Niang underlined that allowing AFP to interview his prizefighter was a rare privilege. The techniques involved can cause serious injuries if not used properly. However, to specialize in MMA, incorporating other martial arts is recommended like BJJ, Sambo, Muay Thai, Boxing, etc. Senegalese wrestling also used to happen at night time in Senegal for a period, and fishing can happen a whole year. First they must go through a wrestling boot camp, each hoping to be one of only two who will be allowed to enter into competition with a neighboring village. 2. Russian Barbell Twist -- I prefer to do these as explosively, for the power and the pain, but that's a non-standard thing, you can stick with the standard twist -- for control, and all those 'twisting' movements. Why do we not keep ourselves anchored whilst also opening ourselves up to the rest of the world?. See more from National Geographic's Short Film Showcase at http://documentary.comGet More National Geographic:Official Site: http://bit.ly/NatGeoOfficialSiteFacebook: http://bit.ly/FBNatGeoTwitter: http://bit.ly/NatGeoTwitterInstagram: http://bit.ly/NatGeoInstaAlmost half of Senegal's population lives below the poverty line, but young men like Domou Walo are fighting for a better life. "name": "How Big Are Senegalese Wrestlers? The training schools also bring together people from different communities. Thats what Im going after., So many people like [MMA] right now [in Senegal], he continued. January 1, 2023. Theyre not just part of a costume, says Bobst. The following text was written by photographer Laurent Gudin, and is available with the images. This is not the voodoo of Western pop culture: Senegal is a Muslim country and they would probably say that the Christians perform voodoo, which is mostly black magic, while the Muslims perform gris-gris, which is white magic., Of course, thats not to say theres no foul play: Fighters will sometimes hire voodoo priests to perform black magic, too, Bobst explains. Some, like Balla Gaye 2 and Eumeu Sene are household names and, more popular than soccer players, says Bobst. There are whole communities build around this sport, which is still a huge part of Sudanese culture. The fight is over when a wrestler falls. Sunday's fight will take place in front of 10,000 spectators, the stadium at half its capacity to try to avert coronavirus infections. Getty ImagesTraditional wrestling plays an important role in much of Senegalese society and is one of the country's national sports. Some of those training at Bordeauxs school and pumping iron on the beach may one day make it onto the professional wrestling circuit, earning the right to wear the wrestlers traditional pre-fight regalia. Senegalese wrestling is a sport not to be missed. Today, La Lutte is a multi-million-dollar spectacle. Village leaders would each have their champion wrestler, the subjects of song and tribute. Its specificity is that one can give punches to the face and the body like boxing. Senegalese wrestling has been practiced for centuries and is a deeply-rooted part of Senegalese culture. Droits d'auteur 20102023, The Conversation France (assoc. A version of this article was initially published in French. If theres one lesson to be taken from wrestling, its good to stay grounded. Wrestlers will often wear their symbols, for instance wearing a sisters loincloth means that the wrestler is fighting for the honour of the family. . Subscribe: http://bit.ly/NatGeoSubscribe Get More Short Film Sh. The role of the mother, the sister and the scholars (the communitys wise men) who felt mobilised in particular to protect their son and ensure his victory. Chants such as The chests scream when a great wrestler goes down, lets go, its already dark, or Im a regular in the arena, but I wont go around looking for talismans, my strength is enough are often sung by their supporters. But despite their dedication, even the best fighter considers his preparation futile without the protection of the most important component: gris-gris magic. Traditional wrestling is more than the sole individual that wrestles. As popular as football, the Senegalese wrestlingarouses a real enthusiasm throughout the country. Making waves: Meet KK, the only female surfer in Sierra Leone. A fight lasts 2 times 10 minutes. The salaries can reach 30 to 50 million FCFA for the fighters of the category heavy vehicles. A victory against Lac 2 would allow him to joust for the title again. Each fighter is afraid that an opponent could have more spiritual support, so they try to hire as many marabouts as possible to ensure that they win., Traditionally, gris-gris refers to amulets made by the marabouts. 