Meet Beach Wrestling, a fighting style that has been conquering the Amazon

FIGHT

The sport can be practiced by men and women aged 20 and over.

Manaus (AM) – Many traditional sports have been adapted to beaches like the weather, such as football and volleyball, and many others are already following this same trend. With the fights it was no different, this beach version has gained more and more fans in Brazil and Amazonas. Beach Wrestling or, simply, Beach Fight, is the sand version of traditional Olympic wrestling.

It is a competition in which two fighters stand in a delimited circle on the sand and have the objective of taking down the opponent or taking him out of the fighting area during a single two-minute round. The competitor may touch the hands and knees to the sand when attacking or defending a blow and there is no fight on the ground.

The rules of this sport are very simple, according to the Brazilian Wrestling Confederation (CBW), the participant must add three points to be declared the winner. The scores vary according to the blows.

Scoring is given as follows: 1 point for single fall, where the knocked down athlete touches the sand with the legs, hands or knees; or when the athlete touches any part of the body outside the fight area. And 2 points when there is a blow of great amplitude, when the athlete knocks the opponent directly backwards into the sand, projecting the opponent.

In case of a tie after two minutes, the central referee can break the tie in favor of the fighter who presents more combativeness. If this is not possible, the referee must grant one minute of extra time, if even after the extra time the fight is still tied, the referee must grant another one until there is a winner.

Categories

The sport can be practiced by men and women, aged 20 or over, from 18 a medical certificate must be presented. Weights per are divided as follows: 50kg, 60kg, 70kg, +90 kg for women and 70kg, 80kg, 90kg, +90kg for men.

Beach Wrestling in the Amazon

In the state, this type of fight has been taking place since 2011, with championships that usually take place on Ponta Negra beach, in the West Zone of Manaus. While Wrestling, wrestling, is being practiced in Amazonas since 1992.

Anderson Alves, director of the Amazonas Wrestling Federation (FALLE), in the state, comments that athletes who compete in Wrestling, Olympic Fighting, also compete in Beach Fighting.

“Beach Wrestling, unlike Olympic Wrestling which is one of the oldest sports in the world, is more modern, it was made for competition. All athletes who practice Wrestling compete in Beach Wrestling and we have around 700 fighters throughout the State of Amazonas”, explained Anderson.

Anderson also talks about future championships that should take place here in the Amazonian capital and comments that, despite being a consolidated sport in the state, the lack of practitioners is still an issue to be worked on.

“On our calendar for this year is Rei da Praia, which should take place in March, and the Amazonense Beach Wrestling championship, which has yet to be scheduled. Even with championships and consolidation in the state, the sport needs practitioners to have visibility. Jiu-jitsu, for example, is a phenomenon in the Amazon because it is everywhere and easily accessible”, concluded Alves.

The director of FALLE indicated places for those interested in knowing and practicing this sport.

“Today for Wrestling practice in Manaus there is Amazonas Club da Luta located in Cidade Nova at the Melqui Galvão gym. But I advise anyone who wants to practice it is essential to look for a qualified professional”, he concluded.

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