be given to the wrestler who won the bout involving both wrestlers.
When three or more wrestlers in a Round Robin have won the same number of bouts they must then wrestle again for one fall only (sudden death) to decide placings.
Competitions may be decided by the pool system when there are six or more wrestlers in a weight category.
There must be a cross over repechage system i.e., the winner of pool A wrestles the second of pool B and the winner of pool B wrestles the second of pool A, these are the semi finals.
All bouts shall be best of five falls
In certain circumstances it may not be practical to wrestle every bout best of five. In these circumstances the match officials are empowered to change to the best of three with the following exceptions.
All finals and semi-finals must be best of five.
In all such cases the officer in charge must consult the other officials and if necessary call a vote.
