Bothner, Scientific Wrestling (1912)

(pp.15)

CORNWALL AND DEVONSHIRE STYLE.

In leading off with the Cornwall and Devonshire style of wrestling, I may remark that the regulations are apparently of the simplest character; yet, in consequence of the complicated nature of the Cornish definition of a “fall,” the south-country gatherings often end very unsatisfactorily, and many inferior men have honors accorded them which they could not have obtained had the conditions been different.

The Cornwall and Devon men wrestle in strong, loose linen jackets, catch hold above the waist or by any portion of the jacket. Kicking is forbidden, and the men compete in their stocking feet. In order to be fairly thrown, two shoulders and one hip must be on the ground, or two hips and one shoulder—it matters not which-and a man must be thrown flat on his back before any other portion of his body touches before a decision can be given against him.

Hauling and mangling on the ground, as in French wrestling, is useless, and a competitor who pitches on his stomach or buttocks is allowed to arise and renew the struggle as if he had never been down at all. Judging this style of wrestling is by no means easy, for, although a man may fall flatly enough, yet if the man making the throw should touch the ground previously (pp. 17) with either hand, knee, or any part of his body, no fall is allowed.

Again, a slippery player might momentarily, after being thrown on his back, by a quick movement raise either hip or shoulder, and so leave the impression that he has hardly been thrown, and a clever player when hardly bringing his man down on all the points required might, and frequently does, give him a slight jerk, and so lay him over. This is not unfrequently practiced when a man is over or under thrown. Of course, if the fall is under, i. e., not hardly enough, the jerk would be forward, and, if overthrown, then the jerk backward.

However, an expert can easily discern this. Outsiders often clamor loudly over these falls, and a weak judge is not unfrequently influenced thereby.

With regard to collaring, a man must not take the two collars of his opponent’s jacket in one hand, nor can he do so at any time during the match. Some men have a move of slipping their hand under the jacket up behind their opponent’s back, bringing the hand out over his shoulder, and then grasping hold of the opposite jacket collar. The tightened jacket gives the wrestler a firm hold. In Devonshire this is disallowed, on the ground that no player shall stop the breath of another, but in Cornwall it is permitted. No man is allowed to take hold of his opponent’s drawers, belt or handkerchief, but he may grasp the bottom corners of his adversary’s jacket. Three minutes are allowed between each fall, and fifteen minutes between each “back.”