Ssirum (Korean Wrestling)

Pyongyang, September 12 (KCNA) -- Ssirum (Korean wrestling) is a game in which two players compete with each other in physical strength and skills in a certain area of open space.

Ssirum started at the end of Ancient Korea (early 30th century B.C.-108 B.C.). It became a well-regulated sport in the period of Koguryo (B.C. 277-A.D. 668). Ssirum was a major sport of army soldiers in the period of Koryo (918-1392). It was popular among ordinary people in the period of the feudal Joson dynasty (1392-1910).

The Ssirum ground was a round circle 4 meters in diameter with its floor carpeted with sand.

Ssirum was divided into left-side and right-side wrestling, according to which legs the players wore their thigh bands, and the two rivals sometimes played without thigh bands.

Ssirum includes three basic techniques and their combos, etiquette rules and the way of declaring winner.

Techniques are knee-whack, arm trip, leg lock and belly throw.

Ssirum has regional features and it is sometimes called Phyongan provincial ssirum, Hwanghae provincial ssirum and Hamgyong provincial ssirum. There are infant-level, middle-level, senior-level and recreational games.

Ssirum was registered as a part of national intangible cultural heritage of the DPRK in November 2013. -0-