Ssireum
Encyclopedia
Historically, there have been other terms for "wrestling" in Korean used alongside ssireum, such as gakjeo (각저:角抵), gakhui (각희:角戱), gakryeok (각력:角力), gakgii (각지:角支), chiuhui (치우희:蚩尤戱), sangbak (상박:相撲), jaenggyo (쟁교:爭交).
Gak (각:角), a commonly used prefix, seems to have originated from the combative act performed by horned animals such as oxen when competing against one another for the superiority of physical strength. Chinese people used to call Korean wrestling goguryogi (고구려기:高句麗技).
, pushing your opponent outside of the ring does not warrant a win, just a restart. Normally, professional ssireum is contested in a best-out-of-three style match.
There are 3 judges, a chief referee and three sub referees. The chief judge is positioned inside the ring, whereas the sub referees are located on the outside of the ring, one to the right and others to the left. If an unfair judgment is called or the chief referee is unable to render a decision, the sub referees can request a revocation of the decision or a rematch. In addition, they can recommend the cessation of the match when an injury occurs. The referees’ decisions throughout the competition are absolute and held in the highest regard, meaning that athletes cannot challenge any judgments declared during the match.
Today there are also women Ssireum wrestlers. Women wrestle only among themselves but follow the same rules (except that men are topless whereas women wear tops).
There are 4 weight classes in professional wrestling: flyweight (Taebaek
), lightweight (Geumgang
), middleweight (Halla
), and heavyweight (Baekdu), named after the four famous peaks in Korea.
Traditionally Ssireum was contested with the top portion of the trousers rolled down to provide grip. The use of "satba" was invented with the birth of professional Ssireum in the mid-20th century. There is a movement to restore this traditional method of grip, in the spirit of maintaining its cultural and traditional roots, but it has met with some resistance as the use of "satba" has become entrenched in the modern form.
The professional league is dwindling in popularity and many wrestlers have turned their attention to mixed martial arts
fighting, even though Ssireum involves no striking or submissions of any kind, as a means of making a living. Choi Hong-man
, former champion of Ssireum, is enjoying notable success in the K-1
scene. Unfortunately, the future of professional Ssireum remains bleak, with only one team remaining. However, it can also be argued that Ssireum is beginning to undergo global expansion as a popular martial arts sport, alongside tae kwon do and hapkido
.
It is important to note the differences between Ssireum and sumo. Ssireum has remained largely a national/traditional sport. Physical hits such as slaps and blows are not permitted in Ssireum, though they are in sumo. In both sports, the competitors are often quite large, though Korean wrestlers tend to be leaner. However, size does not guarantee success in either sport. Although both sports are quite similar, they differ in characteristics as well as values.
The national governing body of the sport in Korea, Korean Ssireum Organization, has made a claim that Ssireum is characterized as a "peaceful competition focusing on harmony and unison", reflecting the "philosophical outlook of the Korean Race".
Gak (각:角), a commonly used prefix, seems to have originated from the combative act performed by horned animals such as oxen when competing against one another for the superiority of physical strength. Chinese people used to call Korean wrestling goguryogi (고구려기:高句麗技).
Method of competition
Ssireum is conducted within a circular ring, measuring approximately 7 meters in diameter, which is covered with mounded sand. The two contestants begin the match by kneeling on the sand in a grappling position (baro japki), each grabbing a belt (known as a satba), which is wrapped around his opponent's waist and thigh. The wrestlers then rise while retaining their hold on the other's 'satba.' The match is awarded to the wrestler who forces the other contestant to touch the ground with any part of his body at knee level or higher. Unlike sumoSumo
is a competitive full-contact sport where a wrestler attempts to force another wrestler out of a circular ring or to touch the ground with anything other than the soles of the feet. The sport originated in Japan, the only country where it is practiced professionally...
, pushing your opponent outside of the ring does not warrant a win, just a restart. Normally, professional ssireum is contested in a best-out-of-three style match.
There are 3 judges, a chief referee and three sub referees. The chief judge is positioned inside the ring, whereas the sub referees are located on the outside of the ring, one to the right and others to the left. If an unfair judgment is called or the chief referee is unable to render a decision, the sub referees can request a revocation of the decision or a rematch. In addition, they can recommend the cessation of the match when an injury occurs. The referees’ decisions throughout the competition are absolute and held in the highest regard, meaning that athletes cannot challenge any judgments declared during the match.
Today there are also women Ssireum wrestlers. Women wrestle only among themselves but follow the same rules (except that men are topless whereas women wear tops).
There are 4 weight classes in professional wrestling: flyweight (Taebaek
Taebaek
Taebaek is a city in Gangwon province, South Korea. Its name is shared with that of the Taebaek Mountains.-Climate:-Sister cities: Helong, Jilin since August 29, 1995 Baguio City, Philippines since April 25, 2006 Suzhou, China since March 8, 2005 Gaoan, China since June 23, 2004 Changchun, China...
), lightweight (Geumgang
Kumgangsan
Kŭmgangsan , Geumgangsan, or Mount Geumgang is a -high mountain in Kangwon-do, North Korea. Its name means "a firm heart in the face of truth". It is about 50 km away from South Korea's Sokcho in Gangwon-do. It is one of the best-known mountains in North Korea...
), middleweight (Halla
Hallasan
Hallasan is a shield volcano on Jeju Island of South Korea. Hallasan is the highest mountain of South Korea. The area around the mountain is a designated national park, the Hallasan National Park...
), and heavyweight (Baekdu), named after the four famous peaks in Korea.
Traditionally Ssireum was contested with the top portion of the trousers rolled down to provide grip. The use of "satba" was invented with the birth of professional Ssireum in the mid-20th century. There is a movement to restore this traditional method of grip, in the spirit of maintaining its cultural and traditional roots, but it has met with some resistance as the use of "satba" has become entrenched in the modern form.
