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Special thanks to Ms. Nicole Rohner of Eidgenössischer Schwingerverband (ESV),  and to Ms. Rosi Hörhager and Mr. Günther Heim, both of of Salzburger-Rangglerverband.

My research of the wrestling and fighting traditions of South and East Lancashire (The Story of Catch, 2019) shows that before the 1820s prize-wrestling didn’t exist in that region, and instead it was all up and down prize fighting that was the only professional, to some extent of course, combative sport of local men. The Lancashire’s up and down fighting incorporated not only fist-fighting but also wrestling and kicking, there were no rounds fought in that sport as it always was and is in normal boxing, but it was a fight to the finish, they fought until one of the two was no longer able to handle more punishment, and it was allowed to attack the person who was “down” on the ground, hence the name of it was up and down.
A ‘friendly variation’ of up and down fighting, which didn’t include fist-fighting and kicking was often referred to by the locals as ‘wrestling’. In  that wrestling game to win the match you had to somehow immobilize your opponent that he couldn’t resist you anymore, and would gave up by saying ‘I yield’.
Certain Western European traditions also featured a concept of ‘friendly fighting’ which was called ‘wrestling’. Probably the most common example of that is Dutch/Flemish ‘vechten uit de grap’ (jocose fight) which was called stoeien (wrestling). The above example of course wasn’t the only one, similar understanding of wrestling and fighting was recorded in some other places across La Manche on the continent, among the very best examples of which are the wrestling and fighting styles of the Swiss, called Rutzen (Switzerland), and Ranggeln/Robeln of Austria.
Information about Rutzen, a traditional wrestling style of the residents of Entlebuch (Lucerne, Switzerland), originates from the 1798 book written by F.J Stalder. Franz Joseph Stalder (1757-1833) was a Swiss Catholic clergyman, educator and dialectologist. In his book called ‘Fragmente über Entlebuch, nebst einigen Beylagen allgemein schweizerischen Inhalts’ Vol.2 (Zurich, 1797/1798), in the chapter ‘Das Rutzen’, which is on Pages 48-58, he gives information about the traditional Swiss freestyle wrestling called Rutzen which was very popular in the District of Entlebuch (Canton of Lucerne, Switzerland) in the 1700s.

This comprehensive information includes not only the historical background and rules of that sport, but also features the most common techniques of that long forgotten wrestling style. In the same book on Pages 12-48 in the chapter ‘Das Schwingen’ he provides detailed information about another traditional Swiss style of wrestling, the famous Schwingen. According to the author Rutzen is a nothing but a free-for-all fight, but besides that kind of Rutzen there also is a wrestling variation of Rutzen, in which you win by placing your opponent onto his back, and in that sport it was allowed to attack a person who was down on their knees or on their stomach and try to flip or turn him on his back.

RUTZEN, by F.J Stalder.
“Less advisable and not to be recommended at all is the Rutzen of the Entlebuchers, because it is more similar to barbaric fistfights of the Greeks or the wild boxing and bullfights in modern times than to a friendly attempt of measuring strengths in a social happening.

It usually happens at night, when people who are out late lie in wait for each other or when they meet in the streets; and hardly ever a week passes in which a fight does not ensue. It is always unmarried young men who call for a fight in unnatural, disguised voices. They are going against each other somewhat bent over, hands outstretched, their faces hidden by hoods.

If it is a friendly fight, rules are being followed, just as in the wrestling sport. The attack is different than in Schwingen wrestling, but it is established that the winner must throw the opponent on the back twice. It is not necessary that the loser is being held to the ground. He can get up straight away, and if the fight is not yet over, they both get ready to attack again, until one of them is defeated twice. However, if one of them does not surpass the other in strength, or (what is even better for a victory), in skillful holds and speed, then they separate and go their respective ways.

It is rarely a matter of winning a prize. At the most, they fight for a few glasses of wine, which they both enjoy afterwards in a tavern nearby. Most of the time, however, the winner sends the loser on his way home and therefore he can’t get to his girlfriend’s place that night. The only advantage for a very good wrestler is the fact that he will always get to his own girlfriend’s place undisturbed. And sometimes he gets a bottle of wine from the loser and accompanies him to his girlfriend’s.

Rutzen does not require a special place to fight. It takes place when two men happen to meet. It does not matter whether it is in a meadow or on a hard road.

Different types of throws in Rutzen wrestling.

1.) One of them grabs the other with his left hand on the lapel of his vest or on his right shoulder; then turns around and to the right, jumps backwards quickly, until the other one puts his right foot forward in such a way that he can put his own right foot inside and around the foot of the other one; then he brings the opponent's head under his shoulder and drops down on his right knee; thereby his opponent is being thrown on his back.
If, however, the attacked is stronger than the attacker, the attacker deliberately goes down with his head and tumbles to the ground, whereby he can bring the other onto his back. The Entlebuchers call this "Gitzischwung".

2.) Or the attacker tries to firmly grasp the opponent's left arm near the elbow with his right hand, then moves forcefully to the left and tries to bring his left elbow under the opponent's left armpit, standing hip to hip, he now forcibly turns him over his right leg to the ground. This throw always has the desired effect. It is also the most dangerous throw of all, because the person being attacked this way must either fall on his back or break his arm. This is called the "arm swing".

3.) Or the fighter grabs both the opponent's arms in a flash, holds them crosswise, then jumps to the opponent's right so that they are hip to hip, then strikes the opponent's right leg with his own right leg from behind, and so the opponent is being flung to the ground.

