10 Facts About Ssireum

Ssireum or Korean wrestling is a folk wrestling style and traditional national sport of Korea that began in the fourth century.

Ssireum wrestlers seek to turn the opponent's torso from about 45 degrees to 90 degrees when throwing.

Ssireum competitions were held on other days such as the Third Day of the Third Moon, the Eighth day of the Fourth Moon and Buddhist All Souls' Day.

Since 1947, the competition organized by the Ssireum Federation has been called the National Ssireum Championship Contest.

In 1994, the Korean Ssireum Federation proposed the unification of ssireum into a single left-sided style as the official style to be used by all competitors.

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Ssireum is conducted within a circular ring, measuring approximately 7 meters in diameter, which is covered with mounded sand.

Traditionally Ssireum was contested with the top portion of the trousers rolled down to provide grip.

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.

However, it can be argued that Ssireum is beginning to undergo global expansion as a popular martial arts sport, alongside taekwondo and hapkido.

Korean Ssireum Championships have unlimited weight class in addition to four weight classes.