05 March 2023. Incorporating boxing techniques, it is called fight with strikes. It is this discipline that has succeeded in capturing the attention of the Senegalese public. I was born in a very nice area in which people are fishing. Lets start. However, this frills-free approach belies the intricacies and nuances of the sport. However, most people are unaware of at least one grappling martial art that originates in Africa. The Mundari: The tribe dying for their cows. Generally, the fights take place on Saturday or Sunday, often in the Demba Diop stadium and the most popular in the Lopold-Sdar-Senghor stadium. Senegalese wrestling (Laamb en Wolof) is followed by mystical ceremonies, rituals to ward off bad spells before each game. The new arena, built in 28 months by the Chinese, cost 48.7 million euros and was paid for by the Chinese government. It was introduced to the Wolof people by the Fula in the 17th century and has been practiced ever since. youre in the right place to make the best choice with our reviews. The match is won by either forcing the opponent to submit or making them touch the ground with any part of their body other than their feet. It is within this age group that the wrestler can measure his strength over others. As a specialist on wrestling, which Ive researched at length, I want to highlight that all that we know about the history of traditional wrestling was told to us by the elders and griots. The odds, then, were very much in Gaye 2s favour. Going back to the past, the Srres and the Diolas practiced this sport to determine the strongman of the village. Its a very paranoid system, he says. If the crowd overwhelmingly cheers one contestant, theyll end up walking away with the victory. Standing just 152 centimetres (five feet) tall, Isabelle Sambou is a nine-time African Wrestling. Still, what may be seen as the earliest victory for womens rights, Jola women got the right to train and compete in wrestling as early as the 1400s. Traditional wrestling plays an important role in much of Senegalese society and is one of the countrys national sports. Given the popularity of the sport, the crowds are huge and very knowledgable. Gaye 2 became a superstar in Senegal after dethroning . It isnt like football hooliganism, but people do lose their minds sometimes. It is a cornerstone of Senegalese culture, and the country's wrestlers are some of the best in the world. There are several different styles of wrestling practiced in Senegal, including Greco-Roman wrestling, freestyle wrestling, and catch wrestling. It is a hybrid sport that combines elements of traditional wrestling with bare knuckle boxing. 2. In such a society, grappling plays a huge role in the lives of people. However, with the rise of MMA and the success of impressive fighters like Oumar Kane, there is a growing interest in its popularity and the desire to learn Senegalese wrestling. Good wrestlers can earn hundreds of thousands of dollars, he adds, above and beyond their soccer counterparts. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The young men learn about society, hierarchy, and the fundamental differences between the traditional roles of men and women. A trip there, to any part of it, is going to result in a cultural shock for any westerner. Bobst, a Swiss photographer, first came across the sport when working in a small village on behalf of an NGO in 2012. Wrestlers practice bodybuilding enormously, because it has become a real asset to win the fighting. We take a ringside seat to find out more. I am training that, and I don't mind about [wherever the . At the training session in the Dakar suburb of Petit Mbao, barrel-chested fighters grapple with each other until a call to prayer interrupts them. It means some people depend on you. This one is native to Sudan, more precisely the southern parts of the country. Additionally, wrestlers are held in high esteem in Senegalese society and are often considered role models. The relationship between the wrestler and his community is therefore key. What Ive done to Ngalani, I will do something more to win. Head to the beach at twilight in Dakar, Senegal and youre sure to witness a ruckus. We have good places you can come even if you dont want to fish, you can stay there discussing a lot of things, like Senegalese wrestling, football, all other things. They also make sure to drink plenty of water and juice to stay hydrated. Senegalese wrestling is a physically demanding sport that requires a lot of discipline and training. This grappling art is now so developed it is an international competitive sport. Champion wrestler Modou Lo shoulders the burden of many hopes and expectations on his broad frame. There are two forms of Senegalese wrestling. Eumeu Sene turned up late and was very angry and aggressive. Given that it is the creed of civilization, it would be presumptuous