Scottish Backhold is a style of

folk wrestling A folk wrestling style is any traditional style of wrestling, which may or may not be codified as a modern sport. Most cultures have developed regional forms of grappling. Europe Britain Traditionally wrestling has two main centres in Great ...

originating in

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to th ...

. The wrestlers grip each other around the waist at the back, with the right hand under the opponent's left arm and the chin resting on the opposite right shoulder. When the referee is sure that both wrestlers have taken a firm grip, he shouts "hold" and the bout starts. Should either wrestler break his hold or touch the ground with any part of his body except his feet, he loses. There is no ground work and the bouts are usually best of five falls. Since 1985 there has been a Celtic organisation that is trying to combine the Scottish, Breton and Icelandic forms of wrestling. The Scottish Wrestling Bond publishes the rules of Backhold. There are many clubs around Scotland that coach and practice the sport of Backhold wrestling with popular clubs from Edinburgh, Carnoustie, Glasgow and Hamilton. There are many Highland games through the summer months which attract athletes to come and compete from all over the world. Countries such as France, Iceland, America, England and many more represent their countries annually in their hopes to win a prestigious title.

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See also