Holme, Terms uſed in Wraſtling (1688)
Modernisation:
Wrestling is a sport that relies on skill as much as strength.
A skilled wrestler can throw an opponent even when they are not the strongest. Like all sports, wrestling has its own terminology, with names for each type of hold, trip, or technique. The main terms are as follows:
Terms Used in Wrestling
Catch & Hold – Grabbing hold of your opponent while moving in towards them.
Trip – Using your foot to knock or block your opponent’s leg.
Cross Trip – When the legs become crossed or entangled with each other.
Inturn – Placing your thigh between your opponent’s thighs and lifting to disrupt their balance.
Running Buttock – Using a grip on the jacket (girdle) and the elbow to turn your hips into your opponent and lift them onto your side.
Hug (or Cornish Hug) – Holding your opponent tightly against your chest to control them.
Collar – Taking hold of your opponent’s collar or jacket.
Elbows – Controlling your opponent by gripping their elbow and using it to turn or twist them.
Lock – When the legs are hooked or crossed around each other.
Cust – (Term unclear in the original text; likely a specific regional technique or hold.)
Foil – Throwing your opponent down so they land on their hand, foot, elbow, or clothing—this is not considered a fair or clean fall.
Fall – A proper throw where the opponent lands on their neck and shoulders, or flat on their back.
Original:
Wraſtling is a Game of activity, as well as ſtrength, ſo that an Artiſt is able therein to give a fall, where ſtrength is not able to prevail: and as all Gamſters have their terms, ſo this goes not without a name for every Touch, Trip or Typ, that are uſed by them, the principal whereof takes as followeth.
Terms uſed in Wraſtling.
Catch & Hold, is a running catching of one another.
Trip, a ſtriking with the Foot againſt his adverſaries Leg.
Croſs Trip, is when the Legs are croſſed one within another.
Inturn, is when he puts his Thigh between his adverſaries Thighs, and lifts up his Thigh.
Running Buttock, is when by Girdle and Elbow, he turns his Buttock on his adverſary, and lifts him up on his ſide.
Hugg or a Corniſh Hugg, is when he has his adverſary on his Breaſt, and then holds him.
Collar, is to fix or take hold on the adverſaries collar.
Elbows, is to fix on the Elbow, and ſo to turn and wind him.
Lock, is when the Legs are croſs one the other.
Cuſt,
File, is to caſt the adverſary down on the hand and foot, or elbow, or breeches: this is looked upon to be no fair fall.
Fall, is when he is caſt on his neck and ſhoulders; or thrown flat on his back.
An article titled “Wraſtling” from Randle Holme III’s “The Academy of Armory, or, A Storehouse of Armory and Blazon” (1688), Book III, Chapter V.