4.) Or both fighters grab each other's arms at the same time, then the faster one puts his right hand under the opponent's right arm and grabs him by the back still clutching the opponent’s arm with his left hand. He then feigns a throw to the left, and since the opponent resists this effort, the clever attacker quickly turns to the other side and rolls the opponent over his hip to the ground. These throws are called "Fürspringen" (being one step ahead).

5.) Or it so happens that they both fall to the ground, one landing on top of the other. The one on top can then grab a hold of the opponent’s neck with his right hand, with his left hand he grabs him by the thighs and flips him over his head onto his back.

6.) Or one of them is fast enough to push the opponent's hands up in the air, and then grab both legs of the opponent with his own hands and push him down backwards.

There are still many more types of grips and counterattacks. But enough said, because these throws are always dangerous. They are not suitable for ordinary people. It needs to be said that these grips must be executed with admirable guile and speed, so that body strength does not matter too much. So much for the friendly Rutzen.”

In his article on Rutzen the author also provides some vivid descriptions of the Rutzen fighting. In this sport the Entlebucher (native of Entlebuch) appears as “the rustic natural man, in the fullness of his formal strength, in his robust wildness and unruliness, as he was centuries ago, when people only claimed courage and strength.” The atrocious Rutzen fights usually happen when ”two men come together who hate each other or who are jealous of each other because of a girl”. In this fight “a cannibalistic rage breaks out on both sides”, in which all is good to go, except for scratching opponents face with nails, that was considered unmanly and a real fighter would never consider that.

“This unfriendly Rutzen continues until one person is completely exhausted lies there in a defenseless state, or can save himself by a quick escape”.

The defeated person never complains, regardless how bad they were beaten, they accept their defeat with dignity and respect towards their opponent.

If two friends decided to have a Rutzen fight between them it continues till “first blood”, and when “the mouth and nose begin to bleed” they immediately stop the fight and have a drink thus expressing that its over and there is no animosity left between them.

The wrestling sport of Rutzen is extinct and is not practiced anymore.

Though practiced in the various parts of the Alpine region (such as South Tyrol, North Tyrol, East Tyrol, Upper Carinthia, Salzburg, in the Bavarian Oberland and in Chiemgau), the Province of Salzburg is considered the home of the traditional wrestling style which is known as Ranggeln. The great arena for this sport is the principal valley of Land Salzburg, the Salzachthal, whose upper part is called Ober Pinzgau and Unter Pinzgau. In that beautiful place wrestling contests have been held for centuries, for in a XIV century chronicle there is a mention of the famous Pinzgau wrestlers. The splendidly muscular and brawny fellows, the peasants from the neighborhood of Zell am See are particularly fond of Ranggeln/Robeln.

According to the current rules of Ranggeln the winner has to cause his opponent’s shoulders touch the ground together in two out of three bouts. The old, original rules of Ranggeln/Robeln wrestling were explained in “Tiroler Volkstypen, Beiträge zur Geschichte der Sitten und Kleinindustrie in den Alpen by Ludwig von Hörmann, 1877, on Pages 14-17. In the olden days the objective also was to overcome the opponent twice in the match for the best of three bouts, by throwing him down and keeping him underneath until he admits his defeat verbally by saying “I give up”, then the winner had to let him get up. The decisive final stage of these contests was wrestling par-terre, on the ground. Only fair wrestling grips were allowed, and such brutal acts as punching, kicking, and throttling were strictly forbidden. That was done for the purpose of not turning wrestling match into Raufen form of Rnggeln, the all-in fighting match.

Besides Ranggeln wrestling, according to the author, there also was Stieren (bulls) style in which  opponent a fall on his back from the standing position by throwing him backwards “heels over head” in imitation of the wild bull’s attack. This required enormous strength and skill and was accompanied by the considerable danger for the loser of the match who could suffer the broken legs, arms or even neck. The popular throws in that particular style were: head between legs, lift and throw backwards (the actual Stieren), Kreuzwurf (Fireman’s Lift), Bear-Hug lift and throw (Heaving), and Hufen (throw over the hip or Cross-Buttock).

A Handbook for Travellers in Southern Germany, 1840 gives an interesting insight on the traditional Tyrolese no holds barred fighting matches which were also called Ringen/Robeln, which literally means ‘wrestling’.
“They also take particular delight in gymnastic exercises of all kinds. A Sunday afternoon, or a fête-day, usually terminates in a wrestling-match, which, in some parts of the country, is coupled with a species of pugilistic encounter called Ringen or Robeln, not unlike an American gouging-match. Almost every Tyrolese peasant wears a very thick ring of silver or iron on the little finger of the right hand, and a fist so armed inflicts cruel wounds. Such savage combats not unfrequently terminate in the loss of an eye, ear, or nose, such acts of violence not being considered unfair or contrary to the laws of the sport. These combats, are, however, limited to remote districts, and have been of late put down for the most part by the interference of the magistrates. The athlete who has been successful in a boxing-match transfers the cock's feather from his opponent's hat to his own; three feathers mark the champion of a valley or parish, and it not unfrequently happens that the champions of two neighbouring valleys are pitted together. The old men are umpires, and take a pleasure in stimulating the combatants.”

Ruslan C Pashayev is an expert-member of the Traditional Sports Team of the Instytut Rozwoju Sportu i Edukacji (the Institute of Sport Development and Education), Warsaw, Poland.

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