Traditional Swiss wrestling isn’t just for tourists and annual festivals. Once an alpine pastime, men and women can now compete in events promoted by multi-billion-dollar corporations and banks. Their one and only goal: not to be the person who gets the sawdust brushed off their back.
No prize money is involved. Rather, wrestlers compete for a muni, cowbells, and a variety of other rustic objects. That’s to say, if you’re in it to win it, it’s likely not just so you can own livestock. Prizes are instead symbolic of a culture that’s incredibly proud of its alpine roots – so much so that wrestling festivals and top wrestlers are often the subject of extensive reporting.
There’s even a Swiss Schwingen Association, founded in 1895, which is committed to raising standards in the sport. It also offers instructional material and lessons. So, if you’re looking to learn how to kurz, übersprung, wyberhaagge, or any other of the over 100 throws, this is the place to go.
A lot goes into a successful Schwingen bout. Respect, however, is firmly rooted at its core. Competitors must shake their opponent’s hand before beginning and the winner then dusts the sawdust off the loser’s shoulders and back. As well as good sportsmanship, these are actual regulations, because while the best man or woman may win, both must be respected.
Bösen – the best wrestlers – from across the country step up to the challenge. A referee and judges decide who competes against whom, with each bout lasting around 5 minutes on average. The winner? The one who racks up the most points. The scoring process, though, differs from the wrestling standards you may be familiar with.
In Schwingen, it’s all about your shorts. Over their long trousers, wrestlers wear shorts made of jute. These are fastened with a leather belt and rolled up to form the handles that their competitors then grip to perform throws. For these moves to count and score points, both of the other player’s shoulders must touch the sawdust within the confines of the playing circle. Rules aside, to truly appreciate this traditional sport for what it is, there’s nothing like seeing it in person. The good news is, there are plenty of alpine festivals where you can catch a bout and immerse yourself in a different kind of Swiss history.