to think taht there are no grappling arts that originate there as well. But as the season built to its climax in Dakar in July, the . Push through take-downs, go ahead and explode out of the bottom of these. The sport is also a great way to build teamwork and camaraderie. The age group: this represents young people of the same age. It was a gruesome scene for a featherweight title bout at UWC 43 when Jos Pealozas ear exploded. It is a sport that's spread out across Africa and even includes punching in certain areas. Wheel rims are loaded with rocks to make them heavier for weight lifters. Nicknamed "Sadio's Son," Ndiaye added that he hopes to make a full-time living from wrestling one day. The transition to MMA was made out of love for competition and quest for greatness, he said. Lo hasnt forgotten his roots as one of 60,000 practicing wrestlers in the capital alone. Through their world-class scientists, photographers, journalists, and filmmakers, Nat Geo gets you closer to the stories that matter and past the edge of what's possible.A Senegalese Wrestler Trains to Become the King of the Arena | Short Film Showcasehttps://youtu.be/Y06SGyk_mtgNational Geographichttps://www.youtube.com/natgeo A former national champion once crowned 'King of the Arenas,' Sene is hoping to make a comeback in his match against a fighter known as Lac 2. Sand kicks into the air as one is sent flying, crashing to the ground as cheers rise across the sea breeze. Secondly, the matches are typically fought in a circular ring, as opposed to a square or rectangular ring. Mbapps masterful performance against Argentina. Arnold Allen: No moral victory in Max Holloway fight, I got half my pay, I lost my winning streak, I missed out on a title shot. Wrestling training schools exist for all young boys, and through it adults measured the boys courage, their will to win and their spirit of self-sacrifice. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. It was a great pride for all. A no-frills fighting tradition that has developed from . In a sandy arena, encircled by thousands of bystanders, multiple matches take place simultaneously. Their training regimes are fuelled by a diet not unlike that of any other athlete piles of rice for carbohydrates, plus fish and meat cooked in oil. Traditional wrestling is mostly practised in rural areas where it's not just a sport, it has a profound social and cultural role. He says: The way we dress is to show harmony we dress for the fight and we become different. Senegalese wrestling (Laamb en Wolof) is a popular, traditional sport from Senegal. Secondly, the training is quite rigorous and requires a lot of dedication. Its all about making sacrifices, says Bordeaux. The stadium has a capacity of more than . Many other sports comes from abroad, like boxing, taekwondo, all those kind of things, [and] they belong to people from abroad. As one might imagine, the origins of Senegalese wrestling are ancient and ancestral. A great example of this is the traditional female wrestling thats specific to the country of Senegal. Wiebe wins Freestyle Wrestling gold Rio 2016 . CNN's Errol Barnett with Senegalese wrestling star Gris Bordeaux. In fact, the crowd might influence the match to the point of deciding the winner. It's being overshadowed by a very popular, modern professional wrestling. Oops. After this article though, well all be paying special attention to the wrestlers of Senegal on the next Olympics, particularly the women grapplers! Their uses are varied among descendants of the West African diaspora; in Haiti they are regarded as good luck charms. Artem Vakhitov, the last man to beat Alex Pereira in kickboxing, books MMA debut. On top of all the grappling arts we briefly mentioned above, theres the traditional Laamb wrestling of the Jola women. The champion is regularly mobbed by supporters in Dakar, and the modest giant is happy to share what he has. Wrestling is Senegals historic national sport, which attracts sell-out crowds and shuts down cities with ease. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Bordeaux credits wrestling with changing his life, bringing him success and wealth. What are the salaries and wages of wrestlers? Lacking the money to use a proper gym, some men have built a makeshift gym of their own using whatever materials they can, such as car tires. More precisely in the regions of Sin-Saloum, Casamance, etc. Oumar Kane and "Reug Reug" are two different personas. BKFC president David Feldman reveals why Luke Rockhold couldnt continue in BKFC 41 main event. The more traditional, hands-free version is reserved for local village matches, while stadium fights routinely feature devastating jabs and punches. This grappling art is now so developed it is an international competitive