The professional league is dwindling in popularity and many wrestlers have turned their attention to mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
fighting, even though Ssireum involves no striking or submissions of any kind, as a means of making a living. Choi Hong-man
Choi Hong-man
Choi Hong-man , often anglicised to Hong-man Choi, is a South Korean kickboxer, mixed martial artist and former ssireum wrestler. In Asia he is called "Che Man", "Korean Monster" and "Korean Colossus"...
, former champion of Ssireum, is enjoying notable success in the K-1
K-1
K-1 is a defunct world-wide kickboxing promotion based in Tokyo, Japan founded by Kazuyoshi Ishii, a formerKyokushin karate practitioner. K-1 combines stand up techniques from Muay Thai, Karate, Taekwondo, Savate, San Shou, kickboxing, western-style boxing, and other martial arts...
scene. Unfortunately, the future of professional Ssireum remains bleak, with only one team remaining. However, it can also be argued that Ssireum is beginning to undergo global expansion as a popular martial arts sport, alongside tae kwon do and hapkido
Hapkido
Hapkido is a dynamic and also eclectic Korean martial art. It is a form of self-defense that employs joint locks, techniques of other martial arts, as well as kicks, punches, and other striking attacks...
.
It is important to note the differences between Ssireum and sumo. Ssireum has remained largely a national/traditional sport. Physical hits such as slaps and blows are not permitted in Ssireum, though they are in sumo. In both sports, the competitors are often quite large, though Korean wrestlers tend to be leaner. However, size does not guarantee success in either sport. Although both sports are quite similar, they differ in characteristics as well as values.
The national governing body of the sport in Korea, Korean Ssireum Organization, has made a claim that Ssireum is characterized as a "peaceful competition focusing on harmony and unison", reflecting the "philosophical outlook of the Korean Race".
Past winners
| # | Year | Winner | # | Year | Winner | # | Year | Winner | # | Year | Winner | # | Year | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1983 | Lee Man-Ki | 2 | 1983 | Lee Man-Ki | 3 | 1984 | Jang Ji-Young | 4 | 1984 | Lee Man-Ki | 5 | 1984 | Lee Jun-Hi |
| 6 | 1985 | Lee Man-Ki | 7 | 1985 | Lee Man-Ki | 8 | 1985 | Lee Jun-Hi | 9 | 1986 | Lee Man-Ki | 10 | 1986 | Lee Bong-Geol |
| 11 | 1986 | Lee Man-Ki | 12 | 1987 | Lee Bong-Geol | 13 | 1987 | Lee Jun-Hi | 14 | 1988 | Lee Man-Ki | 15 | 1988 | Lee Man-Ki |
| 16 | 1989 | Lee Man-Ki | 17 | 1989 | Kim Chil-Kyu | 18 | 1990 | Kang Ho-Dong | 19 | 1990 | Kang Ho-Dong | 20 | 1990 | Kang Ho-Dong |
| 21 | 1991 | Hwang Dae-Woong | 22 | 1991 | Hwang Dae-Woong | 23 | 1991 | Kang Ho-Dong | 24 | 1992 | Kang Ho-Dong | 25 | 1992 | Im Yong-Je |
| 26 | 1992 | Kim Jung-Pil | 27 | 1993 | Kim Jung-Pil | 28 | 1993 | Baek Seung-Il | 29 | 1993 | Baek Seung-Il | 30 | 1994 | Shin Bong-Min |
| 31 | 1994 | Baek Seung-Il | 32 | 1994 | Lee Tae-Hyun Lee Tae-Hyun Lee Tae-Hyun , is a South Korean ssireum wrestler and later mixed martial artist. His ssireum record included 472 wins, the best overall winning record in Korean ssireum competition.-Ssireum:... |
33 | 1995 | Kim Kyung-Soo | 34 | 1996 | Kim Kyung-Soo | 35 | 1997 | Shin Bong-Min |
| 36 | 1998 | Kim Young-Hyun Kim Young-hyun Kim Young-Hyun , often anglicised to Young-Hyun Kim, is a South Korean ssireum wrestler, and later mixed martial artist and kickboxer.-Biography and career:... |
37 | 1999 | Kim Young-Hyun Kim Young-hyun Kim Young-Hyun , often anglicised to Young-Hyun Kim, is a South Korean ssireum wrestler, and later mixed martial artist and kickboxer.-Biography and career:... |
38 | 2000 | Lee Tae-Hyun Lee Tae-Hyun Lee Tae-Hyun , is a South Korean ssireum wrestler and later mixed martial artist. His ssireum record included 472 wins, the best overall winning record in Korean ssireum competition.-Ssireum:... |
39 | 2001 | Hwang Kyu-Hyun | 40 | 2002 | Lee Tae-Hyun Lee Tae-Hyun Lee Tae-Hyun , is a South Korean ssireum wrestler and later mixed martial artist. His ssireum record included 472 wins, the best overall winning record in Korean ssireum competition.-Ssireum:... |
| 41 | 2003 | Choi Hong-Man Choi Hong-man Choi Hong-man , often anglicised to Hong-man Choi, is a South Korean kickboxer, mixed martial artist and former ssireum wrestler. In Asia he is called "Che Man", "Korean Monster" and "Korean Colossus"... |
42 | 2004 | Kim Young-Hyun Kim Young-hyun Kim Young-Hyun , often anglicised to Young-Hyun Kim, is a South Korean ssireum wrestler, and later mixed martial artist and kickboxer.-Biography and career:... |
43 | 2008 | Yoon Jung-Su | 44 | 2009 | Hwang Kyu-Yeon | |||