Most people in the West will know what you are talking about if you say ‘Taekwondo’ to them. It is, no doubt, Korea’s most widely recognizable traditional sport as it has been exported to communities all over the world and even has become an Olympic sport. However, if you mention ‘Ssireum’ to someone from the West, you are likely to get a blank stare.

Baekdu class match 105kg+

Ssireum (씨름) is Korea’s traditional wrestling sport. According to Wikipedia, it dates back to at least 37 BC – 660 AD as evidenced by paintings from the era. Furthermore, Wikipedia tells us that Ssireum gained widespread popularity during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910).

Geumgang class match 90kg

There are two major tournaments each year. One is held during Chuseok (추석), Korea’s harvest holiday, and the other is held during Seollal (설날), the lunar new year holiday, and the location for the tournaments changes each year.

I couldn’t find any information on the internet in English about the Chuseok Championship that I ended up going to. I had to ask my Korean friends to do some research for me. In the future, I’ll simply contact Korea Tourism Organization’s hotline (1330) and ask them to find the information for me.

Ssireum players getting ready

The basic rules are quite simple, so the game is easy to understand. Two players meet in the middle of a sand pit where they interlock their bodies chest to chest with the aid of a belt that is wrapped around their legs and lower torso. A referee is there to assist in the process which begins with the players on their knees. After the players are ready, they stand up and wait for the referee to signal the start of the match.

Ssireum player throwing opponent

The match is 1 minute long. During the minute, the goal is for one player to cause the other player to touch the sand with any part of their body from the knee up. If a player causes this, they win the match. If the players go out of bounds, the referee will stop the clock and assist the players in getting into the starting position again. In the event of a draw, the players are weighed. The player who is lighter is awarded the victory.

Victorious Ssireum player celebrates

There are four weight classes named after four of Korea’s mountains from smallest to largest: Taebaek (태백) 80kg, Geumgang (금강) 90kg, Halla (한라) 105kg, and Baekdu (백두) 105kg+. The tournament lasts four days, with each day focusing on one weight class. Some preliminary rounds are held from 10:00-14:00 and the final 16-man championship rounds are held from 14:00-16:00. The championship rounds are always televised nationally.

Geumgang class match 90kg

During the 16-man tournament, the first round of matches is single elimination. Then there are 8 players remaining. The next two rounds are done in a best of three series format, until just two players remain. The final match is a best of five series, with the winner taking home a trophy of a bull, a champion’s robe, and a check for 10 million won.

Halla class champion with coach

Now you should basically know what Ssireum is and have some photos to help your imagination. I’ll only add a few words about my experience.

Basically, I had a good time. However, if I hadn’t spent the whole time watching the matches through my camera lens, I probably would have enjoyed it even more. But then again, I wouldn’t have all these awesome pictures to share. You can’t have everything in life.

Baekdu class championship match

Like any sport, people who know more about the records and histories of the players generally enjoy the competitions between them more than people who are clueless. This was one of those times when I could have gotten even more entertainment out of the event had I been with someone who could explain such things. I’m pretty sure the event is broadcasted on the radio with commentators; however, my Korean is not good enough yet to be able to have benefited from listening.

Sitting at my desk and looking back, I can easily recommend attending a Ssireum tournament. While you may not get the same thrill and satisfaction as a Korean who can be assisted in understanding the matches by listening to a broadcast, you can still have a fun time while experiencing an ancient Korean pastime. The matches are real, the people are real, and the emotions you see expressed by the players are real. One does not need to be Korean to appreciate these.

Resources
Wikipedia

Use Facebook to Comment on this Post