World
To date the origin of traditional Wrestling is extremely hard, but common theory is that when man first realised his survival depended upon his ability to strike, strangle or counter-attack other humans or animals, the need to improve his skills became an intrinsic part of everyday life. Wrestling as a survival skill and a sport was born.
Wrestling is the oldest recorded Sport. There are now over 1000 various forms of wrestling throughout the world: the concept of all is the same even today, only the rules vary. It is one of the biggest sports in the world today and has recently included female wrestling at the Athens Olympics.
The first Olympic Games was comprised of eight sports, with every athlete competing in all eight. Wrestling was the final and ultimate sport, as a true test of strength and skill.
One only has to watch two children in a playground; one child will try to take the other to the ground, and then roll around having an absolutely wonderful time. This is the basis of the sport of Wrestling today.
New Zealand
While Wrestling clubs are known to have been in existence in New Zealand since early last century, it was 1931 before the first New Zealand Amateur Wrestling Championships were staged. With the exception of World War II, the championships have been held annually ever since.
In the early days, the administration of amateur wrestling was affiliated to the professional side of the sport. However, in 1965 it was felt we needed to distance ourselves from ‘Professional Wrestling’ and since then we have been identified as the Olympic sport we are. The New Zealand Olympic Wrestling Union [Inc] was formed and we have had a fully independent National administration ever since.
