 |
|
|
|
|
| General Information |
Breton Gouren is a stand-up folk wrestling style from Brittany, France. The wrestlers should throw each other to the ground for victory. If one makes the other’s shoulder blades touch the ground at the same time before any other body part, lamm is declared meaning immediate victory; Lamm is an Gouren equivalent of ippon in judo (Nardini 2016). The competitions take place in two seasons: summer and winter. In summer, matches take place on dusty areas with flexible rules and regulations while winter matches are organised more formally in indoor arenas with weight, gender, and ranking classes (Nardini 2020). |
| History/Development |
Some sources point to ancient times as the origins of gouren combined with religious and festive events, yet recent studies have raised a doubt on that (Epron; Nardini 2016). They argue the history of gouren has been re-enacted and reinvented with the connection and idealisation of the past. |
Transmission
(Policies/institutions) |
The Federation of Gouren organises the competitions and there were 1,527 members as of 2012 (Nardini 2020). |
| Relevant Organisations |
|
| Additional Materials |
|
| References |
- Nardini, D. (2016). “Gouren, the Breton Way to Wrestle”, STADION 42(1): 14-31.
- Nardini, D. (2020). “Between Tatami Mats and Sawdust: The Ambiguity of Breton Wrestling Sites”, Anthropological Quarterly, 93(2): 5-26. | | |
