Leonese wrestling

Leonese wrestling, also designated aluches, is a form of wrestling specific to the Province of León in Spain. It is one of the most ancient sports of the European continent.

Leonese wrestling was spread throughout Iberia by Leonese shepherds in their seasonal migrations, and became known by various names through the region, such as Lucha de la Cruz in Salamanca, vueltas or marañas (Muga of Sayago), luchas or trinchas (Zamora), Lucha in La Moraña (Ávila), galhofa (north of Portugal), valto (council of La Lomba, León), altío or aluchas (La Cepeda), lucha (Palencia mountains and region of Saldaña), among others.

Leonese wrestling resembles Canarian wrestling or Japanese sumo: the bouts occur with a circle of approximately 17 metres (56 ft) diameter. The wrestlers dress in short trousers and a short T-shirt. They can not use footwear or socks. Characteristically, they wear a leather belt of 2 centimetres (0.79 in) width. This belt surrounds the waist above the hips so that it can be easily held by the opponent.

The aim is to make the opponent touch the floor with any part of the back, which is scored as a fall. If the opponent touches the floor with the belly or the arms, it scores as a half fall. A contestant who can remove their opponent's belt is also awarded a fall. The winner is the first in achieving 2 whole falls.

Two leagues exist: the winter league and the summer league. The first one is wrestled by teams (there exist currently seven teams and three municipal schools). The second one is wrestled individually and has four categories: light (up to 68 kilograms (150 lb)), average (up to 78 kilograms (172 lb)), heavy-average (up to 88 kilograms (194 lb)) and heavy (above 88 kilograms (194 lb)). Also for the boys that want to participate in this sport there is a league designated "base league" that is divided in age and weight categories.

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