BELT wrestling is a form of wrestling which involves two belted contestants who aim to take each other over by grappling with a belt. Santosh Khairnar, who is International Referee, Belt Wrestling Mas Wrestling Pankration and Technical Director, National Traditional Wrestling Federation, explained in detail about the sport during 54th session of ‘Karate and Sports Seminar for Physical and Spiritual Development of Students’. These sessions are being organised by Karate Budokan International (Vidarbha Region) and hosted by Kyoshi Harish Choube. Khairnar informed about the divisions and actual match play.

 

“There are two types of divisions— free style and classic style: In free style, it is permissible to trip the opponent and to use the legs actively to perform any action while in classic style it is strictly forbidden to trip the opponent or to use the legs actively on his opponent to perform any action. The use of a bent leg (spring hip throw/hane goshi) is allowed after the opponent’s complete separation from the mat, to increase the amplitude of the throw. “Before any bout begins, each opponent when called takes his place on the mat at the corner of same colour as the uniform assigned to him. The referee, standing in the middle of the mat, calls the two wrestlers to his side. The first wrestler in blue jacket is invited on the right of referee and the second wrestler in red/green jacket to the left. He then shakes hands with them and examines their dress, checks that they are not covered with any greasy or sticky substance, verifies that they are not perspiring and verifies that their hands are bare.

 

The wrestlers greet each other and shake hands. On referee’s command “hold” the wrestlers get into position, when the referee blows his whistle (or commands “alysh”), they start the bout,” said Khairnar. About technical superiority and caution in the match, Khairnar said, “Bout must be stopped before the end of time when there is 6 points difference between the wrestlers. The mat chairman signals the referee when the 6 points difference has been attained. Also, technical superiority is achieved by a wrestler who attends minimum 6 points in total score during the bout with his opponent having a score or no-score. A player is cautioned for illegal hold and brutality (recorded in the score sheet as ‘O’). If a player’s hold cause dislocations, neck cranks, biting, punching, kicking, head butts, malicious cross faces eye, ear, or nose gouging, fish hooking, pulling of hair, nose, ears, or attacking the groin, standing throws onto the head or neck (spikes).” The programme concluded with a question and answer session. Kiran Yadav, President, Belt Wersling Alysh Association Nagpur proposed a vote of thanks.