Religion of Wrestling

Wrestling has been used to build character, body, and self defense skills throughout the ages. The most influential type of wrestling, Mongolian wrestling, has its earliest documentation dating NINE THOUSAND years ago. Since then it has appeared in every major civilization I know of. (See also my post the ubiquity of wrestling:  http://bfgalbraith.blogspot.com/2015/01/ubiquity-of-mongolian-wrestling.html )

At the dawn of Judeo-Christianity, it is said that Jacob wrestled an angel. At the dawn of Islam it is said that Muhammad was a wrestler. Even at the dawn of America's own home-brewed form of Judeo-Christiantiy, Mormonism, it is said that Joseph Smith Jr. was a wrestler. Wrestling has been promoted by many religious and educational institutions because it teaches many moral lessons: sportsmanship, mental focus, will power, reflection/repentance/intentional-personal-improvement, humility, hard work and dedication.

Wrestling is essentially this: the core fighting skills you can spar without striking or submission holds. Wrestling skills are also the most absolutely fundamental self defense skills - explosive physical power, awareness of your body, awareness of your opponents bodies, moving left/right/forward, taking opponents off their feet, sprawling when opponents try to take you down, staying out-from-under/on-top of your opponents, physically manipulating your opponents, and rigorous training:

Wrestling is clearly of massive importance to martial arts in terms of both tradition and technique. In early MMA, wrestling was often overshadowed by more submission oriented grappling styles, though over time it has become considered one of the most important martial arts in MMA. Some of the most sophisticated grappling in the world today is BJJ, but even in that sport it is unwise to neglect wrestling skills: