Japan Weekly Mail (1872)

A description of a military demonstration involving Cornish Wrestlers, in Yokohama. This is particularly interesting since “a Japanese wrestler who was present was very anxious to pit himself against the Cornish wrestlers”. This event took place 10 years before Judo was founded.

Let us now turn to the wrestling which took place on the second day. The men are nearly all from Devon or Cornwall, and, as might be supposed, there are but few who do not know some of the mysteries of the art. But it can hardly be said that the wrestling was very remarkable. The peculiar style of Cornish wrestling demands that the man thrown should fall with both shoulders and one buttock touching the ground; and it appears to te a peculiar knack on the part of the men to fall with their faces down, or on one side only.

 

Numbers of falls took place which were not counted because both shoulders did not touch the ground; and the great length to which the proceedings extended prevented the sports being concluded on Thursday. For the greater part of the day, the wrestling was tame; but, at the same time, there were many good tussles, one between Burns and Witcox being especially pretty. We may mention also that a Japanese wrestler who was present was very anxious to pit himself against the Cornish wrestlers; but time did not allow of the challenge being ac-cepted. However the relative merits of the two styles may be tested at some future day. As a whole the sports proved an entire success, and should serve to create a little spirit of emulation in the settlement, which should result in the formation of an Athletic Club, and the holding of sports at regular intervals. The following is the list of events and winners.

The Japan Weekly Mail (March 30th 1872). Available via Google Books.