Lancashire wrestling


Lancashire wrestling is a historic wrestling style from Lancashire in England. It is considered an ancestor of catch wrestling, professional and amateur wrestling.
The style included groundwork and had a reputation as a particularly violent and dangerous sport. Sources show that rules were put in place in order to safeguard the wrestlers from serious injury. For instance, there was a ban on breaking an opponent's bones.
In the counties to the north, Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling developed with rules designed to minimise injury to the participants.