sport. Senegalese wrestling significance. Wrestling training schools exist for all young boys. . A traditional wrestling match in Senegal typically lasts for about 10 minutes. It is important to remember that Senegalese wrestling, unlike other types of wrestling, such as folkstyle, involves a combination of punches, elbows, and other strikes, therefore more effective for self-defense than other wrestling types, although its not recommended for self-defense in comparison to Krav Maga, BJJ, Jiu-Jitsu, etc. For the sports superstars the rewards can be huge, with the biggest names earning up to $200,000 per contest. The two opponents are allowed to use their hands and feet to attack each other. The goal was the same, marking the coming of age of boys and proving their manhood. Also, popular as football, it attracts many spectators and lots of young athletes. Wrestlers practice bodybuilding enormously, because it has become a real asset to win the fighting. It requires training and meditation; your mindset is important. Today, this sport has become a real institution, a rewarding business, which stimulates all Senegalese. At the highest, stadium-packing level of La Lutte, each wrestler will spend a vast amount of money on amassing an entourage of shamans and religious teachers known as marabouts. On Sunday, the first major bout since the start of the pandemic will take place in a 20,000-seater stadium just outside of Dakar. In most of Africa, football reigns supreme among sports, but in Senegal wrestling challenges it for popularity. newsletter, Israel Adesanya Walkouts to Knockouts T-Shirt, Eddie Alvarez vs. Chad Mendes full fight video highlights, Mike Perry vs. Luke Rockhold full fight video highlights. A synthesis of boxing and traditional wrestling, these matches are massive social events. Mysticism plays an important role in traditional wrestling in Senegal. On 14 May, a fight resulted in between 80 and 200 million FCFA. Ousmane Ba ne travaille pas, ne conseille pas, ne possde pas de parts, ne reoit pas de fonds d'une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n'a dclar aucune autre affiliation que son organisme de recherche. For sports-mad Senegal, wrestling was nonetheless seen as an errant pastime for hulking amateurs, sneered at as an indicator of poor social standing. Title: SENEGAL: With traditional Senegalese wrestlers earning 300,000 US dollars per match, this decades old sport is attracting thousands of youth training to become the country's next champion Date: 18th June 2013 Embargoed: 3rd July 2013 13:00 Keywords: Location: Senegal Country: Senegal Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz,Sports Reuters ID: LVA23GILYS532ONCOMTDHCC2RZGP But as well as gaining a competitive edge in the gym, its rumoured that many of the wrestlers have been introduced to steroids while abroad. In 2015, Bobst documented a sell-out fight between Balla Gaye 2 and Eumeu Sene at the 30,000-capacity Demba Diop football stadium in Dakar. It was primarily done in Egypt and was often part of military training. "Reug Reug's" KNOCKOUT Display . In, fact, there are many and one of them is particularly captivating. Theyre still strong and muscular, but theyll aim to get a bigger belly. The more you weigh, of course, the harder it is for an opponent to lift you in the air, and the more chance you have of using your bodyweight to beat them down. Xi Jinping, on a state visit to Senegal, symbolically handed Macky Sall the keys of the national arena of Pikine wrestling, during a ceremony marked by a wrestling matches and dancing. 1960s, Colonizers disliked wrestling because it was a Senegalese tradition and they wanted to promote their own culture. Professionalism changed all that, and it the 1990s wrestling underwent a revolution. According to the elders and griots, wrestling was a means of settling conflicts between kings through wrestlers. With the return of the season, many wrestlers in this poor nation of 16 million people are hoping for a boost to their incomes. If you do not live in Senegal and are interested in practicing Senegalese wrestling, it is important that you know that Senegalese wrestling is not as popular in the West, so finding a training partner can be difficult. For those that are more in tune with grappling martial arts, catch-wrestling, Sumo, Luta-Livre, Pankration, and others might also feature. The rules of Senegalese wrestling are quite simple. The first fighting normally took place after the rainy season, and the wrestlers from various surrounding villages (mbaapat) were fighting. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much He is a Senegalese wrestler par excellence from 1995 to 2002. Walking dumbbell/barbell lunges.