Lancashire wrestling
Illustration of a half Nelson technique | |
| Also known as | Catch-as-catch-can Lancashire catch-as-catch-can Lancashire style |
|---|---|
| Focus | Grappling, ground fighting |
| Country of origin | England |
| Famous practitioners | |
| Ancestor arts | Folk styles from England and continental Europe |
| Descendant arts | |
| Olympic sport | No |
Lancashire wrestling, commonly called Lancashire catch-as-catch-can or Lancashire style, is a folk wrestling style that originated in the historic county of Lancashire in North West England. It became notable as the least restrictive and most aggressive style in England. It was popular across Britain and abroad, becoming a primary influence on catch wrestling, through which it is an ancestor of freestyle wrestling, American folkstyle wrestling, Brazilian luta livre, Japanese shoot wrestling and Shooto, modern submission grappling, and associated styles like mixed martial arts and theatrical professional wrestling.