A Beginner's Guide to Ssireum: Everything You Need to Know
Everything You Need to Know About the Korean Art of Ssireum
Korean culture is becoming an integral part of our daily lives.
It may have started with “K Pop” and Squid Game, but now many people have turned to Ssireum, the ancient Korean art of wrestling.
The ancient art of ssireum, a traditional Korean martial art
Ssireum is similar to Japanese wrestling, and it has been around for quite a long time.
It falls under the umbrella of grappling-based martial arts and it requires quite a bit of strength to master.
There’s a lot you can learn from Ssireum, and you can even incorporate these skills into other martial arts as you get better.
The popularity of the Netflix show, ‘Physical 100’ has shone a light on this amazing sport and in general the Korean fitness scene.
If you’re thinking of starting Ssireum, here’s everything you need to know before you step into the ring, and if you just want to watch and learn about this form of wrestling, we’ve got you covered.
Netflix show ‘Physical 100’ features several SSireum wrestlers
What is Ssireum?
When you think of Korean martial arts, the first thing that comes to mind is usually taekwondo.
Ssireum is another of Korea’s oldest martial arts, although less known.
It combines grappling, wrestling and sumo- all into one sport.
Of course, it has its own unique set of rules and regulations. Ssireum competitions are also held on specific days throughout the year.
The Origins of Ssireum
Ssireum has been around for so long, but nobody knows exactly when it began, although most historians assume it was between the 1st and 7th centuries.
The best estimate is somewhere in the middle, around the 4th century.
Interestingly enough, ssireum started out as a way for ancient Koreans to survive as they grappled with animals and other humans using their bare hands.
It was also a form of entertainment for people of all classes. After a while, it developed into a sport loved by thousands.
Ssireum gaining traction
Ssireum hasn’t always been popular. It wasn’t until the 1900s that ssireum started gaining popularity in South Korea.
It was back in 1927 that the first regulatory organisation for the sport was formed: the Pan Chosun Ssireum Foundation.
Around the mid-1900s, the foundation started holding regular national championships with two styles of competition.
South Koreans favoured “right-hand predominant” styles of ssireum, while Northern regions preferred the left-handed styles.
Since 1994, the left-handed style has been the official ssireum of Korea, and it is the most practised form to date.
Somewhere around 1960, the first-ever ssireum match aired on TV, catapulting the sport into popularity.
Until then, countless people in Korea had never even heard of such a sport.
What are the rules of Ssireum competitions?
There are a lot of similarities between Ssireum and sumo wrestling, although Ssireum has a few rules that make it unique.
First, the two players step inside a ring in the shape of a circle and face each other.
The ring is about 23 feet (7m) in diameter and it is usually full of sand.
Find out more about the rules of this ancient sport.
The rules of Ssireum
Only the players’ feet are allowed to touch the ground.
Any other part of their body above the knee warrants a disqualification. That’s actually the point of the game.
You want to force any other part of your opponent’s body to touch the ground so that you can win.
To start off the ssireum match, the two competitors grab each other’s belts or towels (also called a satba) and kneel into a grappling position.
When the match begins, they get up simultaneously, and each player tries to take down their opponent while gripping their belt.
Unlike sumo wrestling, pushing your opponent out of bounds doesn’t qualify as a win.
If it happens, you just restart the game. You’re also not allowed to punch or slap your opponent in any way. You can only grapple and force them to the ground.
This continues for three rounds, and the player with the best two out of three wins the match.
Referees in Ssireum
Typically, a ssireum match is governed by three referees: one head referee and two assistants.
The head referee stands inside the ring to watch the competitors closely without interfering or getting in their way.
As for the two assistants, they stand outside the ring on either side of the opponents and keep an eye out for violations.
They help the head referee make calls when unsure about a play.
If the head referee makes a wrong decision, the two assistants can challenge it. This usually ends in a recall and the round restarts.
However, competitors don’t have the luxury of challenging the referees’ calls.
SSireum Weight Classes
Much like wrestling and boxing, ssireum competitions divide opponents according to their weight classes. There are four in total:
Taebaek (flyweight): Capped at 176 pounds (80 kg)
Geumgang (lightweight): Capped at 198 pounds (90 kg)
Halla (middleweight): Up to 231 pounds (105 kg)
Baekdu (heavyweight): Under 352 pounds (160 kg)
SSireum Techniques
In Ssireum, you can use any technique you like as long as your body (from the knee up) stays off the ground.
Although it has similar techniques to judo, you’re not allowed to use pinning techniques because of the no-ground rule.
Much like sumo wrestling, the goal is to get your opponent to the ground. However, sumo doesn’t start out with the competitors gripping their opponent’s belts.
Also, in ssireum, you’re not allowed to forcefully break your opponent’s grip. In sumo wrestling, you can.
It can be confusing for people who practice other martial arts and start ssireum for the first time.
However, ssireum rules are relatively straightforward, so make sure not to confuse them with other grappling sports!
Interesting facts about Ssireum
Here are some fun facts about this Korean sport:
The four weight classes of ssireum are named after famous mountain peaks in South Korea
The first-ever World Ssireum Championship took place in 2015 at the Thuwunna Indoor Stadium in Myanmar
Myanmar won the first World Ssireum Championship
The second World Ssireum Championship was won by Germany
South Korea returned to its ssireum glory by picking up both the third and fourth World Championships in a row
Compared to sumo wrestling, ssireum is slightly safer since only grappling techniques are allowed
Back in the day, ssireum champions received a prize bull when they won
Should you give Ssireum a go?
Ssireum is one interesting martial art. It combines grappling, wrestling and a little bit of sumo, all in one.
You need to shuffle around, manoeuvre and stay cleverly on your feet, all while trying to bring down your opponent. The best part is you have to take them down with just their belt or towel to hold on to.
It seems like a tough sport to master, but the skill, strength and endurance gained from ssireum are worth adding to your arsenal of martial arts.
So if you’re grappling (pun intended) with whether or not to try ssireum, the answer is: get in the ring!