--. Before we go deeper into the Senegalese grappling art of Laamb, lets quickly recap some of Africas most prominent grappling styles. Often, there are extensions. The boys get about 10 days of training before they go out and wrestle, during which time theyre away from their parents and all live and train together. "I am good at wrestling, but I also practice jiu-jitsu because it is its own sport. Still remarkably toned, she was carefully braiding the hair of Isabelle Sambou, a nine-time gold medalist at the African Wrestling Championships who has . It can be done together, fishing and wrestling, because its not professional fishing in big boats, just fishing to feed your family and have a little bit money, so it can be done with wrestling. For the wrestlers of Senegal, they are believed to mean the difference between a crushing defeat and a glorious victory. All of these techniques can be used to either attack or defend against an opponent. This sport is supported by the bravery of wrestlers. Sa thies vs Reug reug. In this west African country, wrestling is not just a sport, but a chance at a better life. The Buff Dudes meet Canada's Olympic wrestling champion Erica Wiebe and go through a day of her intense training. ", Incorporating boxing techniques, it is called fight with strikes. Abdulrashid Sadulaev is a big man with nimble feet. I will prepare more, more and more than what Ive done before. There are also a number of wrestling clubs throughout the country where people can learn and practice the sport. Among the competitors, their trainers and followers, superstition, magic and folklore hold equal reverence, with an arsenal of rituals, talismans and incantations considered as vital to victory as a wrestlers strength and skill. The techniques in Senegalese wrestling are also very similar to techniques seen in catch wrestling and other folk styles. Many of the fighters competing at the top level believe their street cred is improved by temporarily relocating to Europe or the US to train. 7:47 AM EDT, Tue March 13, 2012. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. 2023 Cable News Network. Harry & Meghan on Netflix: the first episodes have arrived! Sign up for the "text": "Senegalese wrestling is the national sport of Senegal." What doesn't suck is Senegalese Wrestling Champion Reug Reug AKA Oumar Kane AKA The King making his MMA debut this weekend. Their menu includes meat, eggs, fish, vegetables, and fruits and less fried or processed foods. The wrestlers stamps, over the years, reach 30 to 50 million FCFA. Four men are warming up in one of the training rooms at the lower level of the Senegal National Arena in Dakar. It is a popular sport in the country and is taught in schools. Today wrestling is without a doubt the most popular sport in Senegal, says Thiandoum. He is staying with Amado. We also cover grappling, MMA, and BJJ news. But apart from the hard work, magical rites are equally important to succeed. Training houses. This means, particularly in rural areas, wrestling allows for friendly encounters between neighbouring villages. Over the years, Tahtib lost its place in society as a . Make no mistake, as traditional as Laamb wrestling might be, it does produce fearsome overall grapplers. We look for work that affirms National Geographic's belief in the power of science, exploration, and storytelling to change the world. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. The sport involves two opponents fighting in a circular ring, as the goal is to force the opponent to touch the ground with any part of their body other than their feet. So much so, in fact, that techniques were passed generation to generation in great secrecy. Lastly, traditional Senegalese wrestling is considered a contact sport, whereas other forms of wrestling are not. The most common techniques are the punch, the kick, the headbutt, the elbow, and the knee. Swedish photographer, Lasse Burell, "more or less stumbled" into the sandpit of Senegalese wrestling. You cannot put magic spells on the grave of someones mother. Furthermore, when that grappling art helps both men and women build a future for themselves by grappling, it has even more weight to it. Senegalese wrestling is different from other forms of wrestling in a few ways. The Nuba people have a centuries-old tradition of wrestling, where the goal is to pin the opponent on their back. The sports and culture ministries must invest in preserving and highlighting Senegalese traditional society, including traditional wrestling. True cultural folklore, this struggle made it possible to determine the champion, the hero, the fighter of a whole village. Additionally, wrestlers are held in high esteem in Senegalese society and are often considered role models. "acceptedAnswer": { Whatever weapon is used hand, elbow, knee, or an opponents own bodyweight the winner is the first to throw his adversary to the ground by lifting him up and over. The aim of baccou is to intimidate his opponent by singing his prowess and seducing the public. An expert in lutte avec frappe, a traditional form of wrestling from Senegal, Kane walked through his 2019 professional MMA debut against Sofiane Boukichou with wild punches and takedowns, forever changing his life. Some people have difficulties, problems. On a roll after his TKO victory over Ngalani, Kane is praying that I have good health that day and Im praying God to give me the win against Patrick Schmid on April 7. Africa is a continent that is full of different experiences, to say the least. But whether they will relinquish centuries of tradition remains to be seen. The set-up will still be sparse theres rarely enough money for equipment but the chance to be noticed is worth the entry fee: The young men with the most talent will go on to train at one of the famous academies run by ex-fighters like Balla Gaye, who opened the first official wrestling school in Senegal, Bobst says. The sport has been practiced since the 14th century and includes elements of mysticism. Head to the beach at twilight in Dakar, Senegal and you're sure to witness a ruckus. Everest Twice in a Week, The Murmansk Surf Club, Russia's Hardest Surfers, Welcome to the African Surfing Revolution. This means that athletes get endorsements, high-profile matches even hefty paydays if theyre amongst the best. Hearst UK is the trading name of the National Magazine Company Ltd, 30 Panton Street, Leicester Square, London, SW1Y 4AJ. crivez un article et rejoignez une communaut de plus de 163 400 universitaires et chercheurs de 4 609 institutions. A former national champion once crowned 'King of the Arenas,' Sene is hoping to make a comeback in his match against a fighter known as Lac 2. The techniques learned are not relevant against classic street attacks with a knife, a bat, a broken bottle, and the like, but there is no doubt that a person skilled in Senegalese wrestling has a significant advantage in these situations over a person who is not skilled at all, due to his physical strength, agility and attack techniques learned in this type of wrestling. Traditional wrestling is mostly practised in rural areas where its not just a sport, it has a profound social and cultural role. Because wrestling has been passed down through oral history, theres almost a total lack of written documents on it. So, wrestler has the choice to resort to either hand-to-hand fighting while beating his opponent. Thats a big no-go in their culture. Also, popular as football, it attracts many spectators and lots of young athletes. Throughout the 54 African nations, no form is as popular or as intrinsic to its countrys way of life, as Senegals historic national sport, known in the native Wolof language as Laamb or, in French, as La Lutte Sngalaise (Senegalese fighting). What are the rules of the Senegalese wrestling? A daily roundup of all your fighting news from MMA Fighting, By submitting your email, you agree to our, Video: Fighters exploded cauliflower ear leads to TKO stoppage. Wrestling was reduced to a sideshow for those who had not been to French school, says Alioune Sarr, president of the Senegalese Wrestling Federation, referring to class structures left over from the countrys colonial era. But, with the entry of combat sports practices (boxing), its not as easy. Senegalese wrestling calendar 2021 - 2022. fights. At ARES Fighting Championship, Reug Reug will be fighting on UFC Fight Pass. Tyson, Mor Fadam, Manga II, Balla Beye 1 & 2, these names of wrestlers have marked the stars of the Senegalese wrestling and still unleash today the passions and cries of joy. La Lutte - literally translated as "The Fight" - is Burell's new photo-book, capturing a duel of strength and beauty amongst the West African country's national sport - "Even bigger than football!" riffs Burrell. Most of the wrestlers I talked to want to go abroad. I know very well what Im doing, he said. Senegal is traditionally the only West African country to allow blows with the hand, but today its fighters practise Luttee Traditionnelle both avec and sans frappe (hits). [The mothers] neighbors would look down on her, he explains, and she would be criticized.. Specifically, when the wrestlers head, back, buttocks touch the floor, fall out of the circle, or have four supports (two hands and two knees). Olympic wrestlers beware, Sudan's fighting giants are coming. 07:04 - Source: CNN. The Senegalese wrestling was practiced at the end of the harvest. That is, if they can avoid being seriously injured from their training alone.
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